UATL Logo
News

Nature Gurlz: Black women in their 50s to 80s finding friendship on trails

On forest paths and political ground, a group of older Black women are rewriting what it means to act their age.
Members of Nature Gurlz greet each other as they pass along the trail at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Members of Nature Gurlz greet each other as they pass along the trail at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz / AJC)
By
June 1, 2025

It is 8:55 on a beautiful, sun-dappled Tuesday morning in Southwest Atlanta.

In the hush of morning light, a group of Black women — ranging from their 50s to their 80s — gather in a circle to stretch, pray and give praise reports.

rednu owt eht ehs yltnecer ni ni ,sruoh puorg stpure detelpmoc .sreehc secnuonna a nehW eilliL noskcaJ dlo-raey-97 K01

Nature Gurlz member Lillie Jackson (right) greets Sylvia Cook with a hug and a kiss on the cheek after making the halfway point of their walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Nature Gurlz member Lillie Jackson (right) greets Sylvia Cook with a hug and a kiss on the cheek after making the halfway point of their walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)
ExploreAJC’s UATL brand launches 404ward series spotlighting Black culture

nemow elihw hguorht eht deriter skrap etal reh og ,rotacude rac .scinehtsilac sevirra dna a aivlyS ,kooC

ni“ dluow htiw ohw erehw semoclew ot eht eht eht taht ehs gnikrap ylno ym tol sgoj si reh puorg morf ,elcric .sreehc timda ,kooC ”,s08

yeht meht rieht .gnos gnis ,ecalp fo ni htob lla htiW

gninroM“ er‘ew /yaw ruo no ,semoc erutaN erutaN .zlruG ,zlruG

ew ew neht /hcterts yarp dna erutaN erutaN .zlruG ,zlruG tsriF

ot htgnerts ruo od /tseb erutaN .zlruG gniniaG

— ruoy gninniw tahw ew ew ew /klaw troppus ,rehto tel ti si htlaeh .tluaf hcae t’nod erac eb sa era tuoba eW ruO .oN .oN .oN

gniklaw evol yreve /yad eW erutaN erutaN .zlruG ,zlruG

er‘ew /yaw ruo no ,semoc erutaN erutaN gninroM ”.zlruG ,zlruG

eht erutaN teeM .zlruG

Kate Little, a member of the Nature Gurlz, walks with others along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Kate Little, a member of the Nature Gurlz, walks with others along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Keep moving

.nemow gniklaw owt hguorht gnivirht eht naht doohretsis fo erom nwodkcol otni ni sah sdneirf gnirud demossolb nageb sa a tahW sgnirpS evreserP erutaN edacsaC 91-DIVOC 0202 001

— — yadkeew ot hguorht meht eht enihs niar ro fo deltsen .doohrobhgien ni cirotsih ekih tserof tsewhtuoS hcaE edacsaC s’atnaltA 03 52 erca-531

eht liah morf s’ytic dna tseW tsewhtuoS .ediS tsoM atnaltA

— hcihw .gnieb-llew klaw rieht ,doohretsis lacisyhp ecaep hcaertuo fo fo dnim latnem rof ytinummoc tifeneb dna dna lla ytiuca yehT

er’eW“ tratS“ ,dlrow nemow nemow htiw htiw htiw ew ew litnu ot ot ot ot ot eht eht eht .selpmet ekat os roines dias ksir deriter nalp tuo ruo fo fo fo deen ym evom evom dnim tol yrarbil peek ,noisnetrepyh tsehgih hgih ”.ereh traeh evah evig teg ”,esaesid .rotcerid .htaed laed ytinummoc ,nezitic loretselohc .gniraebdlihc erac nac tub lufituaeb ta era dna dna dna dna ma a a a ,smailliW ,nehT sloohcS cilbuP airuhcreM I I I I kcalB atnaltA dlo-raey-87

Lillie Jackson, center, and other members of the Nature Gurlz, walk along the trails at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Lillie Jackson, center, and other members of the Nature Gurlz, walk along the trails at the Cascade Springs Nature Preserve, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz / AJC)
Explore9 quick hikes near Atlanta's breathtaking waterfalls

Eden in Cascade

yaw ot rieht eht eht ,prahs .evreserp ekam otni srekih nigeb .m.a tA 9

— nopu eert yeht meht spohs selop sroodtuo ro seno dlo fo tsom skool .sbmil ekil ti ,noitcepsni gnikih detfarcdnah morf morf ycnaf rehtie ,ecnatsid resolc gniyrrac gniyrrac .senac era era lla a morF tuB

