Restvale Cemetery

Restvale Cemetery
Interactive map of Restvale Cemetery
Details
Established	1927 (1927)
Location	11700 S. Laramie Ave, Alsip, Illinois
Country	United States
Type	Historically Black

Restvale Cemetery is in Alsip, Illinois, United States, a suburb southwest of the city of Chicago. A number of Chicago blues musicians, educators, and notable people are buried there.

Restvale and Burr Oak were the last two historically black cemeteries to open in the area; both had their first burials in 1927.

The cemetery is owned by Willie Carter, who through the company Cemecare also co-owns the Burr Oak and the Cedar Park cemeteries. ^[1]

Notable interments

• John Henry Barbee (1905–1964), blues singer, guitarist ^[2]
• David Barksdale (1947–1974), leader of the Black Disciples street gang
• Doctor Clayton (1898–1947), blues songwriter and singer
• Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton (1926–1990), professional basketball player
• Lee Cooper (1925–1966), blues guitarist ^[3]
• Kermit Dial (1908–1982), professional Negro League baseball player
• William Ezell (1892–1963), blues, jazz, ragtime and boogie-woogie pianist and occasional singer ^[4]
• Jazz Gillum (1904–1966), blues harmonica player ^[5]
• Arvella Gray (1906–1980), blues, folk and gospel singer and guitarist ^[6]
• Hip Linkchain (1936–1989), Chicago blues guitarist, singer and songwriter ^[7]
• Earl Hooker (1929–1970), blues guitarist ^[8]
• Big Walter "Shakey" Horton (1918–1981), blues harmonica player
• J.B. Hutto (1926–1983), blues guitarist ^[9]
• Little Johnny Jones (1924–1964), blues pianist and singer
• Moody Jones (1908–1988), Chicago blues musician ^[10]
• Sammy Lawhorn (1935–1990), Chicago blues guitarist ^[11]
• Bonnie Lee (1931–2006), Chicago blues singer ^[12]
• Cripple Clarence Lofton (died 1957), boogie-woogie pianist and singer
• Willie James Lyons (1938–1980), blues guitarist, singer and songwriter ^[13]
• Samuel "Magic Sam" Maghett (1936–1969), blues musician
• Charles "Papa Charlie" McCoy (1909–1950), blues musician ^[14]
• Kansas Joe McCoy (1905–1950), blues musician ^[14]
• Romeo Nelson (1902–1974), boogie-woogie pianist
• James Burke "St. Louis Jimmy" Oden (1903–1977), blues musician, composer
• Archie Pate (1886–1936), professional Negro League baseball player
• Gary Primich (1958–2007), blues musician ^[15]
• Bobby Robinson (1903–2002), professional Negro League baseball player
• Buddy Scott (1935–1994), blues guitarist ^[16]
• Charlie Segar (dates unknown), blues pianist and singer, the first to record the blues standard, "Key to the Highway" (1940) ^[17]
• Pinetop Smith (1904–1929), boogie-woogie pianist
• Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (1936–2011), Grammy Award-winning musician and vocalist
• Freddie Spruell (1893–1956), Delta blues guitarist and singer
• Eddie Taylor (1923–1985), blues guitarist, songwriter
• Theodore Roosevelt "Hound Dog" Taylor (1915–1975), blues musician ^[18]
• George Washington Thomas (1883–1937), songwriter ^[19]
• Luther Tucker (1936–1993), blues guitarist ^[20]
• Washboard Doc 1911–1988), blues musician
• Muddy Waters (1913–1983), blues musician ^[21]
• Johnny "Daddy Stove Pipe" Watson (1867–1963), blues musician
• Valerie Wellington (1959–1993), actress, opera singer, blues singer
• Tom Williams (1894–1937) Negro leagues pitcher, Chicago American Giants

See also

• List of United States cemeteries

References

1. "Burr Oak, Cedar Park cemeteries sold". Chicago Defender. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
2. "John Henry Barbee: Music Biography". Wirz.de. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
3. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
4. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-25.
5. "Jazz Gillum, Complete Recorded Works 1936–1949 in Chronological Order. Vol. 1, 3 April 1936 to 16 December 1938". Document-records.com. Retrieved 2015-08-30. Document Records Vintage Blues and Jazz, DOCD-5197
6. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
7. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
8. Sebastian, Danchin (February 11, 2010). Earl Hooker, Blues Master. University Press of Mississippi. p. 321. ISBN   9781604739008 – via Google Books.
9. Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (May 1, 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 128. ISBN   9780313344244 – via Google Books.
10. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
11. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
12. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
13. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
14. "McCoy Brothers Tribute". Mccoybrotherstribute.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
15. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
16. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
17. "Headstones Placed". Killerblues.net. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
18. "Hound Dog Taylor". Furious.com. Retrieved November 22, 2006.
19. "George Washington Thomas/Hersal Thomas". Ragpiano.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
20. "Luther Tucker". March 20, 2008. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
21. "Musicians, fans bid farewell to Muddy Waters - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2025-07-22.

External links

• Restvale Cemetery at Find a Grave
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Restvale Cemetery
• Facility details, Illinois.gov

41°40′47″N87°45′02″W / 41.6797472°N 87.7506012°W / 41.6797472; -87.7506012