Elmwood Blog

Meet Howard

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 CDT

The newest member of the Elmwood staff is Howard. He adopted Elmwood over the winter months of 2009. Howard lives in and around the Cottage. Please stop by and visit him.

2010 Arbor Day 5K results

Mon, 10 May 2010 12:00:00 CDT

The 3rd Annual Arbor Day 5K was held on a wet and windy evening in April 2010. Although the weather was rough at times, the skies cleared just in time for the race. Thank you so much to our sponsors and all those who participated in the event.

Congratulations to Damon Lipinski who won the race with a time of 19:41. We will plant a tree of his choosing on the cemetery grounds later this year. The finishing times of the participants are listed below.

Damon Lipinski: 19:42

Jen Barker: 21:55

Jayne Gipson: 23:15

Kenneth Herringdine: 23:21

Eric Hight: 24:04

Kenny Hight: 25:52

Rebecca May: 29:21

Maureen Holland: 34:48

Taylor Williams: 34:48

Kaylie Hight: 36:11

Lara Charbonnet: 36:40

Hazel Ogdon: 37:49

Linda Lipinski: 43:57

Diane Long: 48:30

Roseanne Russell: 48:30

Leigh Hersey: 48:32

Brandon Marshall: 53:10

Janis Lamar: 1:00:57

For more information about the Arbor Day 5K, please contact the Elmwood Office at 901-774-3212. We hope to see you at the finish line next year!

In Memory of Sr. Thea Bowman

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 12:00:00 CDT

Sr. Thea was a well-known educator, evangelist, and gospel singer. Born in Canton, MS, she converted to Catholicism as a child and was later ordained as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. As the only African-American member of the order, she incorporated traditional African rituals and dances as well as African-American folk songs into the traditional Mass.

"The heck with melting pot," she once wrote. "If you want to melt and fit into my mold, if you want to adopt my values and way of life, go right ahead, but don't expect me to melt to fit into yours."

Sr. Thea helped to found and served on the faculty of Xavier University in New Orleans, the only black Catholic university in the Western hemisphere. She also served as the director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs of the Diocese of Jackson, MS in addition to recording two albums of spirituals. Shortly before her death, she was interviewed by Mike Wallace on "60 Minutes."

Sr. Thea passed away on March 30, 1990 at the age of 52. She was eulogized as a poet, preacher and master teacher blessed with an extraordinary voice. Today, Sr. Thea is recognized for her work to build bridges between the races. A number of schools across the country are named in her honor. She is remembered each year on March 30th with a graveside Mass at Elmwood Cemetery.

Methodist Potluck Spaghetti Casserole by Kim McCollum

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:00:00 CDT

We host many events at Elmwood that include lunch or dinner. The staff donates their time and cooks quite a few of these meals. We are complimented often on the dishes that we serve, and we've had people ask for the following recipe. It's called Methodist Potluck Spaghetti Casserole because I was raised in the Methodist Church and I spent many, many evenings at our church for potluck dinners. I've eaten my fair share of casseroles, and this one is one of my all-time favorites. I didn't invent this recipe and I don't know who did, but I am glad to share it.

Nothing about this dish is healthy.

Methodist Potluck Spaghetti Casserole

1 box Kraft Tangy Italian spaghetti dinner (it comes in a green box and if you go to Kroger on Poplar Avenue it's next to the macaroni)

1.5 pounds of ground beef

3 eight ounce cans of roma tomato sauce

4 ounces of cream cheese

8 ounces of small curd cottage cheese

8 ounces of sour cream

Optional: 1 small red onion, sauteed

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Start your water boiling for the pasta in the Kraft box. If you are adding the optional onion, sautee it now in 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the ground beef and brown it, breaking up the lumps.

Carefully drain all of the fat from the ground beef. Add the tomato sauce and seasoning packet from the Kraft box.

Mix together the cream cheese, cottage cream and cream cheese.

When the pasta is done, drain it and put it in a 9x13 baking dish. Spread the cheese mixture over the pasta, and then spread the meat sauce over the cheese mixture. Sprinkle the packet of Parmesan cheese all over the top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

This casserole freezes well, and when it is doubled it feeds at least 20 people.

Enjoy.

The trees of Elmwood

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:00:00 CST

Spring is coming. The weather may be cold outside but signs of spring are appearing daily at Elmwood. The daffodils have started to poke through the soil and in the next few weeks, the pink and white blooms of the Saucer Magnolias will dot the landscape. Spring is a beautiful time at Elmwood, thanks in part to the many different varieties of trees planted on the grounds.

The name Elmwood conjures up images of a park-like setting, sweeping vistas and majestic shade trees. The name was actually drawn from a hat, and while the cemetery stockholders were said to be pleased with the name, they quickly placed an order for some elm trees to be sent from New York to be planted among the existing trees. Samuel Phillips, who was superintendent from 1866-1878, is credited with choosing and planting many of the trees on the grounds. For many years, the trees were left to grow on their own, but in 1995, the Board of Trustees recognized the need to maintain the existing trees and expand the collection. Hundreds of trees were personally planted by Trustee Carlisle S. Page and in recognition of his efforts, the grounds were designated as an arboretum named in his honor.