— — krow sesu .owt ot meht tnemecalper ekil peek pih reh reh dah yrrac laretalib ecnalab .smra dna dna ssertca a a asereT ,emoS ehS .L sevarG dlo-raey-96

.gninrom sekih yreve ehS

A member of the Nature Gurlz holds a walking stick as they take a rest at the halfway point on their weekly morning walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

A member of the Nature Gurlz holds a walking stick as they take a rest at the halfway point on their weekly morning walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

ll’I“ esuaceB“ nemow htiw ohw ohw gniklaw gniyrt ot rieht eht yats os .dias ”.sepicer ”,lufrewop si ni ni .yhtlaeh egnahcxe neve noitcennoc eb era era dna eW ,enuJ m’I sevarG s08 07

.soirt rieht sriap ,ecap nwo evom ni gnittahc ta dna yehT

yaw .llafretaw ot yeht rieht eht ekam sgnirpS ,tsriF edacsaC

retov ot ot ediwetats .sllor egrup cilbup ycilop sesuap no utpmorpmi tnemegagne stroffe reviled ,tnatlusnoc civic gnifeirb dna na a ,smailliW ,erehT yrrehS s’aigroeG .B dlo-raey-66

yehT“ ”,su eht ,dias deddon ni puorg gnimoc sa era .tnemeerga retfa smailliW

,llafretaw otohp hsul selbuod .pordkcab sa dna a ehT ,cinedE

nemow detcennoc-llew kramedart eht sekat lareves .seifles ylkciuq cifilorp ,sotohp ,srehpargotohp evitarepo eno fo tsom lacol gnidulcni ni reh steg .noitamrof ytic dna a nasuS ehS ,ssoR s’atnaltA

Sue Ross, a member of Nature Gurlz, takes a selfie with other members of the group at the meadow during their morning walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Sue Ross, a member of Nature Gurlz, takes a selfie with other members of the group at the meadow during their morning walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

elihw ,llafretaw gniyrav eht eht eht .niarret ,repeets stilps rellams no fo .ytilibom dnalwol ,pool slevel yllih ekih puorg puorg sbmilc desab a a emoS tA elim-3 elim-5.2

htiw efildliw dehcuotnu dekcut ot siht ecnis ,tnemelttes hctap ,koolrevo eno tsedlo htworg-dlo fo fo .sdoohrobhgien tsom ylegral si otni smuh ,tserof ysae .ytisrevid lacigoloib erofeb dna dna tneulffa sgnirpS naeporuE edacsaC tuB s’atnaltA

sraey dessentiw saw eht eht eht taht emos tnanmer lanigiro eno fo fo fo nwonk-ressel dnal ni tserof .sehsalc ydoolb .oga a raW yotU s’tI nI ,keerC liviC elttaB s’atnaltA atnaltA 002 ,4681

htiw htiw htiw llafretaw pilut eht eht taht ragus dewerts hcterts ecaps ,lios ,llams erahs hcir der ,ralpop euqserutcip tcefrep fo .kao derevoc-ssom ,tsiom elpam ynam sailongam sti ti si otni sah doowdrah ,tserof rof rof elitref ,seirutnec sedacsac .sredluob fael-gib neeb ,hceeb sa dna dna a yotU ,yadoT ehT nrehtuoS nrehtroN keerC naciremA

.detsaw eert .syats ti si ,sllaf a nehW gnihtoN

Nature Gurlz members Barbara Hardeman (left) and Sherry B. Williams, lead the Nature Gurlz past a downed tree along the trail at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Nature Gurlz members Barbara Hardeman (left) and Sherry B. Williams, lead the Nature Gurlz past a downed tree along the trail at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

s’tI“ tI“ — er‘uoy uoy uoy erehw eht eht eht eht llits ”,sneris ”.yrautcnas .dias sdnimer ruo fo fo elddim rebmem em elttil ni ni raeh raeh gnidnuof ytic nac nac tub sdrib dna kroY kraP weN ecnerroT-notsuoH lartneC ailiceC

.htiw tahw ehs evol si ni llef tahT

saw eht eht yzarc-rits ,cimednap fo ylrae syad .suoixna dna nI ,ecnerroT-notsuoH DIVOC ,66

eW“ eW“ erew ew ew ot ot sgniht eht taht laicos .dias dezilaer ylkciuq ”.tuo ruo eno fo dedeen si ,semoh teg denifnoc ”,sgnieb era dna lla lla ecnerroT-notsuoH

deklaw hguorht eht eht eht noitadnemmocer .evreserp no fo fo ,robhgien gniganam dneirf rotcerid dna a ,nnuN-sttaW nO ,muesuM ecnerroT-notsuoH esuoH sdnommaH annoD lirpA ,0202 ,51

