Woodlawn Cemetery (Detroit) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Woodlawn Cemetery

Woodlawn Mausoleum
Details
Established	1895 (1895)
Location	19975 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan
Size	140 acres (57 ha)

Woodlawn Cemetery is a large and historic cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. It is located on Woodward Avenue, across from where the Michigan State Fairgrounds used to be. Many important people from Detroit's history are buried here.

History of Woodlawn Cemetery

This cemetery was started in 1895. It quickly became a popular place for well-known families in Detroit to bury their loved ones. The land covers about 140 acres, which is like 100 football fields!

The design of the cemetery was planned by Mason L. Brown, a civil engineer, and Frank Eurich, a plant expert. When the first person was buried in 1896, Woodlawn was actually outside the main city of Detroit.

Famous People Buried Here

Many famous and important people are buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. They include leaders, artists, and business owners who helped shape Detroit and beyond.

• Clara Arthur (1858–1929) – A leader who fought for women's right to vote.
• Don H. Barden (1943–2011) – A successful businessman in cable TV and casinos.
• Renaldo "Obie" Benson (1937–2005) – A singer and member of the famous Motown group Four Tops.
• Roy D. Chapin (1880–1936) – An important person in the car industry and a former U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• Albert Cobo (1893–1957) – A former Mayor of Detroit.
• James J. Couzens (1872–1936) – A U.S. Senator and also a former Mayor of Detroit.
• Edgar Culbertson (1935–1967) – A brave U.S. Coast Guardsman who received a special medal.

The Dodge Brothers Mausoleum

• Anna Thompson Dodge (1866–1970) – A generous person who gave a lot to charity. She was married to Horace Dodge.
• Horace Elgin Dodge (1868–1920) – He co-founded the well-known Dodge car company.
• John Francis Dodge (1864–1920) – He also co-founded the Dodge car company with his brother Horace.
• Dee Edwards (1945–2006) – A talented soul singer.
• Daisy Elliott (1917–2015) – An author and politician who helped create important civil rights laws in Michigan.
• Duke Fakir (1935-2024) - Another member of the legendary Motown group Four Tops.
• Henry Fambrough (1938-2024) - A singer from the popular R&B group The Spinners.
• Edsel Ford (1893–1943) – He was the president of Ford Motor Company and the son of Henry Ford.
• Eleanor Clay Ford (1896–1976) – Edsel Ford's wife and a niece of the famous store owner J. L. Hudson.
• William Clay Ford Sr. (1925–2014) – A grandchild of Henry Ford, also involved with the Ford company.
• Aretha Franklin (1942–2018) – Known as The Queen of Soul, she was a world-famous singer of Gospel and R&B music.
• Clarence L. (C.L.) Franklin (1915–1984) – A respected Baptist minister and the father of Aretha Franklin.
• Carolyn Franklin (1944–1988) – A Gospel and R&B singer, and Aretha Franklin's younger sister.
• Erma Franklin (1938–2002) – Another Gospel and R&B singer, and Aretha Franklin's older sister.

The Haass Monument, created by artist Charles Keck

• Susie Garrett (1929–2002) – An actress, known for the TV show Punky Brewster.
• Alex Groesbeck (1873–1953) – A former Governor and Attorney General of Michigan.
• Billy Henderson (1939–2007) – The lead singer of The Spinners.
• DeShaun Dupree "Proof" Holton (1973–2006) – A well-known rap musician.
• Joseph L. Hudson (1846–1912) – He founded the famous Hudson's department stores.
• James Jamerson (1938–1983) – A very talented bass guitarist for Motown Records.
• James (Prophet) Jones (1907–1971) – A religious leader and one of the first African American TV preachers in Detroit.
• Marv Johnson (1938–1993) – A Motown and R&B singer.
• Julanne Johnston (1900–1988) – An actress from the silent film era.
• Ed Killian (1876–1928) – A professional baseball pitcher.
• Wade H. McCree (1920–1987) – A lawyer, judge, and a U.S. Solicitor General.
• Blair Moody (1902–1954) – A U.S. Senator and newspaper reporter.
• Elijah E. Myers (1832–1909) – A famous architect who designed several state capitol buildings.
• James K. Okubo (1920–1967) – A U.S. Army soldier from World War II who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
• Hazen Pingree (1840–1901) – A former Mayor of Detroit and Governor of Michigan.
• Rosa Parks (1913–2005) – A very important Civil Rights activist who famously refused to give up her bus seat.
• Edward Patten (1939–2005) – A member of the group Gladys Knight & the Pips.
• Lawrence Payton (1938–1997) – A member of Motown's Four Tops.
• Barbara Randolph (1942–2002) – A Motown and R&B singer.
• David Ruffin (1941–1991) – The lead singer of The Temptations.
• Ed Siever (1875–1920) – Another professional baseball pitcher.
• Howard Sims (1933–2016) – A notable architect in Detroit.
• Levi Stubbs (1936–2008) – The lead singer of Motown's Four Tops.
• George W. Trendle (1884–1972) – He created the famous characters The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet.
• Ronald White (1938–1995) – A member of Motown's group The Miracles.
• Richard Storrs Willis (1819–1900) – A composer who wrote the hymn It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
• Earl Wilson (1934–2005) – A Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Matilda Dodge Wilson (1883–1967) – A generous supporter of education and arts in Michigan.
• Pop Winans (1934–2009) – A famous Gospel music singer and the head of the Winans family of singers.
• Ronald Winans (1956–2005) – A Gospel singer and a member of the Winans family group.
• There is also one grave for a Canadian soldier who served in World War I and passed away in 1919.