Nashville Haunted Handbook. Jeff Morris
closes at dusk. These rules are always subject to change, so even if the cemetery is open all night now, that rule may change tomorrow.
Also, keep in mind that this cemetery is rather remote. Make sure to keep your safety in mind at all times. Don’t go alone. And don’t approach the shadowy figures; they may just be real people up to no good.
EVERGREEN CEMETERY
519 Greenland Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37130
directions
Evergreen Cemetery is in Murfreesboro near the battlefield. From downtown Nashville, take I-24 East for about 27 miles to Exit 78B. Take Exit 78B toward Murfreesboro on the Old Fort Parkway. After 3 miles on Old Fort Parkway, turn right onto Clark Boulevard; then take your third right onto North Highland Avenue. The entrance to the cemetery will be your third left on Highland.
history
This cemetery wasn’t established until 1872, making it strange at first sight that the most famous feature of the cemetery is a circle of Confederate dead. The story of the Confederate Circle in Evergreen Cemetery starts at the Battle of Murfreesboro (see the Slaughter Pen at Stones River National Battlefield chapter) during the Civil War. Thousands of men from both sides of the battle were killed during the brutal fighting. Many of the Confederate dead were buried at the Old Confederate Cemetery, a mile and a half south of Murfreesboro across the street from the Samsonite luggage plant.
In 1891, it was determined that the bodies of the Confederate dead be moved to Evergreen Cemetery within the city of Murfreesboro itself. Over 2,000 bodies were moved from the mass grave at the Old Confederate Cemetery to the Confederate Circle at Evergreen.
ghost story
The Confederate dead roam Evergreen Cemetery to this day. There are many different stories of encounters with these soldiers here. Most often, people will report seeing actual shadowy figures walking through the cemetery in the vicinity of the Confederate Circle at night. Sometimes, these figures are wearing Civil War uniforms. Since the figures are only silhouettes when they are seen, it is impossible to tell if the uniforms are gray or blue, but witnesses report that the ghosts are in Civil War uniforms.
Other witnesses report feelings of uneasiness near the Confederate Circle. People feel as if they are being watched or followed through the cemetery. Other people will hear the distant sounds of battle or will hear moans coming from the ground. These phenomena are experienced during both day and night.
visiting
Evergreen Cemetery closes at dusk, so do not attempt to enter the cemetery after this time. The cemetery is visible from outside the walls, so you can walk the perimeter of the cemetery after dark looking for the shadowy figures that are said to roam here. Other ghostly phenomena, though, have been reported during the day in the vicinity of the Confederate Circle. Feel free to stroll the cemetery during the day listening for the sounds that have haunted this site since the Confederate dead were moved here in 1891.
FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS
1150 South Dickerson Rd., Goodlettsville, TN 37072
directions
North of Nashville in a small town called Goodlettsville sits Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. To get there, simply take I-65 North for about 6.5 miles to Exit 90A, the Dickerson Pike exit. Take a right onto Dickerson Pike and follow the road for about 5 miles. The cemetery will be on the right-hand side of the road. It is the only large cemetery in the area. You can’t miss it.
history
Unlike many of the other cemeteries in the area, Forest Lawn does not have a remarkably long history. In fact, this cemetery did not accept its first burial until 1954, only a little more than 50 years ago. This doesn’t mean that Forest Lawn does not have its own bit of history to share with anyone who is listening.
The most interesting part of this cemetery is a section known as Music Row, named after the Music Row district in downtown Nashville, mostly because many of the people buried in this section are country music legends. Many died suddenly and tragically while still in their prime.
On a rainy night in 1963, Patsy Cline was flying home from a show with several country music stars. The weather got the best of the plane, and it went down near Camden, Tennessee, instantly killing all on board. Lloyd Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Randy Hughes were all killed in the accident and were then buried at Forest Lawn.
On his way to the memorial service for Patsy Cline, country music star Jack Anglin was driving alone and took a corner too quickly. He lost control of the vehicle and crashed. He died and was buried at Forest Lawn as well.
ghost story
This cemetery itself does not seem to be haunted at all. It actually looks quite peaceful and beautiful. The fact that nothing appears to be creepy or ominous throughout the entire cemetery makes it all the more surprising when reports surface about strange things that happen here.
No one has ever seen a ghost at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. The ghosts here do seem to have something to say, though. Witnesses will sometimes hear what sounds like distant music when they walk near the Music Row section of the cemetery. Other times people will feel uncomfortable when walking alone near this section.
The most common occurrence at this cemetery, however, is that amateur ghosthunters with audio recorders will often record strange voices that they didn’t experience at the time of the recording. This “electronic voice phenomenon” seems quite prevalent here at Forest Lawn. People will record anything from whispers to music that wasn’t heard at the time the recording was made.
visiting
Normally, the best time to search for the Forest Lawn ghosts is during the day since the cemetery closes at dusk and the ghost stories here require you to actually enter its confines. This is OK, however, because most of the reports and recordings that originated here were made during daylight hours. Be respectful, bring a recorder, and explore the cemetery. Make sure you spend most of your time in the Music Row section since this is where most of the reports come from.
GRAVE OF GRANNY WHITE
Travelers Ridge Drive and Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37220
directions
This strange location is about 5 miles outside of downtown Nashville. Simply take 12th Avenue South from the city. After a couple miles, the road changes its name to Granny White Pike. Follow the same road for another 2.5 to 3 miles until you see Travelers Ridge Drive on your left by the sign that says “Inns of Granny White.” The grave itself is fenced off at the front of the subdivision.
history
Early in 1743, nearly 270 years ago, Granny White was born in North Carolina. Her early life was quite normal for a woman from that area and time. She married a man named Zachariah, had children, and lived happily. Things began to change when her husband was killed at the Battle of the Bluffs in 1781. Granny White, then named Lucy White, was left without money. Things compounded when her son died, leaving her two grandchildren, Thomas and Willis, orphaned. In 1801, the State of North Carolina declared that she was unfit to care for her two grandchildren, so she took them with her and moved to Tennessee, settling on the land where the Inns of Granny White sit today.
In order to make enough money to care for her small family, she used the culinary skills that she had developed earlier in her life. She set up an inn and a restaurant