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'''George Washington Carver Memorial Gardens''' is a 70-acre cemetery located at 1020 [[Minor Parkway]] in [[Minor]].
'''George Washington Carver Memorial Gardens''' is a 70-acre [[List of Jefferson County cemeteries|cemetery]] located at 1020 [[Minor Parkway]] (formerly [[Ensley-Docena Road]]) in [[Minor]]. It was founded in [[1956]] and is named for [[Tuskegee University|Tuskegee Institute]] botanist and chemist [[George Washington Carver]].


The cemetery opened in the 1950s. In its early years it maintained a business office at 2021 [[Avenue E Ensley]].
The cemetery was established by a group of local developers led by jeweler [[Taft Epstein]] on a 17-acre site. The dedication ceremony was presided over by [[Erskine Faush]] with an address by Dr [[A. Hillary Fisher]] of [[Old Ship AME Zion Church]] in [[Woodlawn]]. [[J. G. Beene]] was manager of the cemetery and had a house on the property. In its early years the cemetery also maintained a business office at 2021 [[Avenue E Ensley]]. From the beginning, the cemetery did not allow raised headstones, favoring flush bronze markers. The first area to open featured a sculpture of Carver displayed on a granite base.
 
Epstein donated plots for the 13 Black victims of the [[1956 Birmingham tornado|massive tornado]] which tore across [[Jefferson County]] on [[April 15]], 1956. Seven of those were children under the age of 5.


In September [[2013]] the cemetery, headed by president and shareholder [[Louie Reese III]] and trustee [[Rocco Leo]], closed and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. At the time the cemetery had approximately 22,000 graves and 1,000 unsold plots. The property also included an undeveloped forested area of 9 acres. State legislators [[Juandalynn Givan]], [[Rod Scott]] and [[Priscilla Dunn]] took part in a public forum attended by more than 1,000 people concerned about the future of the cemetery.
In September [[2013]] the cemetery, headed by president and shareholder [[Louie Reese III]] and trustee [[Rocco Leo]], closed and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. At the time the cemetery had approximately 22,000 graves and 1,000 unsold plots. The property also included an undeveloped forested area of 9 acres. State legislators [[Juandalynn Givan]], [[Rod Scott]] and [[Priscilla Dunn]] took part in a public forum attended by more than 1,000 people concerned about the future of the cemetery.
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Judge [[Tamara Mitchell]] presided over the case and approved an $18,000 offer from [[Cedric McMillian]], owner of [[Majestic Memorials]] in [[Fairfield]], to acquire the assets and obligations of the cemetery in February [[2014]]. McMillian planned to cut timber on the undeveloped portion to restore the cemetery's perpetual care fund and to work with lot owners to protect their investments.
Judge [[Tamara Mitchell]] presided over the case and approved an $18,000 offer from [[Cedric McMillian]], owner of [[Majestic Memorials]] in [[Fairfield]], to acquire the assets and obligations of the cemetery in February [[2014]]. McMillian planned to cut timber on the undeveloped portion to restore the cemetery's perpetual care fund and to work with lot owners to protect their investments.


By [[2018]] media outlets were reporting on multiple complaints and lawsuits regarding management of the cemetery, including at least two claims of reserved plots being found to have been occupied mistakenly. At that time, the newly-created [[Jefferson County Cemetery Board]] had not yet met. In [[2020]] more families complained of missing headstones.
By [[2018]] media outlets were reporting on multiple complaints and lawsuits regarding management of the cemetery, including at least two claims of reserved plots being found to have been occupied mistakenly. At that time, the newly-created [[Jefferson County Cemetery Board]] had not yet met. In [[2020]] and [[2021]] more families complained of missing headstones and poor maintenance of the grounds.


==Notable Burials==
==Notable Burials==
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* [[Sam Frazier Jr]] (1942–2021), blues musician
* [[Sam Frazier Jr]] (1942–2021), blues musician
* [[Virgil Ware]] (1949–1963), murder victim
* [[Virgil Ware]] (1949–1963), murder victim
* [[Frank Warren]] (1959–2002), NFL football player


