Restore and Maintain Abandoned Cemetery

Friends and Supporters of Historical Thomson Lakeview Cemetery Preservation Site are seeking donations and volunteers to help with the restoration, reclamation and maintenance of this historic site which was abandoned and left in the care of Mother Nature. The heavy growth of trees, bramble bushes, dense undergrowth and thickets grew freely. The cemetery is located at the intersection of Hammond and Vienna Streets, Abbeville, SC. 

The City of Abbeville, SC. has approved the inclusion of Historical Thomson Lakeview Cemetery Preservation Site into the Historic Properties Protection Commission. County Property Records indicate this 6.5 acre site was purchased and registered in the Deeds, Titles and Records Department of the local courthouse in 1885. 

There are several notable South Carolinians interred on site, i.e., Abbeville County's first and only Elected (Reconstruction Era) Black State Senator, Hutson Lomax. Alfred Ellison, the grandfather of author Ralph Ellison (The Invisible Man) both of whom have been inducted into the Abbeville Hall of Fame. World War I, II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans are in their final places of rest.  Many local dignitaries of the 1800's can be found in HTLCPS.   

Several attempts in the pass were made to restore dignity and sanctity to this hallowed site have been made through the years. However due to the lack of funding and participation the work of this project ceased.

The 2014 Dr. Martin L. King's Holiday was celebrated as "A Day On Not A Day Off", with a HTLCPS clean-up. Volunteers estimated at 150, to include local elected officials, boy scouts, high school clubs, ministerial associations, greek organizations, churches and emergency medical services were among the volunteers.

Help us the coordinators; Wallace McClinton, John M. Reid, Samuel Lyons and myself to continue to supervise the ongoing activities of restoring this cemetery to a recognizable memorial by donating today! 

Thank you.