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In the mid-1960s, Atlanta mortician Herschel Thornton dreamed of a novel idea: a series of drive-thru windows where people could view loved ones from the comfort of their cars.

Why it matters: Herschel Thornton Mortuary claims to be the first funeral home in the country to offer a 24-hour drive-thru viewing window.

Catch up quick: Thornton, who moved the mortuary from Downtown to the Adamsville neighborhood in 1964, said the idea came to him in his sleep. 

"We have drive-in theaters, drive-in banks, drive-in hamburger places — why not a drive-in funeral parlor?" Thornton said in a February 1969 issue of Sepia Magazine.

Zoom in: He repurposed space used for storing caskets and funeral home equipment and installed five large viewing windows. 

Next to each window was a drop-in nameplate and a small mailbox where people could leave messages or sign a guestbook.

The service was optional and did not cost extra, Thornton's son, Herschel "Chuck" Thornton III, told Axios

Zoom in: Despite the media attention, Thornton didn't publicize the service, his son said.

Some people said the idea was inappropriate, but his father believed it increased access for people who worked odd hours, seniors or preferred viewing at night. "And he just kept moving forward with it."

Besides, people were already coming afterhours, and the windows could ease the burden on the mortuary's overnight staff.

The mortuary doesn't keep data on the number of people who used the service, according to Thornton III. But in the years following the curtains' debut, the total number of customers had increased from 121 to nearly 190.

In the late 1970s or early 80s, Thornton III said, the mortuary bricked over the windows and incorporated the spaces into a chapel expansion project.

Fun fact: Thornton III, who said he prefers to operate in the background, almost walked out of a Steve Harvey stand-up performance in the 1990s after the comedian mentioned the drive-thru windows during his routine.

Between the lines: Drive-thru viewing windows increased in use during the COVID-19 pandemic due to social distancing requirements and transmission risks.

The family decided against promoting the windows to avoid the appearance that they were seeking to exploit the pandemic.

In the same vein, Thornton III asked Axios Atlanta to note that the mortuary did not seek this article. (I thank them for entertaining my curiosity about the windows' history).

State of play: The original windows were removed, but three remain on an opposite wall. The service is still available, Thornton said.

"Just like back then, if anybody should decide they want to do that, OK. … It's no additional expense to them."

Remember when Atlanta got drive-thru funeral viewing?

Herschel Thornton dreamed up the unusual service as a way to make funeral viewing more accessible.

Two-panel image: left black-and-white photo of two men in coats standing beside a car in a showroom; right a modern hallway with white walls, large windows, and a car visible through a window.

Herschel "Chuck" Thornton III (left) and his father, Herschel Thornton Jr., stand outside the drive-through viewing windows in 1968. The original windows are bricked over but the mortuary has several more available by request. Photos: Courtesy of Herschel "Chuck" Thornton III; Thomas Wheatley/Axios

In the mid-1960s, Atlanta mortician Herschel Thornton dreamed of a novel idea: a series of drive-thru windows where people could view loved ones from the comfort of their cars.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Herschel Thornton Mortuary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thorntonmortuary.com/about/about-us" data-vars-content-id="11df89a4-a5cf-454f-812c-4b0d4894c790" data-vars-headline="Remember when Atlanta got drive-thru funeral viewing?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thorntonmortuary.com/about/about-us" target="_blank">Herschel Thornton Mortuary</a> claims to be the first funeral home in the country to offer a 24-hour drive-thru viewing window.

History

The fatal stabbing Sunday on the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail has sparked calls for action on public safety, the mental health system and criminal justice reform.

Driving the news: Mayor Andre Dickens said he directed Atlanta public safety and Beltline teams to review the "safety protocols surrounding this incident, including patrols, camera coverage and emergency response."

Catch up quick: According to APD, Johnathan Hamby, 54, stabbed Ramon Harris, 29, in the neck near the Beltline Kroger after a verbal argument escalated. The Atlanta Police Department has not said what sparked the argument.

Harris, who a friend told Fox 5 was a "visionary" who loved new experiences, later died at Grady Memorial Hospital.

The killing, which took place during a busy weekend afternoon on the trail, is the second fatal stabbing along the popular path this year.

The latest: Hamby is charged with murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats/acts and possession of a knife during commission of a felony and is in custody at the Fulton County jail.

He waived his first court appearance on Monday, according to the AJC. Axios was unable to contact his listed attorney.

State of play: On Monday, APD assistant chief Charles Hampton Jr. said Beltline users would notice officers patrolling the trail. 

Atlanta City Council member Dustin Hillis said he wanted to see additional officers patrolling the Beltline's more than 17 miles of trails and other city paths. 

New officers are added to the unit as police academy cadets graduate, Schierbaum said.

Zoom in: Hamby is a convicted felon with 30 arrest cycles, Mayor Andre Dickens said, and previously pleaded guilty in a case involving a stabbing, court records show.