==References==
==References==
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-negroes-open-burial/127620075/ Negroes open burial park near Ensley]" (March 19, 1956) {{BN}}, p. 24
* Reed, Jon (October 8, 2013) "[https://www.al.com/spotnews/2013/10/owner_of_embattled_carver_memo.html Owner of embattled Carver Memorial Gardens cemetery files for bankruptcy]." {{BN}}
* Reed, Jon (October 8, 2013) "[https://www.al.com/spotnews/2013/10/owner_of_embattled_carver_memo.html Owner of embattled Carver Memorial Gardens cemetery files for bankruptcy]." {{BN}}
* Culpepper, Ben (October 8, 2013) "[https://abc3340.com/archive/gw-carver-memorial-gardens-cemetery-in-birmingham-files-for-bankruptcy Owner of G.W. Carver Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Birmingham files for bankruptcy]." ABC3340.com  
* Culpepper, Ben (October 8, 2013) "[https://abc3340.com/archive/gw-carver-memorial-gardens-cemetery-in-birmingham-files-for-bankruptcy Owner of G.W. Carver Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Birmingham files for bankruptcy]." ABC3340.com  
Line 22: Line 26:
* Gould, Cynthia (July 23, 2018) "[https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/shut-him-down-or-make-him-do-right-distraught-families-say-cemetery-owner-needs-to-go 'Shut him down or make him do right']." Distraught families say cemetery owner needs to go." ABC3340.com
* Gould, Cynthia (July 23, 2018) "[https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/shut-him-down-or-make-him-do-right-distraught-families-say-cemetery-owner-needs-to-go 'Shut him down or make him do right']." Distraught families say cemetery owner needs to go." ABC3340.com
* "[https://www.wbrc.com/video/2020/09/22/george-washington-carver-memorial-gardens-cemetery-complaints/ George Washington Carver Memorial Gardens Cemetery complaints]." (September 17, 2020) WBRC.com
* "[https://www.wbrc.com/video/2020/09/22/george-washington-carver-memorial-gardens-cemetery-complaints/ George Washington Carver Memorial Gardens Cemetery complaints]." (September 17, 2020) WBRC.com
* "[https://www.wvtm13.com/article/cemetery-chaos-at-george-washington-carver-memorial-gardens-in-birmingham/37966400 Cemetery chaos at George Washington Carver Memorial Gardens in Birmingham]." (October 14, 2021) WVTM13.com
==External links==
* [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/22987/carver-memorial-gardens Carver Memorial Gardens] at Findagrave.com


[[Category:Carver Memorial burials|*]]
[[Category:Carver Memorial burials|*]]
[[Category:1950s establishments]]
[[Category:1956 establishments]]
[[Category:Minor Parkway]]
[[Category:Minor Parkway]]
[[Category:Jefferson County cemeteries]]
[[Category:Jefferson County cemeteries]]
[[Category:Avenue E Ensley]]
[[Category:Avenue E Ensley]]

Latest revision as of 15:51, 4 July 2023

George Washington Carver Memorial Gardens is a 70-acre cemetery located at 1020 Minor Parkway (formerly Ensley-Docena Road) in Minor. It was founded in 1956 and is named for Tuskegee Institute botanist and chemist George Washington Carver.

The cemetery was established by a group of local developers led by jeweler Taft Epstein on a 17-acre site. The dedication ceremony was presided over by Erskine Faush with an address by Dr A. Hillary Fisher of Old Ship AME Zion Church in Woodlawn. J. G. Beene was manager of the cemetery and had a house on the property. In its early years the cemetery also maintained a business office at 2021 Avenue E Ensley. From the beginning, the cemetery did not allow raised headstones, favoring flush bronze markers. The first area to open featured a sculpture of Carver displayed on a granite base.

Epstein donated plots for the 13 Black victims of the massive tornado which tore across Jefferson County on April 15, 1956. Seven of those were children under the age of 5.

In September 2013 the cemetery, headed by president and shareholder Louie Reese III and trustee Rocco Leo, closed and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. At the time the cemetery had approximately 22,000 graves and 1,000 unsold plots. The property also included an undeveloped forested area of 9 acres. State legislators Juandalynn Givan, Rod Scott and Priscilla Dunn took part in a public forum attended by more than 1,000 people concerned about the future of the cemetery.

Judge Tamara Mitchell presided over the case and approved an $18,000 offer from Cedric McMillian, owner of Majestic Memorials in Fairfield, to acquire the assets and obligations of the cemetery in February 2014. McMillian planned to cut timber on the undeveloped portion to restore the cemetery's perpetual care fund and to work with lot owners to protect their investments.

By 2018 media outlets were reporting on multiple complaints and lawsuits regarding management of the cemetery, including at least two claims of reserved plots being found to have been occupied mistakenly. At that time, the newly-created Jefferson County Cemetery Board had not yet met. In 2020 and 2021 more families complained of missing headstones and poor maintenance of the grounds.

Notable Burials

References

External links

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