City officials and community members in Savannah will convene on Friday, July 11, to honor Annie Bell Graham by designating a portion of Essex Avenue in the Tremont Park Neighborhood as “Annie Bell Graham Street.” The ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m.
The decision to bestow this honorary street name was made during a City Council meeting on May 8, 2025. This followed a recommendation from The Historic Sites and Monuments Commission, which had approved the application on April 3, 2025.
Annie Bell Graham, along with her husband Elliott Graham, moved to the Tremont Park Neighborhood in early 1941. She became known as the “Mother” of Tremont Park Missionary Baptist Church due to her nearly sixty years of service there. Mrs. Graham also raised twelve biological children and acted as a legal guardian for approximately sixteen more.
A key figure in her community, Mrs. Graham was one of the first African American property owners in the area and played an active role as a community organizer. In the 1970s, she organized fundraisers to acquire land for the Tremont Park Community Center.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Graham provided support such as shelter, food, clothing, or financial aid to those in need. Her home on Essex Avenue was always open to anyone requiring assistance, whether it was for a short stay or several months. Known affectionately as the “Matriarch of Tremont Park,” she was grandmother to 130 grandchildren.
Mrs. Graham passed away at her home on Essex Avenue on August 27, 2023, at the age of 98.
The honorary street designation aims to recognize individuals who have significantly contributed to their communities without altering the official street name.
