Westview Cemetery

12/05/2025

Giving Friday and Forever: Westview Hopes to Create Museum

We are three days past GivingTuesday 2025, but we hope you might give today and in the future!

As many of you know, we are trying to raise money to refurbish our 1890 Romanesque Revival gatehouse to serve as a visitor center, museum, and community space. To that end - and since we haven't used the space for cemetery purposes since the 1950s - we established in 2016, along with the Atlanta Preservation Center, Friends of Historic Westview Cemetery, a 501(c)(3).

It is hoped that Friends can help us generate funds for a complete restoration of the gatehouse - one of Atlanta's oldest, still-standing buildings. (We just need $2.5 million! Any deep pockets out there? We will do naming rights!)

With the anticipation of a museum someday, we have been gathering artifacts to display in it and have restored some of those. As such, we thought we'd share an update on a few.

First, a huge thank you goes out to David Bray who donated this week a monogrammed linen napkin and a pre-1909 P. H. Leonard, New York, monogrammed porcelain wine coaster from the estate of Alice (Allie) Garnie Candler Guy. Mrs. Guy, buried in Section 5, was the daughter of Georgia Supreme Court Judge John Slaughter Candler and the niece of Coca-Cola founder Asa Griggs Candler.

Second, our own director of administration, Jeff Clemmons - who authored a book on Rich's published in 2012 - donated before Thanksgiving a four-foot, eight-inch by four-foot downtown Rich's clock replica; it was created by Brubaker Design for the Breman Museum's November 2013 - May 2014 "Return to Rich's" exhibition. Just last year, the replica was used in Hapeville Depot's "Rich's: A Southern Institution" exhibition. Between the two stints, the clock was housed at the Rich Foundation in Buckhead. Dick Rich (long-time store president), Walter Rich (once store-president and founder of the Dogwood Festival), and other family members of the institution are buried in Section 5.

Third, yesterday, staff completed restoration on the WATL 1380, The Abbey Hour, radio sign, which we posted about in June. The sign, in worse shape than we thought, came out beautifully. Grounds manager and fourth-generation Westview-steward Chase Bowen discovered it tucked away in an unused closet within Westview Abbey.

The other pics posted are items we have in our collection - Orly plane crash caskets (we have two) issued by the French government; molds for Fritz Paul Zimmer's Last Supper bas-relief; Cold War-era fallout shelter signs and barrels (the abbey served as one); Lt. Thomas Mason Brumby's Spanish American War-era uniform (two jackets and a vest), and his circa 1877 Union Jack flag on loan from Arleigh Johnson, the museum director of the Polk County Historical Society; and many other items.

Therefore, the next time you are out here, stop by the office and view some of these, and think about donating - tax deductible at friendsofwestview.org - to help us make our museum a reality.

Our story is Atlanta's story.

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12/03/2025

Ever dreamed of working at Westview? Now is your chance!

The Westview Cemetery, Inc.

11/27/2025

To our families, friends, and visitors, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Please note that our offices and the abbey are closed today.

The gates to our grounds are open 8:00 to 5:30.

Tomorrow, we are open during our normal hours.

11/17/2025

Westview Digitizes Earliest Records: Sixteen-Thousand-Plus Pages

Just last month - after a nearly two-month process - we finished scanning all of our original (140+ years-old, in some cases) lot books.

In total, we hand-photographed (scanned), somewhat cropped, corrected, organized, put in a database 16,500+ pages. Those pages stretched across thirty-two books with 500 or more pages in each.

Now, we have had the vital records (names, dates, burial section/lot) in those books in computer databases for years but never scanned in their original form. In the latter state, we can access the delicate files with ease and with the click of a mouse. Those old lot books would give you a workout!

Prior to the advent and wide-spread use of computers, our burial files were stored in rows upon rows of filing cabinets in cement-walled rooms. In the 1950s and for decades, thereafter, files were microfiche-d. Today, of course, we scan everything.

Therefore, we are proud - proverbially "knocking on wood" - that we haven't lost a single file since our inception in 1884. That's unheard of for most cemeteries, let alone one with more than 125,000+ people!

11/05/2025

Oaks, Sycamores, Dogwoods and More: Trees Atlanta Digs in at Westview

This past weekend, today, and before winter arrives, volunteers for Trees Atlanta - composed of individuals from the Emory Equestrian Team, Georgia Tech Civic Engagement, Georgia Tech's Association of Pulp and Paper Industries, and Trees Atlanta's Workforce Development team and Greening Youth cohort - came out to Westview and planted more than 50 trees.

