What is Evergreen Cemetery?
from Historic African American Cemeteries of Virginia:
Established in 1897, Evergreen Cemetery is the resting place for our nation’s most prominent leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
When was Evergreen Cemetery created?
from Selden Richardson’s Built by Blacks:
[Evergreen Cemetery] was created in 1891. It was laid out by the Evergreen Cemetery Association on a high ridge overlooking the valley formed by Stony Run and Gillies Creek; it was planned to be the African American equivalent of Richmond’s high-style Hollywood Cemetery for whites. From below, dense woods obscure the effect of the massed monuments on its hillside, and the historic gravestones extend deep into the woods, where the dead are forgotten amid overgrown paths, upturned monuments and anonymous graves.
Who is buried in Evergreen Cemetery?
There are an estimated 5000 plots in Evergreen Cemetery for African-Americans, including Maggie L. Walker, John Mitchell, Jr., A.D.Price, and Rev.J.Andrew Bowler .
Where is Evergreen Cemetery?
Evergreen is in the East End of Richmond, near the intersection of Stony Run Road and East Richmond Road. It is in the Oakwood-Chimborazo National Historic District.
Who owns Evergreen Cemetery?
Until the 1970’s, Evergreen Cemetery was owned and maintained by the Evergreen Cemetery Association. In 1970, the association sold its more than 5,000 plots to Metropolitan Memorial Services, which went bankrupt in 1973. A group of black funeral-home directors bought the site at auction, but the decline continued before they sold it.
Why is the cemetery so overgrown?
From Style Weekly’s Saving Evergreen:
Evergreen’s charter dates to 1891. Since then it has been up to families to maintain their relatives’ graves. In 1919 the city ordered that any cemetery established after that date must have perpetual-care funds to ensure upkeep. Evergreen and those cemeteries in operation before then were exempted. Today, many who once cared for the plots or paid to have it done have died. Younger families have moved away or left them idle.
How can I help?
You can volunteer to research burials, and help clear and maintain the cemetery itself.
Woodland Cemetery 
Hello,
My name is Tracy Helvey and I am with Richmond asoc. of Paranormal Seekers. I would like to ask who may I contact about doing a professional investigation at evergreen. I have been there before with other groups and know for fact that it’s very active.
A speedy response wopuld be greatly appriciated.
Tracy,
Please contact John Shuck.
http://www.facebook.com/jgshuck?sk=info
Does anyone know how to get in touch with Shawn Lyman?
Here is a discussion with her e-mail. http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/VAHENRIC/2006-11/1163042276
June 5,2012 I went to evergreen cemetery and the gates were locked. Who do you contact to get in? The gates were opened on Easter Monday and the cemetery was in complete disaray. I;m sadden that when yo want to visit a loved one;s grave you can:t even get into the place. If i had the resources i woud have my loved ones moved. This is a disgrace.! I feel as though the city or the county should take the resposibility for the upkeep…It makes Virginia look bad. Also results were made when they claimed a black cemetery was under a parking deck. Simple politics.
Cynthia, I agree with you that the cemetery is in disgrace and that the NAACP should be more vocal about this burial ground as it also a final resting place for persons born into slavery as well as historical figures like Maggie Walker.
Try contacting Mr. John Shuck. A very Kind man. He helped me to locate my Dad’s grave.off
of Jennie Scher Rd…at Evergreen Cementary. I woild be happy to start an investment venture,
if I can get other investors involved ? It should be cleaned up and used as a PERPETUAL
CARE CEMENTARY. Reach me at heed382@aol.com
Enrichmond has taken over the cemetery, you can find more info here: https://enrichmond.org/
https://enrichmond.org/2017/05/enrichmond-evergreen/
Im looking for info for certain people who are buried here.
Who can I contact to get burial records and possible stories?
Contact UK corporation at 804-643-4072 or woodlandevergreen@gmail.com
MY FATHER IS BURIED THERE ! Charles V. Jeffries..died around 1950. I also have an AUNT BURIED THERE, Josephine Winston and two uncles.named WINSTON. A SISTER-FANNIE JONES. Probably other relatives as well. What can I do to help? Manning Funeral Home should have records as well. Horace Jeffries Horace E Jeffries heed382@aol.com
We did uncover the gravestone of a Josephine Winston who died in 1960. See: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=winston&GSiman=1&GScid=50175&GRid=97125667& All of the grave markers uncovered at Evergreen are on Find A Grave. See: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=50175 There is a group of us working at adjacent East End cemetery and we are gather information and tell the life stories of some of those buried there. There will be a photo exhibition opening September 4 at the University of Richmond downtown campus showing some these stories and the work there. Right now there are no volunteers working at Evergreen that I know of.
