The Georgia Historical Society (GHS), in conjunction with the Lillian E. Smith Center at Piedmont University, will dedicate a new Georgia Civil Rights Trail historical marker recognizing Lillian Eugenia Smith.

Lillian E. Smith was a writer and outspoken supporter of the Civil Rights Movement who spoke out against segregation, racism, and white supremacy. She promoted open discussions regarding social issues faced by Black and White women, and she and her life partner provided a platform for other writers to provide honest assessments of life in the South through the literary journal, Pseudopodia. She is also the author of Strange Fruit (1944) and Killers of the Dream (1949).

“The Lillian E. Smith historical marker joins over 50 historical markers across the state highlighting the struggle for human and civil rights in Georgia,” says GHS Marker Manager Elyse Butler. “Lillian E. Smith was a prolific writer, discussing and publishing controversial views on women’s rights and civil rights during a period when White women did not discuss these topics in public.”

The dedication will take place on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at 496 Hershey Lane, Clayton, GA 30525. Speakers will include Matthew Teutsch, Ph.D., Director of the Lillian E. Smith Center; Kurt Cannon, Mayor of Clayton, Georgia; Rev. Tim Garvin-Leighton, Piedmont University Campus Minister; Keri Leigh Merritt, Ph.D., author and historian; and Elyse Butler, Georgia Historical Society Marker Manager. There will also be performances from the Haystack Choir and Catherine Gunn.

A reception will follow the dedication. The media and public are invited to attend, but registration is required. Attendees can register here: https://alumni.piedmont.edu/e/lillian-e-smith-dedication/.