.thguoht eht evreserp fo reven hcum wenk ti evag tub ecnerroT-notsuoH

Nature Gurlz founding member Cecilia Houston-Torrence speaks with the AJC after their walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Nature Gurlz founding member Cecilia Houston-Torrence speaks with the AJC after their walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

eW“ I“ htiw erew ew deklaw ,su owt eht ”,dekcohs .dias fo evol tsuj tsuj ”.ti ni ,ereh llef dna ecnerroT-notsuoH

— .erusnu ot ot eht llits emos ,deksam ynam .nioj reh .worg puorg sdneirf deunitnoc emac gnillac nageb lla yehT ecnerroT-notsuoH tuB

ot .emit emit on nem pihsrebmem nioj morf wef neve .seud .sdrac era erehT oN A

eW“ enO“ nehw nehw thgiew ew ew ew ew ew .sklaw sgniht eht eht eht sinnet gnikat ehs dias sseldrager dezilaer ezilaer ,reyalp edistuo fo fo fo fo tsol ”,evael tsuj ,si ni woh ,ereh reh sah teg morf hserf remrof leef leef t’ndid yliad elbaredisnoc retteb stifeneb gnieb tnuoma ”.ria a .ecnerroT-notsuoH A

nemow hcihw ot emit meht meht rieht rieht eht eht dewols tnemeriter ,deriter fo .sdoohrobhgien .gninrom ,efil devlovni ni ekih t’nsah yreve .nwod ylpeed civic sehcruhc era era dna sdroffa yehT tsoM tuB

srekrow ,srosseforp ,stnediserp .slaiciffo aidem ,sreywal tnemnrevog noitadnuof ,serugif ,sreniatretne detcele ,srotacude ,srotcod egelloc ,sreknab era dna yehT

Nature Gurlz member Barbara Hardeman rests after their walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Nature Gurlz member Barbara Hardeman rests after their walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

etihw erew ot rieht eht stneduts evitcepser yltnanimoderp ,lufrewop ro fo fo setaudarg noitareneg tsrif .degagne detcennoc .segelloc dnetta era era dna gnoma yehT tsoM sUCBH

laeR“ nemow htiw noisrev eseht eht s’noisivelet semitemos laer fo dessesbo .laed ytic era a nI ”,seviwesuoH

tuB“ ew deriter deppiuq fo ”,sdnabsuh evah etaudarg reknab dna lla a .hceT ,ecnerroT-notsuoH aigroeG

gnigru eht eht fo emitgnol denioj puorg .dneirf ta a ,ssoR kooC

detnaw ot eht eht etammoor tnediserp fo fo fo gnivom emitgnol peek ni ,dnabsuh reh reh remrof ylimaf srotcod htaed egelloc dna dna dna retfa a a ytisrevinU leumaS ssoR .veR .snaelrO weN nitraM rehtuL gniK .rJ sioBuD dralliD s’kooC ,kooC

ExploreSamuel D. Cook, 88: Revered educator, activist ‘was walking integrity’
Nature Gurlz member Sylvia Cook walks along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Nature Gurlz member Sylvia Cook walks along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

erehT“ ehT“ uoy htiw ohw ohw tahw ew sklaw owt ot gniht eht taht .skcits ytilautirips dias yarp ro fo ton ,erutan evitan tsom rettam tol ekil tsuj ti si si si si ni gnikih htlaeh doog .pihsdneirf ”,pihsdneirf esicrexe ”.decarbme t’nseod .od peed yliad emoc bulc .euqilc nac eb .era dna dna dna na a a a eW tI tI I ,doG ,kooC atnaltA ydobynA

yaw hctaw ,sreklaw ,pu eert hguorht yeht meht meht rieht eht eht stibbar ylteiuq .krap deriap fo fo ynam ekam gnol enil sedih .rof reed slooc yponac dna dna ehT A

erutaN“ htiw gniraew .tpircs dlog eulb era strihs-T tsoM ”zlruG

,namow elbazingocernu rednu retaews knip ylraen ,tekcaj si remrof ,pac egalfuomac kcalb llabesab dna a a ,trihs-T yelrihS enO royaM nodnoL .nilknarF atnaltA

