Liberty County renames Jones Creek Park for Susie King Taylor; Hinesville bypass becomes Independence Parkway

The Liberty County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to rename Jones Creek Park the Susie King Taylor Freedom Park at Jones Creek and to designate the under‑construction Hinesville Bypass as Independence Parkway.

The historical society, appearing before the commission in period costume, urged the board to memorialize Susie King Taylor, a native of Isle of Wight who escaped slavery in 1862, served as a nurse, laundress and teacher with the United States Colored Troops, and later became an author and veterans advocate. Hermina Glass Hill, president of the Liberty County Historical Society, introduced society members and their recommendations.

The action followed a formal resolution introduced by staff, which described Taylor’s life and urged the county to seek funding to add amenities at Jones Creek Park, including a nature trail and fishing pier. Commissioner Stevens moved to adopt the resolution renaming the park; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Separately, the board adopted a resolution renaming the Hinesville Bypass project, now under construction, as Independence Parkway. County staff will submit formal notification of the name change to the Georgia Department of Transportation District 5 office as directed by the resolution.

The historical society’s presentation included a short reenactment and invited the public to related commemorative events; the board’s resolutions direct staff to pursue enhancements and appropriate notifications but do not appropriate funds in these votes.

The two measures passed with unanimous support. Chairman Donnie L. Lovett presided over the meeting and attested the resolutions, which instruct county staff to pursue funding and to notify state transportation officials about the bypass renaming.

The historical society said renaming Jones Creek Park and the bypass will highlight Liberty County’s connections to the Revolutionary era and to local civil‑war and post‑war history. The park resolution specifically encourages the county to seek “all available resources” to develop future phases of the park as a local and national historical destination.

Board members and historical society representatives paused after the votes for a ceremonial photograph and thanked the society for its presentation.