Elmwood Soul of the City 10/7/2022

Crone Memorials is a sponsor of the Raymond James Soul of the City tour at Elmwood Cemetery which I visited on October 7, 2022.  

Eighty thousand people rest in Elmwood Cemetery. They created the world we inhabit. Gave us our culture.

And they made the music that the world knows us for.

This October, you can meet the songwriters, producers, composers, and singers of Elmwood Cemetery. They'll tell their stories from afternoon to evening from Thursday, October 6th to Saturday, October 8th.

Hear about Jimmie Lunceford's incredible accomplishments in teaching high schoolers Big Band music so well that they toured nationally, even performing in the Cotton Club. Listen to Sister Thea Bowman's glorious march towards Sainthood, and how she influenced Catholic church music. Walk through the sacred cemetery grounds, visiting our residents as their music floats by you. Grammy Award-winners, the legend of Stagger Lee, the beloved cook to a King, a sweet horn section, rock 'n roll, and the blues will be a part of the story we tell.

This incredible event happens only once a year. Begin your October festivities at Elmwood Cemetery.

Hostess welcomes us all to Elmwood Cemetery.

Wayne Jackson's story told by Dorothea Henry Winston
(Performed by Cathi Johnson)

"Stagger" Lee Shelton story told by Lady Lee Edge
(Performed by Sheena Barnett)

Sid Selvidge story told by Emily Sutton
(Performed by Virginia Pleasants)

Jimmy Lunceford story told by James Avadalis
(Performed by Kevin Rardin)

Mary Jenkins Story told by Grace Toof
(Performed by Cookie Hatchett)

Sister Thea Bowman story by Sister Constance
(Performed by Pam Rumage)

Beautiful Elmwood Cemetery

John Hampton story told by Lawson Treadwell
(Performed by Hal Perry)

Lilly May Glover story told by James Stewart
(Performed by Michael Pogson)

Another beautiful sky over Elmwood

PRESENTED BY RAYMOND JAMES

The Soul of the City Tour is being brought to you in part by the Crawford Howard Private Foundation.

Please help us thank and celebrate our generous sponsors. 

Presenting Sponsor

RAYMOND JAMES

Granite Sponsor

Crone Monument Company 

Last Stop Sponsor

Carol & Will Leatherman 

Gant Systems

Memphis Zoo 

Undertaker Sponsor 

Ellen & Kevin Rardin

Eclectic Eye

HHM Certified Public Accountants 

LaUna Brubaker

Sowell Realtors

Pallbearer Sponsor

Anonymous

Michael & Carolyn Fisher 

Nino & Charles Shipp

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Williams 

Baltz & Sons Concrete

Boyle Insurance Agency 

Pugh's Earthworks

Kat & Dave Schwartz

Gina Pickens

Kelly Drake

Nora & Dan Conaway 

Gravedigger Sponsor 

Nancy Dowling 

Henry Turley 

Lincoln's Costume Shoppe 

Sponsorship of the Soul of the City is also provided by the following dedicated Cradle Gardeners:

Kim Lane, Vicki & Dan Murrell, Lyn & Ted Bailey, Linda Smothers, Elizabeth Mills, Judy Card, Erin Hillis, Teresa Ward

 

Elmwood Cemetery - Soul of the City (tour and party) (10/26/2018)

Crone Memorials is a program sponsor of Elmwood Cemetery's "Soul of the City: Elmwood Rises" party and tour.  The description from both websites of Crone and Elmwood:

Once again, CRONE MEMORIALS is a proud sponsor of the 13th Annual Twilight Costume Tour “Soul of the City: Elmwood Rises.” Each year, actors perform the roles of many of Memphis’ historical figures who are interred in the cemetery. Come to the event and tell them Crone Memorials sent you!
Saints and sinners. Patriarchs and politicians. Suffragists, scoundrels, leaders of the Civil Rights movement. Veterans of all the wars, and many more.

This year, we’re expanding your all-access pass to Memphis history.

Join us Friday, October 26th or Saturday, October 27th for a tour like none other. Elmwood Cemetery presents The Soul of the City, a two-night engagement that will introduce you to some of the storied folks buried in your city cemetery.

Tours will begin at 5 pm and run nonstop throughout both evenings until the last group enters the cemetery at 8pm.
This year, we’re expanding your all-access pass to Memphis history.
Join us Friday, October 26th or Saturday, October 27th for a tour like none other. Elmwood Cemetery presents The Soul of the City, a two-night engagement that will introduce you to some of the storied folks buried in your city cemetery.
Tours will begin at 5 pm and run nonstop throughout both evenings until the last group enters the cemetery at 8pm.

 Elmwood started in 1852, and this long history has found many prominent - and not-so-prominent - members buried here.

Here are photos taken during the night (sorry, they're from my cellphone and not the best ever photos):