Inglewood Park Cemetery, 720 East Florence Avenue in Inglewood, California, was founded in 1905. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed there.

History

Inglewood Park Cemetery from above-2370627563

The proposed establishment of "the largest cemetery in the world" was announced in November 1905, to be "on a high strip of ground two miles southwest of Los Angeles"."Los Angeles Men Plan an Immense Cemetery," ''Los Angeles Herald,'' November 26, 1905, image 14
/ref> In 1907, a "handsome, two-story, white granite chapel" was completed at a cost of "about $40,000". Also in 1907 the management placed an order "with the factory in the East" for a $12,000

funeral car A hearse is a large vehicle, originally a horse carriage but later with the introduction of motor vehicles, a car, used to carry the body of a deceased person in a coffin at a funeral, wake, or memorial service. They range from deliberately ano ...

to be used "on the electric line" that ran on a

right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

off Redondo Boulevard (today's

Florence Avenue Florence Avenue is a major east–west street in central Los Angeles County and South Los Angeles, in Southern California. 150px, The oldest operating McDonald's is on Florence Ave at Lakewood, in Downey, California. Route It is bounded in th ...

) in front of the cemetery. Between 1928 and 1948 Inglewood Park advertised itself as the "Largest in California," with a mausoleum,

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a bu ...

, and columbarium. From 1948 through 1950 it said it had the "Greatest number of interments in the West".

Organizers and directors

Early backers of the Inglewood Cemetery Association were Senator Robert N. Bulla, Mark G. Jones, Robert H. Raphael, Tom Hughes, P.W. Powers, Byron Oliver, B.J. or V.J. Rowan, F.K. Eckley, C.B. Hopper, Harry M. Jack, John R. Powers, George Letteau, Jennie Wild, and Will G. Nevin. Others were P.W. Powers and D.S. Patterson. In 1907 the directors were Mark G. Jones, F.K. Eckley, Robt. N. Bulls, John C. Rupp, Robt. H. Raphael, Geo. H. Letteau, and Chas. B. Hopper. The officers were Mark G. Jones, president and treasurer; Chas. B. Hopper, vice-president; F.K. Eckley, secretary; V.J. Rowan, engineer, and Captain L.G. Loomis, superintendent.

Early burials

One of the earliest notable burials was that of Webster Street, justice of the Supreme Court of Arizona between 1897 and 1900, on September 23, 1908. Another was the September 12, 1908, funeral of Los Angeles city Police Chief Walter H. Auble, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Thousands came from Los Angeles on carriages and aboard special Los Angeles Railway streetcars.

Notable interments

''(Note: This is a partial list. See also :Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery.)''

A

* Margaret Queen Adams (1874–1974), first woman deputy sheriff in the United States *

Jewel Akens Jewel Eugene Akens (September 12, 1933 – March 1, 2013) was an American singer and record producer. Career He recorded with The Medallions on Dootone, with The Four Dots on Freedom, and then with singer Eddie Daniels as "Jewel and Eddie" on t ...

(1933-2013), singer *

Coit Albertson Edward Coit Albertson (October 14, 1880 – December 13, 1953) was an American stage and film actor. Biography Albertson was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, the son of George and Elizabeth (née Stock) Albertson, and began his acting career on B ...

(1880–1953), actor * Curtis Amy (1929–2002), musician * Joseph H. August (1890–1947), cinematographer * Lloyd Avery II (1969–2005), actor

B

* Chet Baker (1929–1988), musician * W. Lester Banks (1911-1986), American civil rights leader * Reginald Barker (1886–1945), director * Earl Battey (1935–2003), baseball player * Beals Becker (1886–1943), baseball player * Ricky Bell (1955–1984), NFL running back * George Bennard (1873–1958), composer * Edgar Bergen (1903–1978), actor and ventriloquist *

Wally Berger Walter Anton Berger (October 10, 1905 – November 30, 1988) was an American professional baseball player, scout and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, most notably as a member of the Boston Braves. He also played f ...

