Volunteer cleans 600 headstones, unearthing Memphis history

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — With a spray and scrape, every stone’s story is revealed by Sheena Barnett at Elmwood Cemetery in South Memphis.

Barnett has volunteered for four years and cleaned more than 600 headstones. She has also taken time to research every single person.

“It made me really realize what treasures cemeteries are. They are the keeper of our history, the keeper of our stories. And I feel like it’s our job to keep those memories alive,” said Sheena Barnett. “You know, they say you truly die when the last person who knew you speak your name. Well, I’m uncovering names out here and I’m speaking them again and letting them know they’re still loved. Their stories mattered.”

It’s a passion that started out of personal grief.

“I’ve had a rough couple of years, to be frank. From losing my dad in 2020 and then I lost my mom last spring. This place has just every time I’m out here, I feel like I get healed a little bit more,” said Barnett.

LaUna Brubaker, president of Elmwood’s board, said it’s the hundreds of volunteers like Sheena that keep the 80 acres alive.

“She gives tours, she writes tours, she volunteer, She’s been costumed characters before. But then she’ll just show up and walk around and see if anybody needs anything. But I really do think the stone cleaning has really turned Elmwood into a different era of being able to restore that history that people can see,” said Brubaker.

Barnett snaps a photo once each one is restored and shares it online . She also co-hosts a podcast, Cemetery Row.

“They’ve been alone out here for 170 years. Well, let me give them a little love. And so maybe it’s not, I don’t know, the brightest spot, but I’m trying to help it shine up just a little bit,” said Barnett.

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