I spoke with Winnie Watts-Hemphill, president, Southview Cemetery Association during the April 9 edition of The Local Take about their upcoming event on April 30. The event will raise funds to continue the preservation and maintenance of South-View Cemetery. Hemphill talks her family's connection to this historic cemetery where many of Atlanta's African American leaders are interred.
Some of the people there include: Alonzo Herndon (1858-1927), Geneva Haugabrooks (1888-1977), John Wesley Dobbs (1882-1961), Charles L. Harper (1875-1955) and, the parents of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Rev. Martin L. King Sr (1899-1984) and Alberta King (1904 - 1974).
South-View was formed when other cemeteries would only offer low lying swamp land for the burial of African Americans. The mission of the non-profit Historic South-View Preservation Foundation is to continue to record, interpret, restore and, preserve the art, history and environment of the non-perpetual care sections of the cemetery. If you are interested in touring the cemetery or attending their April 30 fundraising event, you can reach the Historic South-View Preservation Foundation at (404) 622-5393 or click here.
South-View Cemetery is located at 1990 Jonesboro Road, SE, Atlanta, GA 30315