The Cemetery Society

The Cemetery Society We're a nonprofit (501c3) dedicated to inspiring others to appreciate and support historic cemeteries.

06/02/2026

Remember his name.

His name was Radolfo Lopez.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated May 10, 1902, Radolfo was only 3 years old.

The record lists his occupation as child. His cause of death was listed as scarlet fever.

He died at home. The record lists his residence as 1613 Tampa Street, and his stated place of burial as West Tampa Cemetery on May 10, 1902, with J.L. Reed listed as undertaker.

Radolfo was a little boy.

Three years old.

His story is a reminder that cemetery preservation is not abstract.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, Radolfo Lopez may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

He should not be erased.

Remember his name.

Radolfo Lopez.

06/01/2026

Remember this child’s name.

The record lists this baby as the infant of C. Filoto.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated April 15, 1902, this child was an infant.

The baby died at home. The record lists the residence as 963 Laurel Street, and the stated place of burial as Martí on April 15, 1902, with J.L. Reed listed as undertaker.

This was someone’s baby.

A child whose life ended before it had barely begun.

Cemetery preservation is not abstract.

These are real people. Real families. Real grief.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, the infant child of C. Filoto may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

This child should not be erased.

Remember this baby.

The infant child of C. Filoto.

06/01/2026

Remember her name.

Her name was Mrs. Mercedes Arias.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated April 8, 1902, Mercedes was 45 years old.

She died at home. The record lists her residence as 1808 16th Street, and her stated place of burial as West Tampa Cemetery on April 7, 1902, with Medlin listed as undertaker.

Mercedes lived in West Tampa during a time when this community was growing through the labor, culture, and sacrifice of immigrant, Hispanic, Cuban, Afro-Cuban, Caribbean, working-class, and African diaspora communities.

Her story belongs to that history.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, Mercedes Arias may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

She should not be erased.

Remember her name.

Mercedes Arias.

06/01/2026

Remember his name.

His name was Hebsimo Sebrinni.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated April 6, 1902, Hebsimo was 33 years old.

He died at home. The record lists his residence as 228 Chestnut Street, and his stated place of burial as West Tampa Cemetery on April 6, 1902.

Hebsimo was a person with a home, a life, and people who knew him.

His story is part of the human history held in this cemetery landscape.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, Hebsimo Sebrinni may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

He should not be erased.

Remember his name.

Hebsimo Sebrinni.

06/01/2026

Remember this child’s name.

The record lists this baby as the infant of Rafael Varesa.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated February 27, 1902, this baby was only 4 months old.

The record lists the date of death as February 26, 1902, and the stated place of burial as West Tampa Cemetery, with R. Medlin listed as undertaker.

This was a baby. Four months old.

Cemetery preservation is not abstract.

These are real people. Real families. Real grief.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, the infant child of Rafael Varesa may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

This child should not be erased.

Remember this baby.

The infant child of Rafael Varesa.

05/31/2026

Roblea Romara

Remember her name.

Her name was Roblea Romara.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated December 6, 1901, Roblea was only 7 months old.

She died at home. The record lists her residence as 338 Spruce Street, and her stated place of burial as West Tampa Cemetery on December 6, 1901, with J.L. Reed listed as undertaker.

Roblea was a baby. Her story is a reminder that cemetery preservation is not abstract.

These are real people. Real families. Real grief.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, Roblea Romara may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

She should not be erased.

Remember her name.

Roblea Romara.

05/31/2026

Infant of Wilford Thomas

Remember this child.

The record identifies this child as the infant of Wilford Thomas.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated November 23, 1901, this infant died at home.

The stated place of burial was West Tampa Cemetery on November 22, 1901, with J.L. Reed listed as undertaker.

This is why unmarked burial records matter.

Even when a child’s first name was not recorded, that child still lived. That child still belonged to someone. That child still deserves dignity.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, the infant of Wilford Thomas may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

This child should not be erased.

Remember this child.

Infant of Wilford Thomas.

Adrianne Rodriguez thank you It's a CEMETERY!!
05/31/2026

Adrianne Rodriguez thank you
It's a CEMETERY!!

05/31/2026

Eduardo Celya

Remember his name.

His name was Eduardo Celya.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated November 22, 1901, Eduardo was 71 years old.

The record lists his residence as 362 Green Street. His stated place of burial was West Tampa Cemetery on November 22, 1901, with J.L. Reed listed as undertaker.

Eduardo’s name carries us back into early West Tampa, into a community built by working families, immigrants, cigar workers, neighbors, and families whose histories are too often left out of the official story.

He was part of that story.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, Eduardo Celya may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

He should not be erased.

Remember his name.

Eduardo Celya.

05/31/2026

Carman Fables

Remember her name.

Her name was recorded as Carman Fables.

According to the Tampa Tribune, dated November 21, 1901, Carman was only 5 months old.

She died at home. The record lists her residence as 1513 Central Avenue, and her stated place of burial as West Tampa Cemetery on November 20, 1901, with J.L. Reed listed as undertaker.

The record also lists Duan Fables as her father.

Carman was just a baby. A tiny life, a real family, a real loss.

Her story is part of the cemetery landscape we are fighting to protect.

Because many graves connected to this cemetery were unmarked, lost, or never properly preserved, Carman Fables may rest somewhere within the broader Martí-Colón / Colón / West Tampa cemetery ground.

She should not be forgotten.

Remember her name.

Carman Fables.

Address

Tampa, FL
33603

Telephone

+18138637296

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