Woodlawn, Compton's first cemetery, est. 1870, has served the region for 152 years, interring more than 26,800 people. We have an amazing opportunity to preserve this historic cemetery. Your donation will help save Woodlawn.
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After years of neglect , bankruptcy and abandoned in , the gates of Woodlawn were chained shut leaving families without recourse. In 2020 the nonprofit One Section At A Time was formed to "Save Woodlawn".
After 18 months, hundreds of volunteer and contributions from individuals and local businesses, Woodlawn was cleared of debris, the gates were opened and visitors returned to pay respect to their loved ones. Eleven years of property taxes were paid by our oand the property owner gifted the cemetery to our non profit.
In 2022 the work of restoring the once beautiful historic cemetery begins in earnest with:
Time and neglect have taken a toll on many of the historic monuments. Restoration is key to recognizing Woodlawn as an outdoor museum.
Woodlawn residents have a story to tell. Early pioneers, statesmen, social activists, 920 veterans, successful businessmen, entertainers, sportsmen and their families are buried here. These are the people who built the foundation of Compton and contributed to the development and growth of the region.