Community leaders and volunteers planted new trees at Gallatin City Cemetery as part of a long-term effort to restore one of the city’s oldest burial grounds to its original 19th-century park-like design. Three 10-foot red oak trees were planted in the cemetery’s historic African American section, where both free and enslaved African Americans were buried prior to the Civil War.
“These trees are living markers of remembrance,” said Velma Brinkley, an African American historian who has spent years researching the cemetery. “They honor the people buried here and help restore dignity and beauty to a place that holds so much history.”
The project is led by a community committee focused on preserving the historic cemetery, which was once designed to serve as both a final resting place and a public green space. Over time, many of its original trees, benches, and landscaped features were lost.
Mayor Paige Brown said the project reflects the community’s commitment to honoring its history. “The Gallatin City Cemetery tells the story of our community,” Brown said. “Restoring it is an act of respect and remembrance for every life represented here.”
The tree planting builds on earlier preservation efforts supported by a $15,000 donation from Volunteer State Bank seven years ago. That funding allowed for ground-penetrating radar studies that identified more than 500 unmarked graves and helped determine suitable areas for future landscaping without disturbing burial sites.
Ken Thomson, President of the Sumner County Historical Society, said the effort goes beyond aesthetics. “This is about preservation and honoring history,” Thomson said. “It’s a commitment to remembering the people who came before us.”
The tree planting is one component of a long-term restoration plan that includes landscaping improvements, headstone restoration, and digital efforts such as GIS mapping, which has been used for several years to improve access to burial records and grave locations.
Residents interested in volunteering or supporting the restoration through donations of trees, benches, or landscaping materials can contact the Mayor’s Office at 615-451-5961.
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