Much of the history about the cemetery, located between Roanoke Street and Lee Street, across from Westview Cemetery is unknown. Through conversations with community members and land records it is known the cemetery was established in 1909 by the Colored Graveyard Association of Blacksburg, Virginia, to serve Blacksburg’s black community.

For many years, the cemetery was administered by a committee consisting of five gentlemen from St. Paul A.M.E. Methodist Church and First Baptist Church. (These gentlemen were most likely the trustees for the Blacksburg Colored Graveyard Association.) The committee maintained a treasury for upkeep of the cemetery, and once a year on Memorial Day, organized a community cleanup of the cemetery. Often the cleanup would involve burning off brush. One nearby resident remembers “the whole thing on fire.”  In the late 1960’s, the Association asked the Town to take over maintenance of the cemetery as it had become overgrown with honeysuckle vine and wild rose, which Town crews cleared.

Since this time, the Town has managed the cemetery in conjunction with the two churches.  Because a number of grave sites were not marked, and the only historical record available was a paper map, it was difficult to know where all the grave sites were located and who was buried in the cemetery.  In the early 2000’s several projects were completed to locate all the grave sites and enhance the cemetery’s landscaping, with input from members of the churches and family members with relatives buried in the cemetery.  Efforts continue to learn the names of people buried with no marker.  

Over the years, several names were used to refer to the cemetery with no official name found in any records.  The names included The Black Cemetery which was intended to acknowledge the community it served.  Lee Street Cemetery was another name used which recognizes its location on Lee Street.  Additionally, Southview Cemetery and Westview Cemetery were also used. 

In 2023, with a recommendation from members of the churches and family members with relatives buried in the cemetery, the Town formally adopted the name Southview Memorial Gardens, for the cemetery located between Roanoke Street and Lee Street across from Westview Cemetery.

Due to the care put forth by the churches, family members, and the Town of Blacksburg, Southview Memorial Gardens continues to be an attractive and peaceful resting place.