Located between 1220 and 1310 Lowell Street, Johnson City, Tennessee.
GPS Location: 36° 20.080N 082° 21.640W
West Lawn Cemetery
2014
West Lawn Cemetery is an African-American cemetery located on Lowell Street in Johnson City, Tennessee. It contains approximately 6 acres, acquired in two basic parcels. The old section dates to 1902 and is the more northerly section without Lowell Street frontage. The newer section dates to 1924 and is the parcel with the circular drive. There are several deeds of conveyance and the transaction history too complex to detail here.
As is the case with most burial grounds, there are both marked and unmarked graves at West Lawn. Every effort has been made to identify as many, and as thoroughly as possible. Included in the survey are the enumerated markers, as well as a listing of names found through death certificate research. Additionally, several people have contributed firsthand knowledge to supplement the project. Because of the scope of the project, it should be noted that there will be names missed. Some markers may have been lost to time, as well.
During the late 1920’s, remains and some markers were removed from the African-American burial ground that was located on Roan Hill. This move was done to facilitate residential development on Buffalo Street. These graves were relocated to West Lawn. The nearby church continued to have worship service until several years later. For additional information, see Roan Hill Cemetery.
West Lawn is rich in local history. Too detailed to list here, interested parties are encouraged to contact the board or the other groups noted below for additional historic information.
For ease in detailing grave locations, the burial ground has been separated into several sections. These designations are for recording purposes and do not have any special meaning. See related maps.
West Lawn Cemetery is governed by a board consisting of several members. It is still an active burial ground and is open to anyone wishing to make burial arrangements.
West Lawn has been going through some restoration and will continue to do so for some time. It is hoped that the restoration and preservation will serve to guide the continued care and respect for the deceased and to encourage community participation.
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION C
West Lawn Cemetery
New Section
SECTIONS EN and ES
West Lawn Cemetery
Old Section West
SECTION D
Section D was a small section across the street. It was sold without any burials.
SECTION F AND NF
West Lawn Cemetery
Old Section
TENNESSEE DEATH CERTIFICATE RECORDS 1908-1958 (Partial listing)
Researched by Elaine Scott Cantrell and compiled by Gordon M. Edwards.
Surveyed, transcribed and donated to the Washington County TNGen Web 2013-2014 by Gordon M. Edwards a member of the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee and a volunteer with Heritage Alliance of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia during 2013, 2018 and updated 2022. Betty Jane Hylton and Elaine Scott Cantrell, Cemetery Survey Team of NE Tennessee; Caroly Newman, West Lawn Cemetery Board; Langston Heritage Group; ETSU graduate students Lexi Doutrich, Richard Lloyd and Julia Underkoffler updated in 2022.
Washington County Tennessee Tombstone Inscriptions by Charles M. Bennettee and the Watauga Assocation of Genealogists used with permission by Loraine B. Rae .
Copyrighted 2014 by the Cemetery Survey Team of Northeast Tennessee. No part of this work may be copied without written permission from the Cemetery Survey Team.