South-View Cemetery, one of the oldest African-American cemeteries in Atlanta, has been listed on the Georgia Register of Historic Places – and it may be going national.
The 140-year-old cemetery in southeast Atlanta’s Lakewood Heights neighborhood was established by formerly enslaved Black men for their families and free-born children. Chartered in 1886, South-View Cemetery now spans 100 acres.
A letter dated May 1 from the National Register of Historic Places to South-View Cemetery states that staff will prepare the final nomination package for submission to Washington, D.C.
“Our staff will be working on your nomination to prepare it for submission. However, please be aware that due to the present federal government shutdown, the Keeper of the National Register is not accepting or processing nominations at this time,” the letter states.
The National Register helps to identify, evaluate and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Those buried in South-View Cemetery include civil rights activists Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King; Atlanta Braves’ Hall of Famer Hank Aaron; former Georgia State Sen. Horace Julian Bond; Atlanta’s first Black millionaire Alonzo “Lon” Herndon; and civil rights activist U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
“South-View Cemetery is the final resting place of many significant individuals, particularly civil rights legends who played pivotal roles in shaping our nation,” Atlanta City Council member Jason Winston wrote in 2024. “The cemetery tells the Atlanta story, reflecting its significance as the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement in our state and nationwide. The accomplishments of these giants must be protected, preserved, and highlighted for generations to come.”
David Y. Mitchell, executive director of the Atlanta Preservation Center, thanked Winston for his dedication.
“Jason Winston courageously understood that this process is greater than any of us and has now further enshrined District 1 to be a remarkable part of the fabric of Atlanta,” Mitchell said. “This makes South-View equal among its peers both locally and nationally.”
In Atlanta, the National Register of Historic Places has recognized New Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery, Oakland Cemetery Westview Cemetery, Utoy Cemetery and Sardis Methodist Church and Cemetery.