A DeKalb judge revoked his probation earlier this year after violations that included missed appointments and failure to complete anger management and a required mental health evaluation. He was released in May, Fox 5 reports.

He faced a probation violation in Fulton County last year. The violation was dismissed after the state failed to petition the court, and Hamby was released, the AJC reports.

Zoom out: Schierbaum questioned why Hamby wasn't incarcerated and whether the courts are equipped to handle cases involving repeat offenders and mental illness.

A statement released Tuesday attributed to Hamby's family expressed sorrow and condolences for the victim's family.

His family said Hamby lived with severe mental illness and detailed their repeated efforts to get the judicial system to intervene, only to be told he didn't meet the legal threshold.

What they're saying: "Our family tried to build a dam with our bare hands to protect the community from the tragedy that occurred yesterday, but the system washed it away," the statement said.

What's next: Hamby's next court date in the murder case is Sept. 15.

A memorial to honor Harris is planned for Saturday at 2pm in Freedom Park, atlscoop reports.

Beltline stabbing renews debate over mental health, public safety

Atlanta officials are reviewing patrols, cameras and emergency response after Sunday's killing.

Man in a red shirt wearing a helmet rides a black bike along a sidewalk in front of a building with orange framework; a bouquet of yellow and white flowers sits on the curb in the foreground.

Flowers left near the location of Ramon Harris' killing. Photo: Thomas Wheatley/Axios

The fatal stabbing Sunday on the Atlanta Beltline Eastside Trail has sparked calls for action on public safety, the mental health system and criminal justice reform.Driving the news: Mayor Andre Dickens said he directed Atlanta public safety and Beltline teams to review the &quot;safety protocols surrounding this incident, including patrols, camera coverage and emergency response.&quot;

News

And boom, the weekend's back. Start planning now:

⛳️ Kiss your sunburn worries goodbye with a six-hole, par 3 night golf course at Lanier Islands Resort. (Thurs.-Sat.)

⛳️ Some of golf's best players compete for a $40 million purse at the PGA Tour Championship at the historic East Lake Golf Club. (Thurs.-Sun.)

🎺 Vocalist and trumpeter Joe Gransden joins pianist Kenny Banks Sr. on stage for two shows at the Velvet Note. (Fri.)

🏴‍☠️ Decatur romance bookstore Kiss and Tale hosts an evening of pirate-themed quests and puzzles  and an author Q&A to celebrate the release of Maggie Rapier's "Wolftamer." (Fri.)

🏀 Playoffs-bound Atlanta Dream take on the Portland Fire (Fri.) and the Minnesota Lynx. (Sun.) 

🎹 Bring a picnic basket to the historic Callanwolde estate and listen to Dr. Tyrone Jackson and Friends play jazz on the lawn. (Fri.)

⚾ The Braves host the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park. (Fri.-Sun.)

🧑‍🌾 Bring your dog, significant other, out of town visitors or just yourself to the Piedmont Park Green Market. (Sat.)

🎤 Attention, Gen X: The R&B Lovers Tour featuring Keith Sweat, Joe, Ginuwine, Kut Klose and Dru Hill makes a stop at State Farm Arena. (Sat.)

⚽️ Regional rivals Atlanta United and Charlotte FC battle at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Sat.)

🪘 Afrobeats and amapiano collide as Nigerian superstar Asake's In God We Trust tour comes to State Farm Arena. (Sun.)

Weekender: Golf, more golf and pirate puzzles

From the Tour Championship to Afrobeats and night golf, there's plenty happening around Atlanta.

Illustration of a thinking emoji rubbing its chin with a slice of pizza, a beer, a bike, a coffee, a book and other things to do swirling around its head. 

Illustration of a beach chair made out of a calendar.

And boom, the weekend&#x27;s back. Start planning now:⛳️ Kiss your sunburn worries goodbye with a six-hole, par 3 night golf course at Lanier Islands Resort. (<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Thurs.-Sat." data-vars-click-url="https://www.lanierislands.com/golf/the-six/" data-vars-content-id="2217c207-9e18-415b-a35f-9f691373eccc" data-vars-headline="Weekender: Golf, more golf and pirate puzzles" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lanierislands.com/golf/the-six/" target="_blank">Thurs.-Sat.</a>)

Things to Do

Atlanta rideshare drivers are urging city and state lawmakers to curb the expansion of Waymo and other robotaxis and consider the technology's long-term economic impact.

Why it matters: A group of independent contractors who helped disrupt the taxicab business model is now organizing to push back against automation.

Driving the news: The Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Union says drivers have reported lower pay, longer waits between rides and fewer fares since the June 2025 rollout and expansion of Waymo.

Zoom in: On Wednesday, Liza Ramsey of the ARDU told Atlanta City Council members that drivers want the elected officials to create a robotaxi impact fee that would add 50 cents to $1 per ride.