(1905–1988), baseball player *

Paul Bern Paul Bern (born Paul Levy; December 3, 1889September 5, 1932) was a German-born American film director, screenwriter, and producer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he became the assistant to Irving Thalberg. He helped launch the career of Jean Harlo ...

(1885–1932), director, screenwriter and producer * Richard Berry (1935–1997), singer and songwriter *

Elmer Booth William Elmer Booth (December 9, 1882 – June 16, 1915) was an American stage and film actor. He was born in Los Angeles, California and was the elder brother of Margaret Booth, a renowned film editor for Hollywood productions for nearly 70 year ...

(1882–1915), actor * Margaret Booth (1898–2002), film editor *

Lyman Bostock Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr. (November 22, 1950 – September 23, 1978) was an American professional baseball player. He played Major League Baseball for four seasons, as an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins and California Angels (1978), with a li ...

(1950–1978), baseball player * Fletcher Bowron (1887–1968), Los Angeles mayor and judge * Tom Bradley (1917–1998), Los Angeles mayor * Byron B. Brainard (1894–1940), Los Angeles City Council member * Layne Britton (1907–1993), makeup artist * Charles Brown (1922–1999), singer * Nacio Herb Brown (1896–1964), composer *

Robert L. Burns Robert Louis Burns (January 12, 1876 – March 17, 1955) was an American politician, attorney, and businessman who served as a member of the Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles school board from 1923 to 1929 and the Los Angeles City Council from ...

(1876–1955), Los Angeles City Council member, 1929–45 *

Jheryl Busby Jheryl Busby (May 5, 1949 – November 4, 2008) was an American recording company executive who was the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Motown Records. Biography Busby grew up in South Central Los Angeles, where he went to ...

(1949–2008), former CEO of Motown Records

C

* Harry Caesar (1928-1994) singer, actor *

Bebe Moore Campbell Bebe Moore Campbell (February 18, 1950 – November 27, 2006) was an American author, journalist and teacher. Campbell was the author of three ''New York Times'' bestsellers: ''Brothers and Sisters'', ''Singing in the Comeback Choir'', and ''What ...

(1951–2006), author * Caesar Cardini (1896–1956), credited as creator of Caesar Salad * Horace G. Cates (1864-1911), Los Angeles County coroner *

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

(1930–2004), musician * Thornton Chase, first western Baha'i, Annual memorial in September draws large crowds. * James Cleveland (1931–1991), gospel singer, composer, arranger * Johnnie Cochran (1937–2005), trial lawyer * Anthony Cornero (1899–1955), bootlegger, gambling entrepreneur * Ray "Crash" Corrigan (1902–1976), actor *

Willie Covan William McKinley Covan (March 4, 1898 – May 7, 1989) was an American tap dancer, actor, vaudeville performer best known for being a member of the tap quartet The Four Covans and a choreographer for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Willie Covan was born on ...

(1897-1989), dancer, actor * Al Cowens (1951–2002), baseball player * Pee Wee Crayton (1914–1985), guitarist, blues singer * Sam Crawford (1880–1968), baseball player

D

* Julian Dixon (1934–2000), U.S. Congressman * Badja Djola (1948–2005), actor *

Robert DoQui Robert DoQui (April 20, 1934 – February 9, 2008) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He is best known for his roles as King George in the 1973 film ''Coffy'', starring Pam Grier; as Wade in Robert Altman's 1975 fi ...

(1934–2008), actor * William Duncan (1879–1961), actor

E

* Dock Ellis (1945–2008), baseball player * Zari Elmassian Vartian (1906-1990), singer

F

* Louise Fazenda (1895–1962), actress *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

(1917–1996), singer * Curt Flood (1938–1997), baseball player * Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849-1934), first female lawyer on the West Coast. * Byron Foulger (1899–1970), actor * Lowell Fulson (1921–1999), blues musician

G

* Hoot Gibson (1892–1962), actor * Jim Gilliam (1928–1978), baseball player * Betty Grable (1916–1973), actress, singer and dancer * Leroy Milton Grider (1854–1919), Los Angeles real estate man * Ferde Grofé (1892–1973), composer

H

Kenneth Hahn Kenneth Hahn (August 19, 1920 – October 12, 1997) was a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for forty years, from 1952 to 1992. Hahn was on the Los Angeles City Council from 1947 to 1952. He was an ardent supporter of civil r ...

