Wreath placed at Macedonia Cemetery to honor PFC Toney Howell as part of Wreaths Across America program
December 17, 2022: As part of the national program "Wreaths Across America", a ceremony was held with the Johns Creek Veterans Association to place a wreath at a temporary marker for Pfc. Toney Howell who served in WWI. Like most buried at Macedonia Cemetery, there is no grave marker for Toney Howell; however, his death certificate indicates he is buried at the site.
"Wreaths Across America" is a way for communities to remember and honor veterans buried in their cemeteries. This year, we partnered with the Johns Creek Veterans Association to honor Toney Howell's service during World War I. Toney registered June 5, 1917, was called up and began his military training February 25, 1918 at Camp Gordon in Chamblee, and left for France on the U.S.S. Matsonia on April 29, 1918. Toney served overseas during WWI until returning June 6, 1919 on the S.S Von Steuben. He was honorably discharged from Company B 514th Engineers on June 14, 1919.
Mayor John Bradberry, Councilwoman Erin Elwood and others watched as Kirk Canaday placed a wreath at a temporary marker for Toney Howell, a WWI US service member.
Our thanks to the Johns Creek Veterans Association for honoring Toney Howell's service at the wreath-laying ceremony at Macedonia Cemetery.
We know Toney Howell was born in Sheltonville (in the Shakerag area of Johns Creek) in 1894 or 1895 and as a teen was caught up in the racial and frightening events of Forsyth County's 1912 expulsion of Blacks and mob violence. Identifying Toney Howell as one of the unmarked burials at Macedonia and a veteran of WWI, along with compiling dozens of documents for our archives to help tell his story, are the result of extensive research on those buried at Macedonia provided by the Johns Creek Historical Society, with particular thanks to member Carla Carter.