[4] The city-owned cemeteries remained segregated until over a century after slaves became free in America.

As far back as the early 1900s, Woodland Cemetery was known as a prestigious place of interment for African Americans.

Buried here are many of Richmond's Black elite,[5] including leaders in the Civil Rights Movement, doctors, dentists, bank officers, a female African American spy for the Union and church leaders.

For many years, the cemetery saw serious neglect including overgrowth and dumping,[6] In 1993, the city of Richmond stepped in to assist with a clean-up in anticipation of media coverage anticipated for the interment of Arthur Ashe.

[8] Mr. Harris is also involved with efforts to restore nearby Historic Evergreen Cemetery.