Those trees included dogwoods, sycamores, different types of oaks, white fringe trees, tulip poplars, magnolias, pond cypresses, and elms; they were planted across the lawn of our administrative building, in the field along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard toward Rest Haven, in front of Westview Abbey, in Sections 38 and 41-Z, and numerous other places.

Buffeting the winds out of Alabama on the western side of Atlanta, hence our name - Westview - we appreciate being able to replace felled trees, which occurs at the cemetery more than one might imagine. Therefore, a big thank-you to all of those who came out and volunteered their time, talents, and resources to help us keep Westview beautiful. In particular, a huge debt of gratitude is directed towards Trees Atlanta, who we have worked with for more than a decade.

We are already an Audubon bird sanctuary; maybe we ought to become a certified arboretum as well!

Come take a look, and let us know what you think!

(Photos courtesy of Chase Bowen.)

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10/31/2025

Lectures at Halloween or Any Other Time

Did you know Westview will come to you?

No, no, not in terms of selling graves or making funeral plans (those are best handled on site)! :-)

But our Director of Administration will come to your church group, senior group, school group, civic group, neighborhood association group, etc., to discuss the fascinating history (all 141 years' worth) of Westview and of some of the people buried here.

To schedule such a visit, reach out to: jclemmons@westviewcemetery.com.

This morning, we spoke to the "Prime Timers" group at Trinity Presbyterian Church at Howell Mill and Moore's Mill in Buckhead. What a great group. And half hadn't heard of us!

We are here, active, thriving, and growing!

Happy Halloween!

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10/27/2025

Lucille Frank Book Talk a Success

A thank-you goes out to author Ann Hite for talking about her new book ("I'm a Georgia Girl") and to author Robert Gwaltney for interviewing her about it this past Saturday at Westview Abbey.

A thank-you is also in order for Westview employees Jeff Clemmons and Chase Bowen, and volunteer Blair Bonds for hosting, setting up, and assisting with the event. A shoutout, too, to Annell Gerson of Bookmiser for selling copies of each authors' books.

To mark the occasion, we thought we'd share a few pictures from the book talk (some borrowed from attendee Ana Raquel).

The map and yellow signs were used to show participants where some of those mentioned in the book are buried at Westview.

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10/24/2025

Don't miss out on this incredible discussion about Lucille Frank, Leo Frank, Mary Phagan, the infamous trail, lynching, and other players.

Register today for what tomorrow will be a fantastic event: jclemmons@westviewcemetery.com.

Book Event at Westview Abbey This Coming Saturday!

Please join us on Saturday, October 25, at 2 p.m. to hear author Robert Gwaltney interview author Ann Hite about her new biography, "I'm a Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank, 1888-1957," Mercer University Press, 2025.

After the interview, light refreshments will be given as well as a map to visit some of the graves of those involved in the infamous Leo Frank/Mary Phagan story (the murder, tabloid trial, 'guilty' verdict, and lynching, which led to a rise in antisemitism, a rebirth of the Klan, and the birth of the Anti-Defamation League), such as those of Hugh Dorsey, Luther Rosser, the Montags, and Lucille's sister Sarah Selig Marcus.

Register today at: jclemmons@westviewcemetery.com.

From Amazon:

"Twenty-five-year-old Lucille Selig Frank's whole life changed on April 26, 1913, as the Confederate Memorial Parade marched through Atlanta, Georgia. Lucille was attending the opera matinee with her mother. Her husband, Leo Frank, sat in his office in the National Pencil Company, where he was superintendent, working on a financial report. The brutal murder of fourteen-year-old Mary Phagan, an employee of Leo's, took place in the pencil factory that day. Lucille's husband would be the last known person to see Mary alive. While much has been written about Mary Phagan's murder and Leo Frank's subsequent trial over the past 115 years, very little has given voice to Lucille Selig Frank and other women connected to the horrific events that took place between 1913-1915. Lucille was part of a mission to make Governor John Slaton aware of the antisemitism being shown to Leo during his arrest and trial. She paid a heavy price for her courage."

10/20/2025

Book Event at Westview Abbey This Coming Saturday!

Please join us on Saturday, October 25, at 2 p.m. to hear author Robert Gwaltney interview author Ann Hite about her new biography, "I'm a Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank, 1888-1957," Mercer University Press, 2025.

