Woodlawn Cemetery (Historic African American Section)

Mar 17

Site Brief:

Founded: 1915

Location: Fort Myers, FL

Additional name(s): Woodlawn Section of Fort Myers Cemetery

Affiliate group(s): N/A

History:

Woodlawn Cemetery in Fort Myers, Florida is a historic burial ground that holds the remains of African American families from across Southwest Florida, including residents of Immokalee who were denied burial access in Collier County during the era of segregation. The Woodlawn section of Fort Myers Cemetery (owned by the City of Fort Myers) was created around 1915 as the area used for Black burials during segregation. Because Black residents were barred from many white cemeteries, families were forced to bury their loved ones in Fort Myers. Woodlawn therefore became a regional resting place for Black agricultural workers, families, and children whose lives were tied to the farming communities of Immokalee and the surrounding areas. The cemetery contains both marked and unmarked graves and stands as physical evidence of the racial restrictions that shaped burial practices in Southwest Florida.

Today Woodlawn Cemetery remains a sacred site of memory, lineage, and community history. The graves represent generations whose labor helped build the agricultural and civic foundations of the region but whose burial rights were limited by segregation. Families still visit the site to honor loved ones, including the burials of infants. Recent development constructed immediately adjacent to the cemetery has raised serious concerns regarding the protection of burial boundaries, the preservation of graves, and the continued dignity of those interred at this historic African American burial ground.