Panama City in Bay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Oakland Cemetery

1908

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Oakland Cemetery Marker

Inscription. The first known burial on this land was that of Arminda Mosher in 1895. She had come to the area with her husband Elijah, and died at the age of 51.

When George M. West moved here permanently in 1906 he founded the Gulf Coast Development Company, with a vision to establish a great port city on St. Andrews Bay. Through the development company's land holdings he set out to provide land for municipal facilities for the new town of Panama City. In 1908 West platted this land as Oakland Cemetery, named by his second wife, Luella. After selecting her plot she was buried here in 1908. West cleared roads in the cemetery, smoothed the ground, and invested more than $500 in landscape improvements.

On May 2nd, 1921 the City Council of Panama City voted to purchase the cemetery for $500. George West died October 29th, 1926 and was interred in the West family plot. The cemetery was sometimes called the Panama City Cemetery.

Erected 2021 by Historical Society of Bay County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 30° 10.039′ N, 85° 40.517′ W. Marker is in Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. It is at the intersection of Balboa Avenue and West

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10th Court, on the right when traveling north on Balboa Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Balboa Avenue, Panama City FL 32401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John Christo, Senior (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henry W. Johnson Home (approx. half a mile away); The St. Andrew Bay Saltworks (approx. half a mile away); The Old Jenks House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Baker-Whitehurst House (approx. ¾ mile away); William Leroy MacGowan (approx. ¾ mile away); Covington Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); 941 Grace Avenue (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Panama City.

Other markers no longer nearby. St. Andrews Bay Skirmish (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); St. Andrew Skirmish (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . A piece of Panama City history recognized: Oakland Cemetery gets historical landmark. (Submitted on April 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Oakland Cemetery Marker

Oakland Cemetery entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Oakland Cemetery entrance

SERG Green B. Thompson image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

4. SERG Green B. Thompson

CO C
2nd GA CAV
CSA
Aug 9 1834
FEB 6 1911

PVT James Wilson Smith image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

5. PVT James Wilson Smith

CO H
5 FLA INF
CSA
Nov 29 1842
Aug 1 1917

Credits. This page was last revised on April 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 448 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 15, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.