(1920–1997), county supervisor and city council member * Jester Hairston (1901–2000), actor, musician, arranger * Lois Hall (1926–2006), actress * Robin Harris (1953–1990), actor and comedian * Helen Humes (1913–1981), singer *

Flo Hyman Flora Jean "Flo" Hyman (July 31, 1954 – January 24, 1986) was an American athlete who played volleyball. She was an Olympic silver medalist and played professional volleyball in Japan. Early life and education Hyman was the second of eight chi ...

(1954–1986), volleyball player

J

* Bud Jamison (1894–1944), actor * James J. Jeffries (1875–1953), world heavyweight boxing champion * Etta James (1938–2012), singer

K

* Robert Kardashian (1944–2003), attorney, businessman *

Kirk Kerkorian Kerkor Kerkorian ( hy, Գրիգոր Գրիգորեան; June 6, 1917 – June 15, 2015) was an American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He was the president and CEO of Tracinda Corporation, his private holding company based in Beve ...

(1917-2015), businessman *

Brady Keys Brady Keys (May 19, 1936 – October 24, 2017) was a Texan American football player. He played as a defensive back for eight seasons in the NFL. He played college football at Colorado State as a halfback as well as a defensive back. Keys led th ...

(1936-2017), football player * Cecil R. King (1898–1974), U.S. Congressman * Jerry Knight (1952-1996), musician * Fred Kohler (1888–1938), actor

L

* Allan "Rocky" Lane (1909–1973), actor * Walter Lang (1896–1972), film director * Lucille La Verne (1872–1945), actress * Gypsy Rose Lee (1911–1970), actress and burlesque dancer * Lillian Leitzel (1892–1931), acrobat * Evan Lewis (1869–1941), Los Angeles City Council member"Councilman Evan Lewis' Funeral Services Conducted," ''Los Angeles Times,'' May 9, 1941, page 20
code>Library card required * Walter Lindley (1852–1922), Los Angeles physician and educational leader

M

D'Urville Martin D'Urville Martin (February 11, 1939 – May 28, 1984) was an American actor in both film and television. He appeared in numerous 1970s movies in the blaxploitation genre. He also appeared in two unaired pilots of what would become ''All in the F ...

(1939–1984), actor, producer and director * Lee Maye (1934–2002), baseball player *

Fred McMullin Fred Drury McMullin (October 13, 1891 – November 20, 1952) was an American Major League Baseball third baseman. He is best known for his involvement in the 1919 Black Sox scandal. Early life Fred McMullin was born to Robert and Minnie M ...

(1891–1952), baseball player * Irish Meusel (1893–1963), baseball player * Louis Meyer (1904–1995), race car driver *

Cleo Moore Cleouna Moore (October 31, 1924Moore, Cleo 1924-1973
.

(1928–1973), actress * Juanita Moore (1914–2014), actress * Ernest "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison (1912–1989), actor * Herbert Mundin (1898–1939), actor *

Don Myrick Donald Myrick (April 6, 1940 – July 30, 1993) was an American saxophonist. A member of The Phenix Horns, he is best known for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins. He played alto, tenor, and soprano sax as a member of Earth, Win ...

(1940–1993), musician

N

Grave marker of California poet laureate Gordon W

* Gordon W. Norris (1907–1961), poet laureate of California

O

* Fred Offenhauser (1888–1973), automotive inventor *

Orval Overall Orval Overall (February 2, 1881 – July 14, 1947) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a member of the Chicago Cubs dynasty of the early 1900s, making eight appearances for the Cubs in the World Series, including five as the ...

