North Georgia city to rename street named after ‘Jim Crow’

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — “Jim Crow” is a name associated with segregation. It was also the name of a farmer who lived in Hall County.

Jim Crow, the farmer, was well-known in his community and they named a road after him. He went out of his way to help the people in his community.

“He would help feed families, he would even, families that couldn’t afford a proper burial he would use lumber from his lumber yard to actually build the caskets for these family members,” recalled his family members.

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Jim Crow was born Glennon C. Crow and after his mom died, he was raised by an aunt who nicknamed him Jimmy and eventually that turned into Jim. The nickname stuck, according to his nephew.

“Nobody had any idea it could be racial or anything,” his nephew Randy Crow said.

People in the south are reminded of a time of racism and segregation each time they hear “Jim Crow”

Earlier this month, the Flowery Branch City Council voted to rename the road because they wanted to send a positive message and Janenne Hammon said, “this is a step in the right direction” and “they had no idea the road was named after an actual person.”

The new road signs have been ordered; however, the pandemic is slowing down production. The City of Flowery Branch also plans to place a plaque in a nearby park in Hall County explaining who Jim Crow was and his legacy, according to Mayor Mike Miller.

The new road will be named G. C. Crow.

Marietta officials hope road name change may bring real change to neighborhood Channel 2's Diana Davis Reports

Cox Media Group