In 1892, 125 years ago last January, Alice Mitchell murdered the woman she loved, Freda Ward, on the railroad tracks just north of the post office downtown. The murder and resulting trial produced a scandal covered by newspapers both local and outside of Memphis.
Click here to be taken to the OUTMemphis Timeline to read more about Freda and Alice.
A marker will be placed near Freda’s grave at Elmwood Cemetery on Saturday, December 2nd, at 2 pm. A short dedicatory program and blessing will take place at the location. She was buried in a communal plot owned by Grace Episcopal Church (Grace-St. Luke’s). It is on the east side of the hill, looking up from East Crawford Rd., near a cross reading “Church Home” and her memorial tree. Alice’s marker is in the Mitchell family plot at Elmwood marked with a “Tour Stop” sign; Freda’s parents are also buried at Elmwood.
The whole story may be read in Alexis Coe’s book Alice and Freda Forever.
Questions? Please contact Vincent Astor or Audrey May.
