35°36'12" N - 87°1'39" W

Established in 1873, Rosemount Cemetery has served Columbia's African American community for more than 150 years. It serves as the final resting place for many of Columbia's most prominent African American citizens, veterans, educators, ministers, business leaders, and community pioneers.

Among those buried here is Dr. J. C. Halfacre, a respected physician and alderman representing Columbia's Third Ward, who is believed to have been one of the earliest African Americans to serve in Columbia's city government. Also interred at Rosemount is Rev. Isaiah Gholston, a builder and minister who constructed Gholston Methodist Church—now Bethel AME Church—at the corner of Glade and Helm (11th) Street.

Another notable resident is William Henry "Will" Evans (1882–1945), Columbia's legendary African American fishing and hunting guide, master boat builder, and sportsman known throughout Middle Tennessee. Respected for his integrity, remarkable skill, and code of ethics, Evans guided everyone from local sportsmen to national leaders. Following his death, sportsmen from across Tennessee honored him by erecting the impressive monument that still marks his grave in Rosemount Cemetery.

The cemetery is also the resting place of numerous veterans, including members of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), whose service helped shape the nation's history.

Rosemount Cemetery stands as one of Maury County's most significant landmarks of African American history. Beyond honoring those buried within its grounds, it serves as a rich resource for historical, genealogical, and cultural research. Cemeteries offer a unique window into the past, preserving stories of families, communities, traditions, and changing social values. As historic and cultural landscapes, they reflect the customs, beliefs, and events that shaped earlier generations. Their enduring physical presence connects us to the past in a way that few books or documents can, ensuring that the lives and legacies of those who came before us are neither forgotten nor overlooked.

~ Amy Batton

Historic Maury Article - "They Didn't Know: The Other Story of Columbia"

Maury 250