The Angels of Elmwood  Many beautiful angels stand guard over the graves at Elmwood.  It's the most symbolic statue throughout the cemetery and represents the "Messenger of God, transporting the dead to heaven".  There are tales of some angels  who have left their stone pedestals and taken flight around the cemetery and it's said that some visitors leave money on the tombstones to insure that the angel will continue their duties.  Below are just a few of the many angels guarding Elmwood.

The Obelisks of Elmwood  Obelisks rose to popularity during the age of Egyptian Revivalism, which began after Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt during the late 1700s. The design was considered tasteful, with its uplifting lines, associated with ancient greatness and it could be used in relatively small spaces.  That made it a natural for elaborate sculpted monuments. 

Originally, the obelisk was associated with sun worship by the ancient Egyptians.  They knew the sun gave life to plants and to man and looked upon the sun as a god - the great life giver.  They also felt that upright objects such as the obelisk had a sexual significance.  Modern scholars of anthropology, sociology, and feminism have pointed out the symbolic nature of such phallic architecture as symbols of male domination, power and political authority.

The Tree Stones of Elmwood  

Tree stones were popular from the 1880’s to 1920’s and there are many tree-shaped headstones at Elmwood .  They are related to a time when men joined fraternal organizations and the chopped tree symbolized a life cut short by death.  If you see tree stones with the acronym W.O.W. on them, it means the stone came from Woodmen of the World a 19th century fraternal organization that provided the stones to its members.buried there.

Gravestone Symbols of Elmwood  Cemeteries can tell stories without words.  In most cases a gravestone will have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, with perhaps a personal message, or prayer, but they may also contain funerary art, especially details in stone relief.  This is where the Cemetery becomes a virtual encyclopedia of symbolism.  Thousands of different religious and secular symbols and emblems have adorned tombstones through the ages.  Many of these tombstone symbols have fairly simple interpretations, but it's not always easy to determine their meaning or significance.  Below are some of the symbols found on the gravestones at Elmwood Cemetery - along with their meanings.

Lily - Palm - Cross

Rose

Click on the Names below to see their graves  (Still searching for a few...)

Annie Cook, stayed in Memphis during the Yellow Fever epidemic and took care of the sick - later succumbing to the disease.  She became known as "Mary Magdalene of Memphis".

Emily Sutton (Fannie Walker), another Memphis Madam who died of Yellow Fever in 1873.  Her many grieving patrons erected the monument shortly after her death.

Col John Smith, husband of Chinoe Hart Smith.  He is the only verified Revolutionary War Soldier at Elmwood.

Lloyd T. Binford, notorious Memphis censor from 1928 to 1955.  Binford banned any film that featured train robberies, and any film starring Charlie Chaplin or Ingrid Bergman.  In addition he either banned or cut scenes showing blacks and whites on equal footing.  All scenes featuring Lena Horne, Cab Colloway, or Duke Ellington were cut from any films shown in Memphis.

1865 Daily Burial Record

1938 Map

1890s Cottage

1925 South Grove

This 260 page illustrated book was originally published by Elmwood Cemetery in 1874.  A copy is in the Library of Congress and they made a digital version of the now "Public Domain" book available on the Internet.  It's a beautiful book with excellent illustrations.  The complete book is posted in the "flipping pages" format.  Click on the small book to the left to open it.