Welcome to Gone But Not Forgotten
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Greenwood Cemetery is one of Mississippi’s most important historic landscapes and one of Jackson’s most overlooked archives. Established by act of the Mississippi Legislature on January 1, 1823, Greenwood was created when Jackson itself was still a young frontier capital. For more than two centuries, it has served as a place of burial, memory, and reflection—quietly recording the lives of those who shaped the state.
What makes Greenwood unique is not only its age, but its breadth. The cemetery expanded steadily as Jackson grew, eventually reaching roughly twenty-two acres. Today, it remains the largest green space in downtown Jackson, a rare urban landscape where history, nature, and public memory intersect. Beneath its trees lie the stories of political leaders and everyday citizens, soldiers and artists, enslaved people and educators, the famous and the forgotten.
True to the Public Trust Since 1823
From Pulitzer Prize winners to those who served from the War of 1812 through WWII, Greenwood is a chronicle of sacrifice and success. Help us fund the research, tours, and preservation efforts that bring this history to life. Join us in honoring the depth and complexity of the Mississippi story.
Records are incomplete, but more than 5,000 burials—both marked and unmarked—have already been documented, and ongoing research continues to recover names and stories that time nearly erased. Greenwood’s long history of racial and religious diversity sets it apart from many Southern cemeteries and makes it a powerful place for understanding Mississippi’s shared past.
Every week the Greenwood Cemetery Association will begin to tell those stories, highlight preservation efforts, and invite the public to see Greenwood Cemetery not as a static place, but as a living classroom of Mississippi history.
Greenwood Cemetery at a Glance
Founded January 1, 1823, by act of the Mississippi Legislature
One of the oldest continuously operating cemeteries in Mississippi
Approximately 22 acres in size
Largest green space in downtown Jackson
More than 5,000 documented burials (with ongoing research)
Burial place of Mississippi governors, Jackson mayors, veterans, educators, artists, and civic leaders
ncludes burials of enslaved and formerly enslaved people, children, and working-class citizens
Notable for its long history of racial and religious diversity
Do You Have More Information to Share?
Our historical research is never truly finished. Whether you have insights into our antique rose collection or stories of ancestors who rest here, your contribution helps Mississippi’s past come to life.