Bailey: Protecting the dead as development overtakes cemeteries
The Toll Gate Cemetery in Bartlett, shown, is maintained by Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church while the Wells Cemetery has no living relatives to care for the graves. (Michael Waddell/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Clay Bailey
Clay Bailey, a lifelong Memphian, has worked as a reporter in the city four decades. He concentrated on suburban coverage for the bulk of his career, except for a stint as sports editor of The Daily Memphian when it launched in September 2018. He now is suburban editor and also serves as a freelance sports writer for The Associated Press.
As suburban neighborhoods have spread outside the boundaries of Memphis, they have engulfed some of the land for farming, smaller communities and rural crossroads.
And small, ancient cemeteries.
This week, reporter Michael Waddell wrote about the Wells Cemetery out in Arlington, one hardly as evident as Memorial Park on Poplar Avenue, Calvary Cemetery in South Memphis or Forest Hill on Whitten Road, where tens of thousands of commuters pass daily.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Clay Bailey Wells Cemetery Town of Arlington Galilee Memorial Gardens Subscriber Only Bettis Cemetery2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
Will you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news? Make a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian, a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization, today.
Thank you for keeping up with what’s happening in Memphis. Thank you for investing in our community’s trusted local news source.
Related stories
Cemetery cleanup can’t wash away painful past
The Zion Community Project’s annual cleanup and wreath-laying ceremony at Memphis’ oldest Black graveyard memorializes victims of the 1892 People’s Grocery Lynching.
Diving into the dark history buried in Elmwood Cemetery
During the Scoundrels and Scandals tour Saturday, Oct. 19, attendees were introduced to some of the infamous gravesites in the city’s oldest active cemetery.
Small cemetery on Central has rich history
Many have likely driven by it hundreds of times with barely a glance, but this cemetery in the heart of Memphis has stories to tell.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.