Soon after the War Annie and her husband moved to Atlanta, their daughter Isabelle, known as "May Belle", is Margaret Mitchell’s mother. The Fitzgerald’s were a close family and returned many times to visit the plantation which they all referred to as "Rural Home". May Belle was one of Mr. Fitzgerald’s favorite grandchildren and she dearly loved to hear her grandparents tell stories of what happened in Jonesboro during the War.

Margaret Mitchell often made long summer visits to Rural Home as a young girl. Hearing her family stories created an interest in writing a book about the War. Tara never really existed except in the author's thoughts. She is said to have described Tara using many of the homes she saw in Clayton County.