Forest Hill Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee) Explained

Forest Hill Cemetery
Established:	1888
Closed:	-->
Location:	1661 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, Tennessee
Country:	United States
Coordinates:	35.098°N -90.0222°W
Owner:	StoneMor
Website:	https://www.foresthillfh.com/

Forest Hill Cemetery is a cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee. It consists of three separate cemeteries: Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown, Forest Hill Cemetery East and Forest Hill Cemetery South.

History

Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown was established in 1888 and chartered in 1892. As of 1906, the cemetery comprised 180 acres and there were 1,300 interments.^{[1] [2]}

A second location, Forest Hill Cemetery East, was established in 1961. A third location, Forest Hill Cemetery South, was established in 1962.^[1] The cemeteries are owned by Pennsylvania based StoneMor.^[3]

In 2021, WREG-TV investigated fines placed in 2020 and 2021 by the state against the cemeteries. The cemeteries received complaints and ten fines for poor maintenance, management and rodent infestation.^{[3] [4]} The rodent infestation problem took place at the body preparation building from June 2020 to March 2021 at the Forest Hill Cemetery East location.^[5] There has been notable damage to memorials, including the memorials of John R. Brinkley and the Elks Rest monument.^[6]

The cemetery has various monuments, including one to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.^[7]

Notable burials

• Estelle Axton (1918–2004), record executive and co-founder of Stax Records^[8]
• Packy Axton (1941–1974), American musician^[9]
• Bill Black (1926–1965), American bassist who worked with Elvis Presley^[10]
• James Blackwood (1919–2002), American gospel singer^[11]
• John R. Brinkley (1885–1945), charlatan physician and radio pioneer^[12]
• Christopher Byers (died 1993), victim of the West Memphis Three^[13]
• Walter Chandler (1887–1967), U.S. Representative from Tennessee and mayor of Memphis^[14]
• Clifford Davis (1897–1970), U.S. Representative from Tennessee^[15]
• Charlie Feathers (1932–1998), American musician^[16]
• Frank P. Gates (1895–1975), Mississippi architect^[17]
• John E. McCall (1859–1920), U.S. Representative from Tennessee and judge^[18]
• William Robert Moore (1830–1909), U.S. Representative from Tennessee and college founder^[19]
• Phoebe Omlie (1902–1975), American aviation pioneer^[20]
• Josiah Patterson (1837–1904), officer in Confederate States Army and U.S. Representative from Tennessee^[21]
• Malcolm R. Patterson (1861–1935), U.S. Representative from Tennessee and governor of Tennessee^[22]
• Margaret Polk (1922–1990), namesake of Memphis Belle^[23]
• Elvis Presley (1935–1977), American rock and roll artist and actor (his body was moved to Graceland shortly after burial)^[24]
• Frank Trimble (1840–1915), merchant and real estate businessman^[25]
• Kemmons Wilson (1913–2003), founder of the Holiday Inn hotel chain^[26]
• Luke Edward Wright (1846–1922), Governor-General of the Philippines and U.S. Secretary of War^[27]

See also

• List of cemeteries in Tennessee

External links

• Forest Hill Cemetery

External links

Notes and References

1. Web site: Forest Hill Cemetery – Our Cemeteries . foresthillfh.com . 2022-10-04.
2. Book: West Publishing Company. [{{Google books|owY8AAAAIAAJ|page=69|plainurl=yes}} The South Western Reporter]. 94. 1906. 69–70. 2022-10-04.
3. News: Troubled Memphis area cemetery addresses complaints, promises to clean up . Jacobson . Shirley . 2021-05-07 . . 2022-10-04.
4. News: Has Forest Hill cemetery cleaned up its act as promised? The Problem Solvers check . Jacobson . Shirley . 2021-08-26 . . 2022-10-04.
5. News: Troubled Memphis cemetery cited for rats causing harm to bodies waiting for preparation . Jacobsen . Shirley . 2021-07-09 . . 2022-10-04.
6. News: Grave Stone Robberies in Memphis Cemeteries . Lauderdale . Vance . 2019-07-31 . . 2022-10-04.
7. News: Ask Vance: Elks Rest . Lauderdale . Vance . 2019-03-14 . . 2022-10-04.
8. News: Services are Friday for Stax co-founder Estelle Axton . 2004-02-26 . The Commercial Appeal . 15 . . 2022-10-04.
9. News: Charles E. Axton . 1974-01-22 . The Commercial Appeal . 4 . . 2022-10-04.
10. News: Bill Black, of Combo Fame, Dies at 39 . 1965-10-21 . The Memphis Press-Scimitar . 33 . . 2022-10-04.
11. News: James Blackwood, 'Mr. Gospel Music', dies at 82 . 2002-02-04 . The Commercial Appeal . 3 . . 2022-10-04.
12. News: The Goat Gland Doctor . Lauderdale . Vance . 2013-10-01 . . 2022-10-04.
13. News: Police see progress in Ark. murder inquiry . 1993-05-11 . The Commercial Appeal . B1 . . 2022-10-05.
14. Web site: Chandler, Walter . . 2022-10-04.
15. Web site: Davis, Clifford . . 2022-10-04.
16. Book: Amos, Edward. 2015. [{{Google books|bTOSCgAAQBAJ|page=59|plainurl=yes}} Gravesites of Southern Musicians]. 59. 2022-10-05.
17. News: Frank Gates Dies Here; Rites Today. October 4, 2022. The Clarion-Ledger. January 3, 1975. Jackson, Mississippi. 7. Newspapers.com.
18. Web site: McCall, John Ethridge . . 2022-10-04.
19. Web site: Moore, William Robert . . 2022-10-04.
20. News: Phoebe and Vernon Omlie's Graves in Memphis . Lauderdale . Vance . 2019-07-02 . . 2022-10-04.
21. Web site: Patterson, Josiah . . 2022-10-04.
22. News: Services Held for Patterson . 1935-03-11 . The Chattanooga News . 2 . . 2022-10-04.
23. News: Margaret Polk, Memphis belle . 1990-04-07 . The Jackson Sun . 4A . . 2022-10-05.
24. News: Elvis Presley's Crypt Going Up for Auction . Locker . Melissa . 2012-05-30 . . 2022-10-04.
25. News: The Trimble Monument in Forest Hill Cemetery . Lauderdale . Vance . 2010-10-11 . . 2022-10-04.
26. News: The Distinctive Tombstone of Kemmons Wilson . Lauderdale . Vance . 2019-08-21 . . 2022-10-04.
27. News: Wright Funeral Today . 1922-11-19 . . 10 . . 2022-10-04.