(1881-1947), Major League Baseball Pitcher

P

LaWanda Page LaWanda Page (born Alberta Peal; October 19, 1920September 14, 2002) was an American actress, comedian, and dancer whose career spanned six decades. Crowned "The Queen of Comedy" or "The Black Queen of Comedy", Page melded blue humor, signifyi ...

(1920–2002), actress and comedian *

George H. Peck George Huntington Peck, Jr. (October 15, 1856 – January 9, 1940) was an American real estate broker, developer and millionaire. Born in San Francisco, California, he began his career as a railroad conductor and is credited with driving t ...

(1856–1940), real estate broker & developer * Lawrence Phillips (1975–2016), NFL running back * Billy Preston (1946–2006), singer and songwriter * George W. Prince (1854–1939), U.S. Congressman * Brad Pye, Jr. (1931–2020), sports journalist and broadcaster

R

* Robert Riskin (1897–1955), screenwriter * Sugar Ray Robinson (1921–1989), World Champion boxer * LaTasha "MC Trouble" Rogers (1970-1991), rapper * Cesar Romero (1907–1994), actor

S

* Evelyn Selbie (1871–1950), actress * Blanche Sewell (1898–1949), editor *

Frank L. Shaw Frank L. Shaw (February 1, 1877 – January 24, 1958) was the first mayor of a major American city to be recalled from office, in 1938. He was also a member of the Los Angeles City Council and then the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. His ...

(1877–1958), Los Angeles mayor * Orfa Jean Shontz (1876-1954), the first woman in California to "sit on the bench and administer justice" * Charles A. Siringo (1855–1928), author * Myrtle Stedman (1883–1938), actress * Slim Summerville (1892–1946), actor * Big Syke (1968–2016), rapper *

Sylvester Sylvester or Silvester is a name derived from the Latin adjective ''silvestris'' meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the noun ''silva'' meaning "woodland". Classical Latin spells this with ''i''. In Classical Latin, ''y'' represented ...

(1947–1988), singer.

T

Richard Talmadge Richard Talmadge (born Sylvester Alphonse Metz; 3 December 1892 – 25 January 1981) also known as Sylvester Metzetti, Ricardo Metzetti, or Sylvester Ricardo Metzetti, was a German-born actor, stuntman and film director. Early life Born in ...

(1892–1981), actor and film director * David Torrence (1864–1951), Scottish-born actor * Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas (1931–1980), actor *

Big Mama Thornton Willie Mae Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), better known as Big Mama Thornton, was an American singer and songwriter of the blues and R&B genres. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's " Hound Dog", in 1952, which becam ...

(1926–1984), singer and songwriter

V

* Joseph W. Vance (1841–1927), military officer

W

* T-Bone Walker (1910–1975), musician * Bobby Wallace (1873–1960), baseball Hall of Famer * Lalomie Washburn (1941–2004), singer songwriter * Laura L. Whitlock (1862-1934), mapmaker * Larry Williams (1935–1980), singer and actor * Paul Williams (1894–1980), architect * Murry Wilson (1917–1973), musician, record producer, and businessman *

Parke Wilson Parke Asel Wilson (October 26, 1867 – December 20, 1934) was an American professional baseball player. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants of the National League (NL) from 1893 until 1899. Wil ...

(1867–1934), baseball player * Arthur Winston (1906–2006), centenarian *

John Downey Works John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(1847–1928), U.S. Senator * Syreeta Wright (1946–2004), singer

Y

Carleton G. Young Carleton Garretson Young (May 26, 1907 – July 11, 1971) was an American actor in radio, film and television. Early years Young was born in Westfield, New York in May 1907. He attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he became " ...

(1907–1971), actor * Lee Thompson Young (1984–2013), actor (service held here; buried in South Carolina)

References

''References to burials or entombments at this cemetery can be found in the articles if not listed below.''

External links

Inglewood Park Cemetery website

Inglewood Park Cemetery
at Find a Grave {{Inglewood, California Cemeteries in Los Angeles County, California Buildings and structures in Inglewood, California 1905 establishments in California