Where Charlotte’s notables and unknowns lie together
Plus: New podcast episode on local BBQ joint; Drive-thru appreciation for foster care advocates; Weekend storms cause power outages, flight delays; Ardrey Kell High marching band performs with AJR
Good morning! Today is Monday, August 4, 2025. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by T.R. Lawing Realty:
This week in The Charlotte Ledger, we have a special treat for you: a series of articles called “Walking Through Charlotte’s History” by Lawrence Toppman. This series explores Charlotte’s past through the places where history still lingers. By walking through these public spaces, we uncover the people, stories and contradictions that shaped the city and continue to influence how we think of it.
MONDAY: A peaceful cemetery walk reveals Charlotte’s racial divides, forgotten figures and even a Pokémon grave.
WEDNESDAY: A history trail blends myth and memory, celebrating liberty in a city that’s paved over its past.
FRIDAY: A vintage mall outlasted the rest—still quirky, still local, still unmistakably Charlotte.
SATURDAY: Larger-than-life statues tell overlooked stories along a greenway where the past quietly lingers.
Elmwood/Pinewood cemeteries uptown remind us of Charlotte’s past — and our own futures
Visiting Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery is a quiet, mostly solitary experience. L to R: A massive Southern magnolia dominates the landscape near the entrance to the Elmwood side of the graveyard; a grieving angel, now the logo of the sister cemeteries, commemorates a mother and the daughter she outlived; an obelisk for John Motley Morehead II, who served North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Photos by Lawrence Toppman)
by Lawrence Toppman
Dead people, taken in the aggregate, are good company. They usually lie beneath stately trees that cast shade on a hot summer day. They get us thinking, if a cemetery has been around long enough, what our city was like decades ago. We muse on the brevity of our own lives: Do we measure up to those who’ve passed?
Historic Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery, the name adopted after the uniting of two graveyards in the 1960s, fits that bill. You can see virtually all of it by car or examine every landmark on foot; summer temperatures topping 95 degrees made me combine those approaches.
Despite news helicopters passing overhead and the distant distraction of skyscrapers that seemed to quiver in the heat haze, I haven’t spent a more restful three hours uptown in years. (The nearby Old Settlers Cemetery, part of the city’s Liberty Walk, gets too much traffic noise.)
The car-friendly entrance sits at 700 W. Sixth St., though you can go on foot into the Elmwood side off Cedar Street and into the Pinewood side off West Ninth Street. (All entrances stay open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) I saw only five living people the entire time: two mourners visiting a grave, a cemetery employee, a jogger in incongruous sun-yellow pants and a man sleeping under an oak on the Pinewood side, bottle cradled in his lap.
Perhaps the jogger was picking out a prospective site for herself. Though the first burials took place in 1853, you can still get a gravesite there for as little as $3,000 for an adult and $600 for an infant, plus a fistful of peripheral fees and maintenance options.
You may not land near U.S. Congressman John Motley Morehead II or western film star Randolph Scott, but there’s space for you. You needn’t follow conservative traditions, either: Long’s Monument Company designed a Pokémon columbarium and bench for 19-year-old James Mankin in 2022. (Elmwood was famously, sometimes disruptively, a “hunting” site for Pokémon Go players during the 2016 craze.)
A Pokémon-themed columbarium proves there's room for innovation — even in a cemetery that's 172 years old.
The cemeteries’ joint name reflects the union of Elmwood, which was intended exclusively for Caucasians, and Pinewood, which was meant solely for African-Americans. The fence between them came down in 1969, the same year federal judge James McMillan ordered Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools to integrate by any means necessary. (Fred Alexander, Charlotte’s first black city council member since the 19th century, pushed for the removal of that fence.)
Only a road and a small Pinewood sign stand at the former demarcation line, yet discrepancies endure. I saw a downed tree limb and toppling headstones propped up with rocks in Pinewood, but not in Elmwood. Elmwood’s broader roads have curbs; Pinewood’s narrow ones have none. The fence around Elmwood is well-maintained; the one around Pinewood, which overlooks train tracks, sags under the weight of choking vines. That sodden sleeper in Pinewood, perhaps one of the unhoused group that congregates along Ninth Street, had no Elmwood counterpart.
Yet both places deserve a look. You can take virtual tours of Pinewood and Elmwood via interactive city maps — inconveniently, the landmarks aren’t combined on one map — that guide you to graves you might like to see.
