ONE SECTION AT A TIME

Save Historic Woodlawn Memorial Park cemetery in Compton, California.

Established in 1871 Woodlawn Memorial Park located at 1715 W. Greenleaf Blvd., Compton, California is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles County. Burials are no longer performed and we are at risk of losing this critical piece of Compton and Los Angeles County history.

After a decades of mismanagement and neglect, the owner surrendered his operating license, padlocked the gates and walked away without notifying surviving family members. For years the cemetery was without water, maintenance or management. It was totally unrecognizable.

The beginning of change: On Mother’s Day 2020, Celestina Bishop had to jump the fence to visit her mother, sisters and grandmother’s graves. What she found was devastation: vegetation, as high as five feet; dead and fallen trees; damaged tombstones; headstones buried in dirt and debris; illegal trash dumping; homeless encampments; and, feral animals running wild. Celestina's promised her Mother she would clean-up her family's final resting place. Celestina committed to restore and preserve Woodlawn, “One Section At A Time”. And, with the help of volunteers this organization was formed and the work began to do just that.

Accomplishments to date: Mother’s Day 2021 marks the one year anniversary. Much has been done to improve Woodlawn, to restore dignity and respect to the deceased and provide families the reassurance a permanent change is on the way. This was achieved through the hard work of volunteers, contributions of a few local businesses and the generous donations of Celestina Bishop and her husband. Together they have:
Removed homeless encampments, feral animals, trash, fallen trees, dead vegetation
Obtained the barest of necessities to perform lawn maintenance (weed wackers, lawnmower, rakes, etc.)
Replaced deteriorating Civil War Flagpole and refurbished the memorial
Replaced broken/missing irrigation valves and pipes (as discovered)
Restored water (limited to funding constraints)
Installed security cameras
Providing public access daily
Providing grave location assistance
Facilitating scheduling and installation of headstones requested by family replacing those missing prior to Mother’s Day 2020
Assisting families wanting to conduct memorial service for loved ones previously buried at Woodlawn
Financial help is needed to complete critical projects, enabling the transfer of Woodlawn to the caring management of a non profit organization
Repair and/or preserve damaged headstones
Replace deteriorating Spanish American War Flagpole
Evaluate health of remaining trees and implement maintenance program
Restore lawn and implement lawn maintenance program
Assess and implement water management program
Paint perimeter fence, gates, signage and building
Repair asphalt roadway
Correct property tax status and resolve disputed property tax debt
Complete transition of cemetery to nonprofit long term management
Your financial support is needed and greatly appreciated.

If you cannot, perhaps you can help in other ways, please visit us at: 1715 W. Greenleaf Blvd., Compton, CA between 11:00 and 4:00 or contact us at:

One Section At A Time
onesectionatatime.gmail.com
(424) [phone redacted]

Thank you.



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