Proposed by Talladega Mayor W.H. Skaggs in June 1890, city officials established Needmore Cemetery as an "independent (i.e., segregated) burying ground" for the city's African American residents. African American citizens contributed $75, and the city paid the remaining $150 to buy nine acres of land in the Needmore Hill section of town. Thus, the cemetery became known as Needmore Cemetery. Individuals seeking to bury loved ones there were supposed to pay the city treasurer for the grave and then file a deed with the mayor's office. A 1980 article in the Anniston Star newspaper indicated that city officials found only one official deed record dated 16 March 1907 associated with the sale of a Needmore Cemetery burial plot. Today, there are about 6,000 people buried in the Cemetery, and burials are still occurring there. Because of damage caused by weather, neglect and vandalism, it is unclear how many graves had tombstones or other markers identifying those buried there.

It is unclear when the cemetery's name changed to Westview Cemetery. A sign with that name was eventually erected at the main entrance to the cemetery.

On 19 August 1981, Westview Cemetery was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. The Community Appearance Department within the Talladega City Government now maintains the cemetery, and the City Clerk's office now manages sales of burial plots and deeds.

Sources:

• Duncombe, Ted. "Federal probe to seek answers to Talladega cemetery controversy," The Anniston (Alabama) Star, Sun., 28 Sep 1980, p. 12. Retrieved from Newspapers.com.
• "Westview Added to Register."  The Anniston (Alabama) Star, Tues., 25 Aug 1981, p. 5. Retrieved from Newspapers.com.
• Untitled. Our Mountain Home (Talladega, Alabama), Wed., 4 Jun 1902, p. 5. Retrieved from Newspapers.com.