If you have only a short time, concentrate on Section R in Elmwood. There you’ll find a quartet of notables:
Joseph B. Ivey, founder of the famed department store that let customers pay over time — William Henry Belk, also buried here, did not — is accompanied by wife Daisy and two unnamed infant sons. His unadorned monument, which came up to my chest, doesn’t list his accomplishments.
Nor did the modest obelisk for John Motley Morehead II, who served North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. (A weird note: He’s the grandson of John Motley Morehead, governor of North Carolina before the Civil War. The tombstone does not have the “II,” but the dates on it — 1866-1923 — are the grandson’s birth and death years. Meanwhile, the city website for the cemeteries conflates the two, saying the guy in the ground served as “U.S. Senator, Congressman and Governor.” Nope. The grandfather, who’s buried in Greensboro, served only in the N.C. House and Senate, and neither one made it to the U.S. Senate at all! History’s a tricky business.)
Mary Norcott Bryan died in 1932, outliving her daughter Mary Norcott London by 13 years. A grieving angel sculpture, hair blowing across her face and drooping roses clutched in one hand, commemorates both women and inspired Elmwood Pinewood’s logo.
The answer to the Statler Brothers song “Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott?” lies nearby, in a grave shared with Patricia Stillman, who was married to him from 1944 until his death in 1987. The flat stone gives his full name, George Randolph Scott, but doesn’t identify him as a star of classic westerns. The site has been garnished with tiny American flags at the head and a small dried wreath of pine at the foot — through which, appropriately, wild horseweed shoots up.
Despite the cemeteries’ names, I didn’t see a single elm in Elmwood or pine in Pinewood. (I did see a winged elm in Pinewood, though.) A tree map tells me I missed one elm near the Sixth Street entrance of Elmwood, but I found myself admiring a China fir, pignut hickory, multiple pecan trees and a stupendous Southern magnolia near the main entrance circle.
The landscape often draws the eye more quickly than the monuments, which tend to be humbler. The most spectacular may be Henry Severs’ log cabin, erected by Woodmen of the World and carved entirely from a 15-ton block of granite, except for the chimney. You can also find memorials to veterans of wars — Civil, Spanish, World — and an impressive tribute to Charlotte’s first volunteer fire companies of the 19th century.
Over in Pinewood, only three memorials immediately stand out:
a beautifully carved statue of a woman, hands crossed over heart, for the otherwise unknown Amelia Duncan
a brick and stone mausoleum whose pillars suggest the entrance to a temple, designed by architect W.W. Smith for himself
a larger mausoleum built along similar lines, also by Smith, for a friend named Jones whose first name is lost to time
Black architect W.W. Smith designed two brick and stone mausoleums in Pinewood, one for himself and this larger one for a friend named Jones.
Simple headstones have to suffice for Thad Lincoln Tate, a founder of Grace A.M.E. Zion Church; John T. Williams, consul to Sierra Leone; and even Lt. Col. C.S.L.A. Taylor, the highest-ranking African-American officer in the Spanish-American War and Charlotte’s first black firefighter. Yet those stones were just about the size of the ones for white millionaires William Belk and Joseph Ivey, proving death really is the great leveler.
P.S. A tiny nub called West Pinewood, a single loop of small tombstones and headstones, sits on “Old Cemetary Street” (as the road sign has it) on the other side of I-77. You can skip it.
Lawrence Toppman covered the arts for 40 years at The Charlotte Observer before retiring in 2020. Now, he’s back in the critic’s chair for The Charlotte Ledger — look for his reviews several times each month.
➡️ You can be sure each Toppman review goes straight to your inbox by signing up for The Ledger’s Toppman on the Arts newsletter.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Landon A. Dunn, attorney-at-law in Matthews:
🎧 New podcast episode: From white tablecloths to wood smoke
Lewis Donald, better known as “Sweet Lew,” is the classically trained chef behind Sweet Lew’s Barbecue in the Belmont neighborhood. After two decades in fine dining and country clubs, including an apprenticeship at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Donald traded white tablecloths for wood smoke in 2018, opening a counter-service spot dedicated to Carolina barbecue and community.
At Sweet Lew’s, he says the focus is on simplicity, consistency and tradition: whole pork shoulders, brisket, ribs and house-made sausages smoked entirely over wood, alongside nods to multiple regional styles like South Carolina hash and rice, Lexington-style chopped pork and both red and white slaws. Donald says the goal is to be Charlotte’s go-to neighborhood barbecue joint — approachable, unpretentious and the kind of place where memories are made over smoked meats.
