Greenwood Cemetery (Nashville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Greenwood Cemetery is a special place located in Nashville, Tennessee. It can be found at 1428 Elm Hill Pike. This cemetery opened in 1888. It was one of the first cemeteries in Nashville specifically for African American people.
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History of Greenwood Cemetery
Greenwood Cemetery was started by a local pastor and businessman named Preston Taylor. He founded the cemetery in 1888. Preston Taylor was born in Louisiana in 1849. He had been born into slavery.
Preston Taylor's Vision
Preston Taylor moved to Nashville in 1884. He became a well-known minister and a successful businessman. In 1887, he had an idea. He wanted to create a cemetery for African Americans. He found 37 acres (15 ha) of land near Elm Hill Road.
He bought this land in 1887 for $30,000. In 1888, he officially opened Greenwood Cemetery. His goal was to offer good quality burial plots at a low cost. These plots were for African American residents of Nashville.
Taylor Funeral Company
At the same time, Preston Taylor also started a funeral business. It was called Taylor Funeral Company. This company was located at 449 North Cherry Street. Today, that street is called Fourth Avenue.
Preston Taylor managed the cemetery himself for many years. He ran it until he passed away in 1931. After his death, he left the cemetery to a group called the National Christian Missionary Convention. This group is part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Greenwood Cemetery is still a nonprofit organization today.
Preston Taylor also created Greenwood Park in 1904. This was the first park in Nashville that was open to African Americans.
Famous People Buried Here
Many important people are buried at Greenwood Cemetery. When Preston Taylor died in 1931, he was buried there. His wife, Georgia Gordon Taylor, is also buried in the cemetery.
Other notable individuals buried at Greenwood include:
- Arna Bontemps: A famous writer and poet.
- William Edmondson: A talented sculptor.
- Charles S. Johnson: An important sociologist and educator.
- John Merritt: A successful college football coach.
- James C. Napier: A businessman and civil rights leader.
- DeFord Bailey: A pioneering country music harmonica player.
- Marshall Keeble: A respected religious leader and preacher.
- Mattie Eliza Coleman: A leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
- John Houston Burrus: A co-founder of a college for African Americans.
