Savannah Community Gather to Honor Legacy

City, Community Leaders Gather to Honor Legacy of Annie Bell Graham with Honorary Street Designation

SAVANNAH – City of Savannah officials and community members will gather on Friday, July 11 at 9 a.m. to officially designate a portion of Essex Ave., in the Tremont Park Neighborhood, as “Annie Bell Graham Street.”

The honorary street name designation was approved during a City Council on May 8, 2025, following a recommendation from The Historic Sites and Monuments Commission, which approved the designation application on April 3, 2025.  

In early 1941, Mrs. Graham and her husband Elliott Graham, settled in the Tremont Park Neighborhood. Mrs. Graham was known as the “Mother” of Tremont Park Missionary Baptist Church, where she served for nearly sixty years while raising her twelve biological children and serving as legal guardian for approximately 16 additional children.

She became a pivotal figure in the neighborhood through her advocacy. She was among the first African American property owners in the community and was a dedicated community organizer who hosted fundraisers during the 1970s to purchase land for the Tremont Park Community Center.

Mrs. Graham was known for providing shelter, food, clothing, or monetary assistance to anyone in need, serving her neighborhood well into her nineties. Her home on Essex Ave. remained open to anyone in the community in need whether for an overnight stay or for several months. As a grandmother to 130 grandchildren, she became known as the “Matriarch of Tremont Park.”

Mrs. Graham passed away on Aug. 27, 2023, at her home on Essex Ave. at the age of 98.

The honorary street name designation is intended to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community. The designation does not interfere with the official name of the street.

What: Annie Bell Grahm Honorary Street Designation Ceremony

When: Friday, July 11, 9 a.m.

Where: Essex Ave. between 2^nd Ave. and Corvair Ave.

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More Information

Agenda Plus – 25. Street Renaming for Essex Avenue Between 2nd Street and Corvair Street to “Annie B. Graham Street” in Aldermanic District 1 (File No. 25-001257-HM)