In this episode, Donald talks with Ledger podcast host Steve Dunn about how his fine dining skills translate to the pit, what he’s learned running a neighborhood barbecue joint and why he’s passionate about pushing North and South Carolina barbecue into the national spotlight.
You can listen to this episode below on Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
Covid-era throwback: Drive-thru appreciation for foster care advocates
Volunteers from Congregations for Kids’ Socialight program cheered and handed out boxed lunches, gifts and jars of encouragement to more than 130 social workers and guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers during a drive-thru appreciation event last week. “This started during Covid as a creative way to encourage social workers, and they loved it so much they asked us to bring it back,” said Taylor Jordan, a program director for CFK. Social workers often work long hours while supporting children through challenging situations. Research shows that when a child in foster care keeps the same social worker throughout their case, there’s a 74.5% chance they’ll achieve permanency, Jordan said. With just one worker change, that drops to 17.5%. –Michelle Crouch (Photo courtesy of CFK)
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
TODAY: “Speak Easy with Brian Lafontaine,” 6-8 p.m., at VisArt Video, 3104 Eastway Drive. Join the Speak Easy Networking Group for its monthly event, where public speaking meets Prohibition-era vibes, minus the police raids. This theater-style venue feels more like a late-night comedy club than a corporate seminar. This is a place to practice out loud. To get brave. To say it before you feel ready. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being real. Being heard. You may also join as a spectator if you have aspirations of taking the stage one day. Registration required. $35.
TUESDAY: “Coffee with the Chamber,” 8:30-9:30 a.m., at BFT - Body Fit Training, 3216 South Blvd., Suite 103. Join the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce for an invigorating morning event that brings together coffee lovers and business professionals from across the Charlotte area. Whether you're a startup founder, a seasoned executive or just a morning person, this event is the perfect opportunity to brew new connections and spark innovative conversations. Registration required. Free.
SATURDAY: “Full Moon Paddle,” 8:30-10:30 p.m., at Dutchman’s Creek Kayak Landing & Fishing, 725 Elm St., Mt. Holly. Kayak on the Catawba River beneath the full moon. A guided tour by Miller Swimming provides everything you need – kayaks, paddles, pfds – and is perfect for beginners as well as experienced paddlers. Perfect date night, evening out with friends, or just a cool adventure! Bonfire + s'mores + beverages after. $65.
SEPTEMBER 6: “5th Annual Upcycled Fashion Show & Fundraiser,” 6-9 p.m., at Blume Studios, 904 Post St. Join ArtPop Street Gallery for an extraordinary evening where art, sustainability and high fashion converge! From multiple pieces of locally-crafted upcycled fashion, premier guest speakers, live art auctions and more, this one-of-a-kind event boasts an unforgettable experience for all involved! Registration required. $150 General Admission. $200 VIP.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Weekend storms: Severe storms hit the region Friday night, causing a fatal two-car crash on Interstate 40, widespread power outages and flight delays and cancelations at Charlotte’s airport. (Observer)
Ardrey Kell band performs with AJR: Pop band AJR invited Ardrey Kell High’s marching band to perform Saturday for the concert’s finale at the PNC Pavilion. Watch a clip of the performance.
Mayor suggests changes for better meetings: In a letter to council members, Mayor Vi Lyles proposed new meeting procedures and rules as a way to rebuild public trust, including suspending Action Review meetings this month, adding dedicated discussion time, setting a process for future agenda items and considering a three-minute time limit on councilmember remarks. (WCNC)
Deadly south Charlotte shooting: One person died Sunday after a late-night shooting at the 6200 block of South Boulevard. Police are actively investigating. (WSOC)
Panthers Fan Fest: Thousands of Carolina Panthers fans braved rain to watch the team practice for the annual Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday. (Observer)
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All pie is good pie. All reviews of Elm/Pine-wood are good reviews.
The price of plots has increased manifold since the 1980's when I bought mine. At that time, and surely now, the arrangement is that a gravesite that had not been used in 75 years is available for sale after some effort to contact whatever family of original buyer may be available. Cemetery staff then probes ground to be certain there is no below grade disturbance that my have been unrecorded. Afterward the lot is listed.
A visit in Autumn with the turning leaves, a light breeze rustling the earth, is a sense of nostalgia. A train slowly rumbling through with the city by the adjoining track, a view of the city above the tree line is something to savor for those so inclined (pun intended).
At my time the City Cemetery operation had an on-site employee who could take me to the locations of interest. I will always remember his name: Will Berry.