Thousands across metro Atlanta gathered atop Stone Mountain to catch the first light of Easter Sunday morning.
While the city slumbered, the base of Stone Mountain was churning with life at 5 a.m. Families carrying throw blankets and lawn chairs filed in line for the gondola cars as young parents rallied their sluggish children, still in their pajamas.
A packed gondola car lurched upward toward a blurred outline of Stone Mountain that was barely visible under the cover of dark, as the more active visitors began their one-hour trek up the other side of the mountain.
It was an early morning race to the mountain top to catch the daylight at 7 a.m. for the 79th annual Easter Sunrise Service, which featured live worship music, readings from the Bible and sermons from former local pastors…