606 West Alabama, Ruston, Louisiana
Est. 1886
History
Greenwood Cemetery began with a generous gift on July 23, 1886, when Robert E. Russ donated a parcel of land in Ruston to serve as a public burying ground. The gift was accepted by J. J. Neilson, Ruston’s first mayor, marking the beginning of what would become one of the city’s most meaningful historic places.
Originally a modest tract, the cemetery has grown over the years and now spans thirty acres. Greenwood Cemetery is the resting place of those who have shaped Ruston’s religious, cultural, educational, civic, and economic life from its founding to today. Among those interred are 49 known and 23 unknown Civil War Veterans, honored in Plot 4 with “Perpetual Care” markers. This plot also includes a section for children, many from the Methodist Children’s Home, many of whom remain unmarked. Across Greenwood, there are numerous unmarked graves, and occasionally a forgotten resting place is rediscovered during new burials.
Today, Greenwood Cemetery stands not only as a place of remembrance, but as a quiet reflection of Ruston’s history, service and community spirit. The City of Ruston has faithfully maintained the grounds.
**For corrections please email GreenwoodCemetery@rustonla.gov
