Greenwood Cemetery, African American cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida, USA

Greenwood Cemetery is a historic African American burial ground in Tallahassee, Florida, established in 1937 on Old Bainbridge Road. It covers over sixteen acres, with about twelve acres forming the historic core. The cemetery contains more than 1,000 burials, marked by commercial marble or granite headstones and many handmade concrete markers shaped as crosses, T-forms, triangles, and arrow-topped stones, some set with ceramic tiles, mirrors, or painted surfaces.

Greenwood Cemetery was founded in 1937, after Tallahassee closed the African American sections of its public cemeteries. Local leaders formed the Greenwood Cemetery Company on March 19, 1937, and bought ten acres on Old Bainbridge Road from Erma Jenkins, one of the founders. The grounds were platted in 1942 and enlarged in 1950, 1954 and 1964 to more than sixteen acres. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Greenwood holds over 1,000 burials, many marked by handmade concrete headstones shaped as crosses, T-forms, triangles and arrow-topped stones, with inscriptions stamped into wet concrete and some set with ceramic tiles, mirrors or paint. Cedar and crepe myrtle plantings express remembrance and continuity, and the cemetery was listed in 2003 for its African American heritage, social history and folk art.

Visit during daylight hours when you can see the grounds and graves clearly and move safely along the winding paths. Respect the cemetery's guidelines by walking quietly, treating all graves and property with care, and following any posted rules.

Many graves at Greenwood carry handmade concrete markers rather than cut stone: local craftsmen stamped or carved names into wet concrete and set in ceramic tiles, mirrors or painted surfaces, sometimes shaping the top as a cross, a "T", a triangle or an arrow. Marble and granite tablets, including government-issued veteran stones, stand alongside them.