The Gresham Cemetery is located in Cobb County, Georgia, approximately one mile east of Bells Ferry Road on the south (right) side of Shallowford Road. Section 2, District 16, LL-78.

The cemetery location is the site where Mrs. Jane Grisham buried her husband, William Gresham, who died on November 16, 1866. Jane died August 18, 1890, and was placed to rest next to her husband.

Gresham is a family cemetery about 2-3 acres in size. The Gresham name reflects a prominent family that arrived in Cobb and Cherokee counties as early as 1840, and many members of the family have been buried here since 1866.

Other prominent Cobb County families are buried at Gresham, including the Latimers, the Bensons, the Fowlers, the Dobbs, the Bentleys, the Tates, and many more. The cemetery roster contains a complete list of all known burials.

Gresham cemetery is unique in that it has a colored section as well as a white section. A review of available historical documents indicates that during the period of reconstruction (1865-1880), “The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands” enabled many Freedmen to purchase land through loans from the Freedman’s Bank, officially titled “Freedman’s Savings & Trust Company”. This occurred with the property on which Gresham Cemetery is located. In 1871, Isham Gresham a freedman purchased property containing Land Lot-78 (source Georgia Archives), which included The Gresham Cemetery.

Records indicate that in October 1887, Isham Gresham and Mrs. Jane Gresham reached an agreement regarding the cemetery. Isham Gresham, in consideration of One acre of land for burying purposes given by Mrs. Jane Gresham, conveyed the parcel of land containing Gresham Cemetery to be named Trustees” G.W. Gresham, L.W. Fowler, John D. Benson, (source Georgia Archives). As a result of this mutual agreement, Isham Gresham and his wife, Millie, rest in peace in the same cemetery as William Gresham and his wife, Jane.

Gresham Cemetery is a Historical Capsule located in a relatively small area. The families buried here have historical connections waiting to be discovered.