Sweetwater is clearly shown as a community in its own right in historic maps from  Sweetwater Primitive Baptist Church was organized  on December 8, 1824 in the Wells school house by Tyre Landers and G. B. Waldrop.  The following were charter members:  Frances Landers, Clarissa Woodruff, Sara Morgan, Elizabeth Niblet, Precilla Woodruff, Mary Hedrick, Hannah Spradlin, Heziah Lawrence, Sarah Schamblee, Margaret Minchem, Cynthy Barnett, Editha McDaniel, Elley Davis, Nancy Hendrix, John Hendrix, Elizabeth Doneyhoo, James Donehoo, Thomas Mason, Prodence Wells, James Wells, Bodie Waldrop, Benjamin Waldrop, Alsey Waldrop.  

        The first building was erected in 1824 and  replaced in 1909.  The first minister of the church was James Hale, who served 16 years consecutively, and an additional 12 years two years later.  

     Sandra Waldrop Doolittle shares this about her early Gwinnett ancestors:  Rev. Green Berry Waldrop, his family, his papa Benjamin Waldrop and Bodi ...attended the Sweetwater Baptist Church. My gr grandpapa was born there about 1826. The Waldrops left Gwinnett County in 1827 and moved to Harris County for the 1827 Georgia Lottery. They were in Harris County for 14 years before moving to Mississippi.  My Rev. Green Berry  Waldrop help constitute the Baptist Churches in Gwinnett, Harris, Taylor, Talbot Counties in Georgia. His papa Benjaman moved to Cowetta County and married Rachel Griffith or Griffin, they has two sons, Benjamin , Jr. and Archibald Waldrop in the mid 1820s.

        Located on Pleasant Hill Road between Duluth and Lawrenceville, near the corner of Cruse Road, the church today is used as Sweetwater Memorial  Chapel.  The cemetery is relatively well maintained, and several graves are decorated with small Confederate flags.  The Eli Landers house is seen directly behind the cemetery. It was moved years ago from the other side of Pleasant Hill Road.

See Sweetwater in Historical Maps of Gwinnett County   University of Georgia.  You'll find more photographs in the Gwinnett County Photo Album.