South Fulton Church Seeks $15k to Restore Cemetery After Hundreds of Tires Dumped on Graves

Historic South Fulton cemetery desecrated as over 100 tires are dumped atop century-old graves.

In a disturbing discovery that has left the South Fulton community reeling, dozens of discarded tires were found illegally dumped across the sacred grounds of Pleasant Hill Victory AME Church this week. Located on Stonewall Tell Road in South Fulton, the historic church and its cemetery now face an expensive cleanup effort following a coordinated act of “midnight dumping.”

Volunteers and congregants arriving at the church on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, were met with a jarring sight: more than 100 automobile and commercial truck tires scattered among headstones, some of which date back over a century. Pastor Lola Russell reported that the disrespect was profound, with one large mound of tires stacked several feet high directly on top of four or five graves. The site holds deep historical significance; before becoming a church site nearly 100 years ago, the property housed Couch Hall, a one-room schoolhouse that served Black students during the era of segregation in the 1910s.

This incident highlights a persistent and costly crisis for Fulton County. Illegal tire dumping is not only a visual blight but a significant public health hazard, as stagnant water in tires serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and rodents. Because tires require specialized recycling, the financial burden of removal—estimated to be thousands of dollars—now falls on the small congregation unless the responsible parties are caught.

The church has launched an official GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Remove Tires and Restore a Vandalized Church Cemetery” to raise the $15,000 needed to remove the tires, repair damaged headstones, and install a security system to prevent future vandalism. Under Georgia law, “egregious littering” of this magnitude can be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony, potentially leading to prison time and fines of up to $25,000.

Law enforcement is currently reviewing security footage and asking anyone who noticed suspicious vehicles or unlicensed tire haulers near Stonewall Tell Road to contact the South Fulton Police Department or the Fulton County Marshal’s Office.