The 2025 Heritage Trail Medallion honorees were approved by the Lawrenceville City Council on October 27, following recommendations from the Heritage Trail Medallion Commission.
Commission Chair Dr. Michelle Bachelor Robinson presented this year’s selections:
- The Loving Aid Society, founded in 1888;
- Grover Herman Tanner (1907–1983), lifelong Lawrenceville resident and civic leader.
Families of the honorees were present at the announcement.
The Loving Aid Society, established by Laura Freeman and Bob Craig, both formerly enslaved, provided burial insurance and mutual aid for African American families during an era of exclusion. Supported by membership dues, the organization ensured dignified burials and mutual support when few other options existed. The Society operated on Church Street and later on Neal Boulevard. Its annual “June Turn Out,” once a cornerstone of community life, remains a lasting symbol of resilience, dignity, and solidarity in Lawrenceville’s history.
Grover Herman Tanner (1907–1983) was a lifelong Lawrenceville resident whose leadership shaped the city’s education, business, and civic life. As a City Councilman and chairman of the Board of Education, he helped build a new fireproof school after the 1944 fire that destroyed the original Lawrenceville High School. He operated Tanner Hardware Co. and other local enterprises and was active in the Kiwanis Club, Hi-Hope Service Center, and the Masonic Lodge. A member of First United Methodist Church, he helped build the current sanctuary and worked to preserve local history through the Elisha Winn House and the Gwinnett County Family History Book.
Dr. Robinson said in making the presentation: “The Commission’s work this year reflects our shared commitment to preserving stories that might otherwise be forgotten. Each nomination reminds us that Lawrenceville’s history is made up of many voices, all contributing to the city we know today.”
Medallions honoring both will be placed along the Lawrenceville Heritage Trail and formally unveiled in spring 2026.
The Heritage Trail Medallion Commission was formally established by City Council ordinance in 2024 to continue the city’s longstanding effort to recognize individuals and organizations that have shaped Lawrenceville’s history. The Commission reviewed 18 nominations this year submitted by community members for consideration. Nominations not selected remain on file and are reconsidered during future nomination periods.
Members of the Heritage Trail Medallion Commission include Dr. Michelle Bachelor Robinson (Chair), Dawnya Fischer Lindsey (Vice Chair), Moses Abney, Theresa Bailey, Elliott Brack, Gloria James, and Patsy Price.
Marker to commemorate historic Jones Bridge
A new historical marker honoring the legacy of the original Jones Bridge, will be unveiled on Friday, November 7 at 11 a.m. at the pedestrian bridge located at the Peachtree Corners Town Center entrance.
When the pedestrian bridge was first constructed and officially opened in November 2020, its architectural design was a deliberate tribute to the historic Jones Bridge, a landmark that once connected Gwinnett with Fulton County across the Chattahoochee River. Built in 1904, Jones Bridge served as a link for farmers, merchants, and travelers moving goods between Gwinnett and Fulton counties. For decades, it stood as a symbol of the area’s growth and ingenuity.
During the Great Depression, when county funds were short, the bridge fell into neglect and disrepair. In 1945, a never-to-be-identified group of con artists dismantled the bridge, and sold it for scrap and personal profit. What remained of the bridge, about half the steel superstructure, continued to stand as a local landmark until 2018, when the final span collapsed into the river, marking the end of an era.
Today, the Jones Bridge historical marker, funded entirely by PTC Arts and installed by the City of Peachtree Corners, seeks to preserve that story for future generations. The marker highlights the bridge’s historical significance, its role in connecting early communities, and the way its memory lives on through the design of the modern pedestrian bridge.
Jackson EMC linemen win in national competition
Jackson EMC sent six apprentices and three journeyman lineman teams to compete at the 41st annual International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kansas. They were among more than 1,200 participants demonstrating the precision, safety and skill it takes to deliver reliable power every day. Apprentices compete as individuals and journeymen compete in teams of three.
A team with Collin Ward, Austin Lewis and Brandon Carter, all of Neese, finished first in the hurtman rescue, a timed event simulating the critical response needed to safely rescue an injured lineman from atop a utility pole.
A team with Ben Brissey, Ben Adams and TJ Witherell, all of Jefferson, finished sixth in the cooperative division.
“These events mirror real-life situations they see in their line of work,” said Patrick McAuliff, Jackson EMC’s Jefferson district director of engineering and operations. “Our linemen train for these moments, not just for the competition, but because they know the people counting on them are their own neighbors, friends and families.”