Revenue would go into a "driver transition fund" to assist with job training, grants and programs to help displaced workers.

"If corporations profit from replacing human workers with automation, they should contribute to helping those workers transition to the next opportunity," Ramsey said.

The group also wants city and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials to prohibit robotaxis from picking up people at the airport, a reliable source of rides for human drivers. 

Other policy ideas include caps on robotaxi deployment and more data reporting.

Caveat: The union does not have aggregated data showing the reported decline in income, Ramsey said, but members share anecdotes and screenshots of earnings in a WhatsApp group.

Higher gas, insurance, maintenance and other costs could also play a role, Ramsey said.

State of play: Waymo is no longer a small experiment in Atlanta: Its vehicles logged more than 5.4 million fully autonomous miles here through March, and the company plans to launch its own app serving the market in early 2028.

Reality check: Some of what the union wants requires state action, and Georgia law broadly permits autonomous vehicles.

The other side: Uber has advocated for a managed system that includes human drivers and AVs and supports the creation of a transition strategy for displaced workers.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told Fast Company in June that the company is recruiting fewer human drivers in Atlanta and Austin, another city with Waymo, in part to protect workers' earning opportunities.

He told the "Invest Like the Best" podcast that human drivers in those cities on the Uber platform are "making more money."

Waymo, which has offered to create a $20 million support fund for displaced drivers, argues that the technology will scale and help create a new ecosystem of jobs supporting AVs.

Atlanta rideshare drivers push back against robotaxis

Drivers say robotaxis mean fewer fares and want Atlanta leaders to address automation's impact.

Illustration of a fountain pen drawing street lines in real time as a robotaxi swiftly drives next to it. 

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Atlanta rideshare drivers are urging city and state lawmakers to curb the expansion of Waymo and other robotaxis and consider the technology&#x27;s long-term economic impact.Why it matters: A group of independent contractors who helped disrupt the taxicab business model is now organizing to push back against automation.

Data: NOAA solar calculations; U.S. Census Bureau; Note: Times are calculated for a single point within each U.S. county or equivalent. Actual sunset times across a given county might vary; Map: Brad Jennings/Axios


Get ready for shorter days: Atlanta's final 8pm sunset of the year arrives next week as fall inches closer, per NOAA.

The big picture: We lose a little more daylight every day as the Earth's Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun through Dec. 21 — the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year.

The latest: Final 8pm sunsets are happening across the state on different days; Georgia's eastern half is getting darker a little earlier all this week and into next.

The sun sets in Atlanta at 8pm on the dot on Wednesday, Sept. 3, according to NOAA.

Zoom out: Most Americans have already seen their final 8pm sunset this season. East Coast cities from Boston to Miami have been in darkness before 8pm for weeks.

Yes, but: Parts of southeastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and all of Hawaii never see an 8pm sunset, even at the height of summer.

And then there's Arizona, which does not observe daylight saving time, so most Arizonans get earlier sunsets all the time.

The bottom line: Plan your front-porch sitting time accordingly. 

Your turn: How are you spending the final days of summer? Email atlanta@axios.com and let us know. 

Go deeper: Why shorter days could change your mood

Atlanta's final 8pm sunset of 2026 is next week

The city is losing a little more daylight each day as summer winds down and fall approaches.

US county map titled "Final 8pm sunset of 2026" showing five color bands from pale yellow to dark brown indicating sunset dates by county; includes Alaska and Hawaii.

Data: NOAA solar calculations; U.S. Census Bureau; Note: Times are calculated for a single point within each U.S. county or equivalent. Actual sunset times across a given county might vary; Map: Brad Jennings/Axios

Get ready for shorter days: Atlanta&#x27;s final 8pm sunset of the year arrives next week as fall inches closer, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per NOAA" data-vars-click-url="https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/table.php?lat=33.733&amp;lon=-84.383&amp;year=2026" data-vars-content-id="2b7606d8-1837-41a3-b2f1-5934fe553a6d" data-vars-headline="Atlanta&#x27;s final 8pm sunset of 2026 is next week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/table.php?lat=33.733&amp;lon=-84.383&amp;year=2026" target="_blank">per NOAA</a>.The big picture: We lose a little more daylight every day as the Earth&#x27;s Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun through Dec. 21 — the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year.

A choropleth map showing the final 8 p.m. sunset in the U.S. for 2026, for each county, categorized by date. Areas colored in dark brown indicate final 8 p.m. sunsets before August 11, while lighter shades reflect later dates, with the lightest indicating after September 10. Regions are outlined to illustrate varying sunset times across the country.

Thomas Wheatley

Featured stories

Atlanta rideshare drivers push back against robotaxis

Atlanta's final 8pm sunset of 2026 is next week

Weekender: Golf, more golf and pirate puzzles

Beltline stabbing renews debate over mental health, public safety

Remember when Atlanta got drive-thru funeral viewing?