Please, Please keep me posted. I was about, 11 or 12 when my DAD died. I attended college in N.C., and N.Y.C.., returned to Richmond, in 1969. I have my own reflections about the yesteryears…and I am sure there are thousands of similar experiences. Horace Jeffries e-mail: heed382@aol.com Horace E Jeffries heed382@aol.com
Hello: There are many non-prominent, African Americans buried in Evergreen Cemetery. A serious story should be told about the hundreds of Blacks buried there that are first and second generation individuals that were slaves or/ grandchildren of slaves. The story must be told. I just returned from Wilmington,N.C. and there is a wonderful exhibit in Wilmington, N.C. entitled: REFLECTIONS…demonstrating the divergent two environments under segregation in the SOUTH. The story must be told. I would love to present that evidence, if I can get funding/honorarium? My forebears were slaves…and our story has not been told…SAD, SAD !! Horace Jeffries Horace E Jeffries heed382@aol.comerious
Samantha: What, a paradox. Think about it. Both prominent and non-prominent African Americans are buried in EVERGREEN CEMENTERY. It did not make any difference if one was prominent or/ non-prominent. It was an era..under segregation. The law did not make a distinction whether one was prominent or/ non-prominent. What a paradox. If you were African-American..you were buried in EVERGREEN. Horace Jeffries Horace E Jeffries heed382@aol.com
This might be an excellent project for an organization like the Boy Scouts or similar groups to enlist as volunteers for merit badges or Eagle Scout projects. I’d help if I lived there. Maybe the historical society? Need to get financing for once it is cleared to maintain though…
Is Evergreen Cemetery considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places?
It seems like it meets 1-2 of the following criteria:
c) a birthplace or grave of a historical figure of outstanding importance if there is no other appropriate site or building directly associated with his productive life; or
d) a cemetery that derives its primary significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events; or
Are there any benefits to being on the National Register?
https://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb41/nrb41_12.htm
It is something we are going to look in to.
Evergreen Cemetery is a contributing resource in the Oakwood-Chimborazo Historic District, DHR # 127-0821-0173. You can find the full text of the district’s nomination form at http://dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Richmond/127-0821_Oakwood-Chimborazo_HD_2005_Final_Nomination.pdf. As a contributing resource in a district it would in theory qualify for tax credits and grants that use it as a criterion, but to answer Ms. Otoole’s question, the primary benefit of being on the National Register is recognition.
Thanks…What can I do to move this forward? Horace J-
Horace E Jeffries heed382@aol.com
YES, IT DEFINITELY QUALIFIES. THERE ARE MANY NOTABLE AFRICAN AMERICANS BURIED IN EVERGREEN. i.e, Maggie Walker,even the noted African American- Mortician.Walter Manning.
My dad is buried there, a well known business man FROM THE 40′ AND 50;S.
Horace Jeffries
Please update the “map” link after “Where is Evergreen Cemetery?” on this page:
…so that it uses the following URL:
http://map.richmondgov.com/?lon=-77.38835309455&lat=37.53334814015&zl=16
Bill Rose
Richmond GIS
Thanks for catching the bad link.
YEP! I will try to be there on March 11. H, Jeffries
Horace E Jeffries heed382@aol.com
Pingback: Interlude: East End and Evergreen Cemetery Cleanup Day | Backyardaeology
Enrichmond has acquired the cemeteries https://enrichmond.org/2017/05/enrichmond-evergreen/
Hello my name is Ray Stewart a resident of Richmond Virginia. I have frequently visited the cemetery many time I am amazed at the progress you all have accomplished in the effort clean up the area. I’m writing this to ask permission to do a paranormal investigation one evening with some followers.we tried one night and where stopped by Henrico county police and was told we needed a written letter from the person or persons in charge of the cemetery. We promise to leave the property in the same condition as we entered we will be very respectful of the graves and property you can contact me at 804 677 4579 or at razzor14@yahoo.com
Sincerely
Ray Stewart
Thank you
You should contact the cemetery caretaker, Ted Maris-Wolf. His email is tmariswolf@enrichmond.org
Thanks to everyone for their hard work.
Hello can I please get a name of the president who owns the evergreen cemetery on Preston high way in Louisville, KY I went in the cemetery months ago concerning the condition of my mother and father’s grave. There vases on there stone has been deteriorated for so many years I also bought a cameo of a picture to put on there stone which that has not been done as well. When I went in the cemetery they looked up my mother and father’s plot and the person Jessie with the cemetery said that since my mother and father bought there stone from them that they would replace both vases . After weeks I called the cemetery to see when they was going to replace the vases Jessie told me that they can’t do it because of the rain also the stone was leaning and sinking in the ground Jessie told me another time when I spoke to her on the phone that when they fix the stone from sinking they would put the vases on there I called today and she had a total different story telling me that there not going to replace them I am going to press charges against them and I want to know the president of this cemetery thank you