Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation

10/31/2025

"Here in the night, even the ordinary becomes ominous." - Alex Warren

Happy Halloween!

10/29/2025

Our heartfelt thanks to our amazing sponsors. Your support keeps us moving forward.

10/27/2025

Year #3 volunteering for the Tombstone Trot 5k! Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery Foundation 👻🏃‍♀️

10/27/2025

It takes a lot a volunteers to cover a 5K course and we are fortunate to have the very best. Thank you to the Shawnee State University Softball Team and Rotaract Club as well as the Rotary Club of Portsmouth. Pictured are some of the volunteers that keep coming back! ♥️

10/27/2025

It was a perfect day to get together and support Greenlawn Cemetery. Our fourth Tombstone Trot is now in the books. We had so much fun and can't wait to do it again! Thank you to everyone who came out for this very worthy cause. 🪦🏃‍♀️🏆

10/25/2025

Thank you Porter Industries of Franklin Furnace for making us the coolest medals on the planet. We are so grateful for your support of our organization. Still time to register online at https://tristateracer.com/race/13135 or beginning at 1:00pm on Sunday. Don't miss out on your chance to wear one of these beauties to work on Monday! 😉

10/24/2025

Just two more days to sign up online for our annual Tombstone Trot! Even if you're not a runner this is a beautiful route to walk with friends or family while helping us with our restoration and preservation projects. All ages and abilities are welcome. On site registration will begin at 1:00pm on Sunday. We hope you will join us! 🏃🎃🪦

10/23/2025

This morning we hosted Shawnee State University students in the Death and Dying class of Rhoni Maxwell-Rader. We always appreciate their interest in Greenlawn Cemetery. What a great group of students!

10/21/2025

Join us for the Tombstone Trot in Portsmouth this Sunday, October 26th, at 2 PM at Greenlawn Chapel. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Participants are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes for this 5K "Run, Walk, Stroll, Roll" event.

SIGN UP HERE
https://tristateracer.com/race/13135

OR register on race day starting at 1 pm!

A free kids' fun run will take place at 1:30 PM, no sign-up is required. They will dash around Soldier's Circle.

10/20/2025

Monument Monday 🪦

Mrs. Judith Lane Timbrooks Watkins
January 25, 1797
April 15, 1885

Mr. Thomas Bates Watkins
Died November 15, 1864

Mrs. Judith Watkins was born January 25, 1797, in Hampshire County, Virginia. A daughter of John and Elizabeth Timbrook. The Timbrook family resided in the Little Cabin Valley. She had four siblings William, John, James, and Rebecca

In the fall of 1815, Judith married Thomas Bates Watkins. In March of 1821, she and her husband along with her mother, sister Rebecca and brother James started westward with a wagon. At Brownsville, Pennsylvania, they purchased a flat boat. They reached Portsmouth in April, 1821. They stayed in Portsmouth briefly due to high winds. They sold their boat and bought horses and attempted to go to Chillicothe. The roads were so bad they abandoned this plan and settled north of Portsmouth, where they farmed. Their flour was $5.00 a barrel, ham five cents a pound and eggs were five cents a dozen.

Thomas B. Watkins farmed the bottom lands for years and they eventually moved to a house on Lincoln Street north of Robinson Avenue.

In 1825, just after forming a partnership with Samuel C. Briggs, Mr. Watkins was in the river bottoms cutting wood when a large dead limb fell on him and paralyzed him. He lay helpless for six weeks. After recovering, he started a grocery store on Second Street and remained there until just before the great flood of 1852, when he moved to Lucasville and opened a tavern. Many teamsters from Lancaster made the Watkins hotel/tavern their stopping place and at times there were as many as 20 wagons in front of the hotel at night.

In 1829, they moved to Waverly and opened another tavern there. They entertained Duncan McArthur, Robert Lucas (both governors), and many other distinguished men. In 1851, they returned to Portsmouth and opened a tavern on Front and Massie Streets.

Mr. Watkins later opened a tavern, known as the “Travelers’ Home” on Chillicothe and 6th streets.

Mr. Watkins wore the first pair of blue jeans made in Scioto County. They later were made into mitts for Dr. Waller, Daniel Noel, and other residents.

He had served in Captain Sealy’s Company in the War of 1812. He died November 15, 1864.

Mrs. Watkins drew a pension due to her husbands service in the War of 1812. It was granted under the law of March, 1878. This would have been in the range of $4.00-$8.00 a month.

Judith Watkins died April 15, 1885.

They were parents of eight children.

Thomas and Judith Watkins are buried in the City North section.

10/19/2025

Natural Portsmouth held their final event of the year in Greenlawn Cemetery yesterday. Dr. Logan Minter led the tree tour and we always learn so much about the beautiful old trees from him. Thank you Natural Portsmouth, it was a wonderful afternoon!

10/17/2025

Join Natural Portsmouth tomorrow for their final event of the year. They will be gathering in front of the Greenlawn Chapel at 1:00pm. The weather is looking great!

🍂 Join us for "Natural Portsmouth: Fall Tree & Leaf Identification"! 🌳
📅 Saturday, October 18
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 Greenlawn Cemetery – Meet in front of the Chapel

Discover the beauty of fall and the incredible variety of trees right here in Portsmouth! Join Tree Experts and Pastor John Gowdy, President of Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery, as he guides us through the grounds and shares stories of the National and State Champion Trees found at the cemetery. 🌿

The Friends of Greenlawn were recently recognized with a State Historic Preservation Office Merit Award for their incredible work restoring the historic chapel.

🎟️ This event is FREE and open to the public!
Learn more about this and other Natural Portsmouth events at:
👉 https://www.mspohio.org/events/natural-portsmouth

Presented by:
Shawnee State Park, ODNR, Portsmouth-Scioto County Visitors Bureau, Scioto Soil & Water Conservation District, Scioto County OSU Extension, and Main Street Portsmouth In Bloom.