Calvary Cemetery in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Mem ...

, Tennessee, is a historic Catholic burial ground consecrated in 1867. Located at 1663 Elvis Presley Boulevard, it serves as the second Catholic cemetery in Shelby County, following the closure of St. Peter Cemetery.

Burials

Samuel Henderson (c. 1827-1907)

Known as "Uncle Sam" or "St. Peter's Sam," Henderson was an African-American groundskeeper and Catholic convert. Born into slavery, he became a free man after the Civil War and served the Dominican priests during the 1878 yellow fever epidemic. His selfless care for the sick and dying earned him local reverence, and he is under consideration for beatification by the Catholic Church.

Joseph D. Montedonico (1852–1909)

A prominent Italian-American banker and insurance executive, Montedonico served as the Consular Agent for Italy in Memphis during the late 19th century. He was also a member of the

Tennessee State Senate The Tennessee Senate is the upper house of the U.S. state of Tennessee's state legislature, which is known formally as the Tennessee General Assembly. The Tennessee Senate has the power to pass resolutions concerning essentially any issue reg ...

, reflecting the influence of Memphis' Italian community in civic affairs.

Dolores Costello Dolores Costello (September 17, 1903Costello's obituary in ''The New York Times'' says that she was born on September 17, 1905. – March 1, 1979) was an American film actress who achieved her greatest success during the era of silent movies. ...
(1903–1979)

An actress known as the "Goddess of the Silent Screen," Costello was a prominent figure in early

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

. She was married to

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen, and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly a ...

and was the mother of actress

Diana Barrymore Diana Blanche Barrymore Blythe (March 3, 1921 – January 25, 1960) was an American film and stage actress. Early life Born Diana Blanche Barrymore Blythe in New York, New York, Diana Barrymore was the daughter of actor John Barrymore and hi ...

. Her legacy in the film industry is commemorated at her gravesite in Calvary Cemetery.

Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton (1885–1941)

A pioneering figure in early

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

, Morton claimed to have invented jazz and was a key figure in its development. His contributions to music are celebrated, and his burial at Calvary Cemetery reflects his importance in American cultural history.

Cedric Gibbons Austin Cedric Gibbons (March 23, 1890 – July 26, 1960) was an American Art director#In film, art director for the film industry. He also made a significant contribution to motion picture theater architecture from the 1930s to 1950s. Gibbons de ...
(1893–1960)

A prolific film art director and production designer, Gibbons was instrumental in shaping the visual style of classic Hollywood films. His work earned him multiple

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

, and his resting place in Calvary Cemetery honors his significant impact on the film industry.

References

Cemeteries in Memphis, Tennessee Cemeteries established in the 1860s {{improve categories, date=May 2025