Today, Elmwood is home to over 1500 trees and the collection is still growing. Through the Plant-a-Memory program, Elmwood encourages families to plant hardwood and ornamental trees in memory of their loved ones interred here. Our goal is to increase the variety of specimens on the property and apply for Level 3 Arboretum certification from the State of Tennessee.

There are plenty of ways you can help us preserve the trees at Elmwood. In April, the cemetery hosts the Arbor Day 5K which raises funds for tree maintenance. A tree is planted on the grounds each year in honor of the winner. If you are interested in learning more about the trees, we offer guided tours of the Arboretum twice a year. The next tour is in May, when the spring color display should be in full bloom. And if you just want to drive around the cemetery on your own, the grounds are open every day from 8:00 am-4:30 pm.

The Diversity of Elmwood

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:00:00 CST

Elmwood is the final resting place for more than 75,000 individuals comprised of many different faiths, races and creeds. In Elmwood, there are Chinese, German, Irish, Greek, and Mexican immigrants as well as Jewish, Catholic Protestant and Muslim. Without question, Elmwood Cemetery is one of the most diverse places in Memphis.

Elmwood has collected the stories of the people who are buried here for many years. Our mission is to share these stories so that we never forget those who went before us.

This past year, Andrew Douglas Mills was laid to rest at Elmwood. Andrew was a relative of Azul, the last wife of prominent Apache warrior Geronimo. As such, Andrew was recognized as a member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. According to tribal information, Azul was captured by Mexicans as a young girl and learned to speak fluent Spanish. She finally escaped and returned to her people. She married Geronimo at Fort Sill around 1907 and lived with him until he died in 1909, tending him in his last illness.

If you have any stories of those buried here that you would like to share, please email them to historian [at] elmwoodcemetery [dot] org. Photographs are welcome.

2009 Year End Campaign Donors

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:00:00 CST

The following is a list of individuals who supported Elmwood in 2009. All Year End Campaign donations are applied to the care and maintenance of the cemetery grounds. We thank these friends of Elmwood for their generosity.

Dunbar Abston Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. B, Adams, Jr.

Lorin Allen, Jr.

Mary Alquist

Mr. & Mrs. T. Alston

Viola Amos

Minetry Apperson

Mr. & Mrs. G. Armistead

Jeanne Arthur

Mr. & Mrs. John Austin Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Ted Bailey

Dianne Baker

Christine Baker

Shirley Barber

Melissa Barlow

Rachel Barlow

Maria Barreras

Beatrice Bartle

Mr. & Mrs. E. Warner Bass

William Bauer

Anne Beaty

Helen Beedy

Georgia Bell

Meryl Benson

Ceylon & Lucy Blackwell

Hon. & Mrs. G. Blancett

Mary P. Boothe

Thomas Boschert

Helen Bowen

Brenda Boyd

George Brantley Jr.

Bert Brown

Elizabeth Brown

Frances Brown

LaVern Brown

Raymond Bryant

Edna Burnett

Jo Ann Burns

Joseph Burns

Lucretia Burns

Mayrene Buxton

Cabel Jones Jr.

Mrs. Paul Calame, Sr.

Mr. & Mrs. H. Calhoun

Mrs. Frank Campbell

Wilma Campbell

Rosie Canada

Dorothy Chiles

Charlotte Clark

June Clark

Lora Cobb

Mary Coe

Rosievell Cole

John & Betty Collins

Sarah Coleman

Van & Barbara Conaway

Martha Cone

Mr. & Mrs. J. Cothern

William Crawford

Mr. & Mrs. E. Crenshaw

Lucille Crouch

Rosa Dancy

Betty Darden

Mr. & Mrs. C. Davis

Mrs. Henry Davis

Mary de Gunzburg

Mr. & Mrs. G. Dendrinos

Helen Denman

Lewis Donelson

Jerry Douglass

Lorina Dudkin

Peggy Dufek

Mimi Duncan

Mr. & Mrs. W. Dyker

George Easley

Mrs. Robert Ehrhardt

Roy Eliff

Ronald Ester

Virginia Fagerberg

John Farris

Helen Faulk

Rev. & Mrs. W. Fears

Annette Floyd

Mamie Foster

Ernestine Fox

Rudell Forrest

Mr. & Mrs. J. Franklin Jr.

Doris Fulmer

Pete Futris, Jr.

