Historic Pinewood Cemetery (est. 1853)

While Elmwood and Pinewood cemeteries are operated as and appear to be one, they were separated by a fence and had two distinct entrances until 1969. That was when Fred Alexander, Charlotte's first Black city council member since the 19th century, successfully led a movement to desegregate the cemeteries. Historically, Charlotte's Black citizens were buried at Pinewood Cemetery, while white citizens were buried at adjacent Elmwood Cemetery.

Many of Charlotte's prominent citizens from this period are buried at Pinewood, including the following:

• Dr. John T. Williams, one of the first three Black doctors in the State and consul to Sierra Leone

• Lt. Col. C.S.L.A. Taylor, Charlotte's first Black firefighter and veteran of the Spanish-American War

• Thad Lincoln Tate, prominent business owner and investor in the Brooklyn neighborhood, which is now Second Ward

• Thomas H. Lomax, Bishop of A.M.E. Zion Church

The Smith Mausoleum designed by W.W. Smith, a successful Black architect whose own mausoleum characterizes his unique design and style, still stands as one of the most architecturally interesting structures in both Elmwood and Pinewood cemeteries. Smith's most prominent work, the Mecklenburg Investment Company Building, still stands Uptown at 3rd Street and Brevard Street. The Jones mausoleum, which is located a short distance from the Smith mausoleum, was also designed by W.W. Smith.

Learn more and take a virtual tour of Historic Elmwood and Pinewood Cemeteries.

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Effective July 1, 2022