Westview Cemetery

Saint Mark Stained-Glass, Witham, Candler and the Intersection of History: Westview

It's been awhile since we've posted a historical tidbit about one of our residents; so, today, we thought we'd end that drought by doing two things: talking about our resident William Stuart Witham Sr. and introducing you to our newest staff member, Front Office Associate Christia Holloway, who researched and wrote the bulk of the below.

First up, but in reverse order from the above, Holloway joined us in January, is passionate about history, and is an invaluable addition to our team. In future posts written by her, attribution will be given.

Secondly, Saint Mark and Witham. According to "The Windows of St. Mark United Methodist Church" (1976), Witham, aka "Uncle Billy," who lies in Section 1 at Westview, “was a life-long Methodist and a prominent banker in Atlanta and throughout the state. A devout member of St. Mark [although listed as a member of Peachtree Road UMC in his obituary], he and his wife were instrumental in the building of the new church at Peachtree and Fifth Streets [Saint Mark] and in the raising of funds for this purpose. Their home [3426 Peachtree Street] was located 'far out' in the [then] new section of Atlanta, on Peachtree Street facing Peachtree Place."

But there's another Westview connection...

Asa "Buddie" Candler, Jr., became the director of Westview in 1934, coincidentally, the same year Witham died. Thirty-four years earlier in 1900, twenty-year-old Buddie was sent by his father, Candler Sr., to work in Witham’s cotton mill in Hartwell, Georgia, where Candler, Sr., had a controlling interest. (Witham was both a friend of the family and a business associate.) Buddie started at the mill as a bookkeeper and was eventually promoted to secretary and treasurer, before he came back to Atlanta.

It was also in Hartwell where Buddie would meet his first wife Helen Magill. After her death due to cancer in 1927 and just a few short months later, much to the dismay of his children, Buddie would marry his secretary, Florence Adeline Stephenson, who co-managed Westview's affairs. Florence is the namesake of the memorial chapel in Westview’s Abbey.

It isn't known if Buddie attended Uncle Billy’s funeral in 1934, but if he did, it had to have brought back memories of Hartwell - good or bad.

Buddie, Helen, and Florence are buried at Westview in Section 2 just across from Uncle Billy's section.

If you have some time, come out and visit Uncle Billy, Candler Sr., Jr., Helen, Florence, or the chapel that bears the latter's name. See how history interconnects. And be sure to stop in and introduce yourself to Christia Holloway, too.

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Due to the weather, our gates are closed.

We are monitoring the situation to see if we will open delayed or at all tomorrow, Monday, January 26.

Thank you for your understanding.