Kathy Buckman Gibson

Camille Gotten

Mr. & Mrs. W. Goyer

Bill Graves

Mr. & Mrs. J. Gregory, IV

Elizabeth Grobmyer

Mr. & Mrs. Bob Halbach

Mrs. Dorothy Halliday

Mr. & Mrs. E. Halliday

Mrs. James Hammond

Omie Harding

Vivian H. Harris

Jean Gray Harvey

Will & Trish Hayley

Mr. & Mrs. Harry Hays

Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Hays III

Hettie Hayslip

Emily Haizlip

Mr. & Mrs. H. Haizlip III

Ann Hightower

George Hightower

Mr. & Mrs. Sam Hollis

Ann Hughes

Rosemary Hugo

Robert Jack, Jr.

Madeleine Jehl

Anita Jenkins

Mrs. William Johns, Sr.

Mr. & Mrs. Roy Johnson

Norma Johnston

Ella Jones

Richard Jones

Roland Jones

Sharon Kelso

Dorothy Kennon

Shirley Kerr

Mr. & Mrs. Lawson Kidd

Mr. & Mrs. L. Kummerer

Hon. Robert Lanier

Will Leatherman

Margaret Lee

Florence Leffler

Louise Leffler

Anita LeFlore

Thelma Lewis

Mrs. F. Liebkemann

Mr. & Mrs. Barry Lincoln

Prescott Little Jr.

Betty & Chris Luhrs

George Malone

Mr. & Mrs. C. Marks

Ellen Martin

Ned Maxwell

Scott May

Elizabeth McCallen

Barbara McGregor

Mr. & Mrs. R. McInnis

Kathleen McKenna

Caroline McKinney

Robert McKinney

Tina McWhorter

Robert Mercer

Rear Adm. & Mrs. J Miller

Mr. & Mrs. W. Milnor

Pat Moody

Mr. & Mrs. A. Morgan Jr.

Marion Morgan

Jane Moore

Madeleine Moore

Sean Morrissey

Jerome Morrison, Sr.

Ann Morton

Maria Munguia

Mr. & Mrs. J. Muller

Shirley Nelson

Betsy Nichols

Mr. & Mrs. M. Nichols

Mathew Nichols Jr.

Mrs. Peter Norfleet

Harriet Nolan

Raymond Norton

Kittie Nowlin

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Oates

Dr. Evelyn Ogle

Emmett O’Ryan

Jane Osborne

Mrs. John Overton

Mr. & Mrs. James Owen

Ann Page

Gloria Parker

William Parker

Frances Patterson

Vivian Pearson

Mr. & Mrs. James Perkins

Mrs. Harry Phillips, Sr.

Katharine Phillips

Mable Phillips

Sisty Phillips

Virginia Pickens

Mr. & Mrs. C. Pierce Jr.

Sandra Polk

Marc Pons

Mr. & Mrs. J.W. Porter

Merrie Prewett

Mr. & Mrs. Van Raby

Mary Reed

Claire Reid

James Register, Jr.

Jean Reynolds

Beatrice Rhine

Michael Richards

Mrs. Arthur Richert Jr.

Linda Ricketts

Kenneth Riggs

Billie Roberson

Gloria Roberts

Ruth Rook

Mr. & Mrs. R. Ryan

Margaret Salmon

Agnes Short

Mary Simpson

Katherine Skefos

Fred Smith

Hazel Smith

Mr. & Mrs. B. Snowden

Mr. & Mrs. Pete Soro

Vande Southerland

Robert Stalls

Cynthia St. Clair

Jean St. Clair

Elise Stratton

Dorothy Stoeser

Emma Stotts

Hon. & Mrs. R. Sugarmon

Tom Sutton

Annie Thomason

Charles Thompson

Henry Thompson

Mary Thompson

Valerie Thompson

Barbara Thurmond

Dr. Angela Terry

Mr. & Mrs. Carroll Todd

Betty Tong

Bettye Trammell

Mr. & Mrs. G. Trimbach

Mary Turner

Peter Turner

Rosa Valentine

Stuart Vance

Boyd Wade, Jr.

Dr. James Wade

Mable Wallace

Betty Watkins

High Webb

Mr. & Mrs. Wayne West

Frank Whatley

Lorraine White

Bennie Williams

Jacquelyn Williams

Katie Williams

Mary Williams

Mr. & Mrs. R. Williams

Ruby Williams

Thomas Williams

John Williamson

Dr. Miriam Willis

Margaret Wilson

Natalie Wilson

William Wilson

Mr. & Mrs. Buford Witt

Drs. C. & M. Woodall

Calvin Woodard

Lucy Woodson

Dorothy Wright

Luke Wright

Gloria Wyatt

Mrs. John Wyckoff II

Jacquelyn Yancey

Clara Yerger

Welcome to Elmwood's Blog!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:00:00 CST

Hello to our families and friends. This is the first blog post to our redeveloped website.

The purpose of this blog is to keep you informed of what is happening at Elmwood with our historical and genealogy research, archival work, special events and tours.

We hope to utilize this blog to answer recurring questions, too, so don't be surprised if you email the staff a question and it ends up as the topic of a blog post!

Thank you for your interest in and support of Elmwood Cemetery.