Odd Fellows Cemetery

The Odd Fellows Cemetery is a historic African-American cemetery established in the early 1880s. Many prominent African-Americans buried here include Cal Johnson, Knoxville's first African-American billionaire. In 2009, the University of Tennessee School of Architecture, a local organization called the Knoxville ReAnimation Coalition and the City of Knoxville started to restore the cemetery. It is estimated that there are around 6,000 graves here, including those of former enslaved people.

A number of local organizations, including the local lodge of the fraternal organization called the Odd Fellows and the Daughters of Zion, established the cemetery. From then on, the cemetery was an African-American Fraternal and Benevolent cemetery. Whether by intent or by coincidence, the cemetery is on the same street as the Bethel Confederate Cemetery. The Odd Fellows cemetery is considered the first modern cemetery for African-Americans in Knoxville.

African-American of many backgrounds are buried in the cemetery. Educators, former slaves, political figures, business pioneers and community leaders. The most prominent individual buried here in Cal Johnson, Knoxville's first Black billionaire. 

Johnson, a former slave, began his life towards wealth as a shoe shiner and grave digger. He saved his money to purchase a racehorse. In East Knoxville, he proceeded to build a racetrack, which gave him a lot of money, alongside what was then legal gambling ventures. Although horse racing would be made illegal soon thereafter, he had already earned his millions and then became involved in other businesses that maintained his wealth. He would also participate in city government.

The most well known political figure buried is William Yardley, a man of mixed blood (Irish and Black) he was born a free man in 1844 and raised by a white family. He would grow up to become involved in religion, politics, civil rights, law and publishing. He is regarded as the first African-American attorney to argue a case before the state supreme court as well as being the first African-American to run in a Tennessee's gubernatorial race in 1876, which he would lose. His papers, the Examiner and Bulletin promoted civil rights and labor advocacy and care for the poor.

However, soon after the cemetery became full, it fell into disrepair. The section owned by the Daughters of Zion was abandoned for whatever reason. Some efforts have been made to cut back vegetation and upright headstones that were knocked over. The city of Knoxville in the last few years has set aside money and labor for the purpose of 'reanimating' the cemetery.

Ambroziak, Katherine Bambrick. "Odd Fellows Cemetery Reclamation Initiative." https://archdesign.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Ambroziak_-Odd-Fellows-portfolio.pdf.

"Black History Month: Restoration of Odd Fellows Cemetery Continues with City Support." City of Knoxville. February 19, 2019. https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/blog/One.aspx?portalId=132035&postId=15252267&portletAction=viewpost.

"Odd Fellows Cemetery." City of Knoxville. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://www.knoxvilletn.gov/government/mayors_office/black_history/resources/odd_fellows_cemetery.

"Odd Fellows Cemetery." University of Tennessee. Accessed August 27, 2024. https://archdesign.utk.edu/projects/odd-fellows-cemetery.

Turner, Devarrick. "Reclaiming their names: Unmarked graves in Knoxville’s oldest Black cemeteries get artful memorials." Knox News. April 14, 2022. https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2022/04/15/odd-fellows-cemetery-graves-knoxville-get-artful-memorials/7287295001.