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (center) and other members of the Nature Gurlz walk along the trail at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (center) and other members of the Nature Gurlz walk along the trail at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Explore‘Welcome to Shirleyville’: Atlanta honors Franklin with new park, street renaming

I“ tuB“ .sraey ohw .sreklaw eht eht eht .taht ”,lautirips dias yllaer .sroodtuo sroodtuo tuo noinipo eno fo ton doohrobhgien evol devil ekil redael tsuj t’nsi si ni ,ereh sah ”.rof rof deksa dna ma ma a yM I I I ,nilknarF gnieB 35

htiw nehw .keew saw sklaw eciwt ot yeht eht eht eht eht eht eht taht kaeps ecnis langis tas tneserper .snaicitilop snaicitilop krap no no fo fo fo deman lacol tsael ,reh evah sah sronod siad ytic thguac flaheb gninnigeb neeb noitnetta ta dna dna dna gnoma lla retfa a a a erutaN erutaN ,hcraM nI ecnerroT-notsuoH ,zlruG zlruG nilknarF

htiw .meht srebmem dekih sah lairotanrebug etadidnac era dna yecatS teertsrevO erutaN icraM .zlruG remroF licnuoC ytiC enooB atnaltA aerdnA smarbA

— — htiw pu ot .meht eht dewohs ylraen rojam tsal gnidulcni ekih yreve ,noitcele tnerruc ytic etadidnac royaM gniruD snekciD erdnA

repuS“ toN“ tuB“ ”,now now ohw eht taht dias srebmem yreve yreve etadidnac etadidnac ”.emac emac gnillac ”.sretoV ,ecnerroT-notsuoH

— nemow gnitov detov meht eht eht tneserper elbailer laitnediserp fo tsom ni rof .noitcele s’yrtnuoc colb ,yllanoitaN alamaK sirraH tarcomeD kcalB %29 4202

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (center left), Sue Ross (right) and other members of the Nature Gurlz walk along the trail at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin (center left), Sue Ross (right) and other members of the Nature Gurlz walk along the trail at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

— — htiw retov ,sedargpu pu eht eht eht wohs strihs .snoisses ytiruces erutplucs noitartsiger tnecer evreserp ecneserp ,azalp fo wen sgniteem gnihctam si noitallatsni gnidulcni ni ,sevird detiderc .saremac ta ta dna dna a a riehT effilcdaR erutaN ,yllacoL zlruG notluF ytnuoC licnuoC noissimmoC ytiC yeliaB atnaltA

er’yeht cilbup gniybbol rof .moorhtab a ,woN

sihT“ enoyrevE“ er’uoy ruoy .nemow nemow htiw ohw ohw saw eht gnillet troppus yrots dias gninnur ”,hcaer trap dezinagro ”.eciffo fo fo fo fo krowten ,srobhgien srebmem royam ylegral ti si demrofni ni tnatropmi fi ereh evah sah puorg remrof rof tsrif elamef .ylimaf ,degagne detcele ,seugaelloc ,seugaelloc yllacivic hcruhc daorb semoceb sa era dna dna na na a a oS ,nilknarF kcalB s’atnaltA ,1002

Members of the Nature Gurlz participate in their weekly morning walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Members of the Nature Gurlz participate in their weekly morning walk along the trails at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve on April 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

retaw klaw rehtegot ot ot .meht eht eht nekat .azalp sotohp fo spuorg emoc dloc selttob kcab tiawa era dna tuoba ,.m.a eroM tA 03:01

— eht stops spils .sees ti enoyreve reed keerc tub erofeb yawa ta a enoemoS

sihT“ kcalB“ uoy nemow htiw su ot ot siht .cituepareht eht eht eht eht ekat pots os ”?gnignis ,puorger hserfer tcennocer ruo ytinutroppo fo deen si ni ereh traeh raeh .sdneirf ”.ytic ,htaerb sdrib .sksa dna dna dna swolla a smailliW thgiR oD

siht seirots ruo rehto fo rettelswen erom pihsrebmem rebmem ekil ni eerf rof .stifeneb dna a LTAU emoceB

no no dna ,X LTAU koTkiT .margatsnI wolloF ,koobecaF

About the Author

Ernie Suggs is an enterprise reporter covering race and culture for the AJC since 1997. A 1990 graduate of N.C. Central University and a 2009 Harvard University Nieman Fellow, he is also the former vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists. His obsession with Prince, Spike Lee movies, Hamilton and the New York Yankees is odd.