After the interview, light refreshments will be given as well as a map to visit some of the graves of those involved in the infamous Leo Frank/Mary Phagan story (the murder, tabloid trial, 'guilty' verdict, and lynching, which led to a rise in antisemitism, a rebirth of the Klan, and the birth of the Anti-Defamation League), such as those of Hugh Dorsey, Luther Rosser, the Montags, and Lucille's sister Sarah Selig Marcus.

Register today at: jclemmons@westviewcemetery.com.

From Amazon:

"Twenty-five-year-old Lucille Selig Frank's whole life changed on April 26, 1913, as the Confederate Memorial Parade marched through Atlanta, Georgia. Lucille was attending the opera matinee with her mother. Her husband, Leo Frank, sat in his office in the National Pencil Company, where he was superintendent, working on a financial report. The brutal murder of fourteen-year-old Mary Phagan, an employee of Leo's, took place in the pencil factory that day. Lucille's husband would be the last known person to see Mary alive. While much has been written about Mary Phagan's murder and Leo Frank's subsequent trial over the past 115 years, very little has given voice to Lucille Selig Frank and other women connected to the horrific events that took place between 1913-1915. Lucille was part of a mission to make Governor John Slaton aware of the antisemitism being shown to Leo during his arrest and trial. She paid a heavy price for her courage."

10/14/2025

'Party with the Past' Made the News

If you've been following this page, you know last week we hosted - along with the Atlanta History Center - Party with the Past at our abbey/mausoleum.

https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/atlanta-history-center-party-with-thepast-westview-cemetery/

Despite the rain, we had more than 300 people show up to enjoy the festivities, do tours, and witness the beauty of Westview firsthand.

A thank-you goes out to Westview President Charles Bowen; Chase Bowen, manager; Jeff Clemmons, director of administration; and Brian Williams and Robert Parks, family associates - along with Barry Green, John Schmidt and the Atlanta History Center - for hosting/assisting in the event.

If you haven't been to Westview, visit, take a tour, buy a plot!

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(To view story, click the link above, not the picture; we are not sure why FB is linking the below to "comments.")

10/13/2025

Upcoming Lucille Selig Frank (Leo Frank's wife) Book Event at Westview Abbey

Please join us October 25 at 2 p.m. to hear award-winning author Robert Gwaltney interview award-winning author Ann Hite about her new biography, "I'm a Georgia Girl: The Life of Lucille Selig Frank, 1888-1957," Mercer University Press, 2025.

After the interview, light refreshments will be given as well as a map to visit some of the graves of those involved in the infamous Leo Frank/Mary Phagan story (the murder, tabloid trial, 'guilty' verdict, and lynching, which led to a rise in antisemitism, a rebirth of the Klan, and the birth of the Anti-Defamation League), such as those of Hugh Dorsey, Luther Rosser, the Montags, and Lucille's sister Sarah Selig Marcus.

Register today at: jclemmons@westviewcemetery.com.

From Amazon:

"Twenty-five-year-old Lucille Selig Frank's whole life changed on April 26, 1913, as the Confederate Memorial Parade marched through Atlanta, Georgia. Lucille was attending the opera matinee with her mother. Her husband, Leo Frank, sat in his office in the National Pencil Company, where he was superintendent, working on a financial report. The brutal murder of fourteen-year-old Mary Phagan, an employee of Leo's, took place in the pencil factory that day. Lucille's husband would be the last known person to see Mary alive. While much has been written about Mary Phagan's murder and Leo Frank's subsequent trial over the past 115 years, very little has given voice to Lucille Selig Frank and other women connected to the horrific events that took place between 1913-1915. Lucille was part of a mission to make Governor John Slaton aware of the antisemitism being shown to Leo during his arrest and trial. She paid a heavy price for her courage."

10/10/2025

TOUR THIS SUNDAY

Despite the rain, last night's Party with the Past (with the Atlanta History Center and Westview presenting at Westview Abbey) was a great success with a number hovering around 350 people. Pictures to come.

But if you didn't get enough on Westview last night, or you want to learn more, or you have never been here, join the tour this coming Sunday and learn about what makes Westview so great - not just its size (nearly 600 acres), but its people, history, art, and culture.

Sign up today, space is limited.

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Come learn about the lives of many important Atlantans while enjoying beautiful sculptures and historic structures