NUMBER OF GRAVES WITH HEADSTONES: 206

NUMBER OF UNMARKED GRAVESITES: 60

TOTAL NUMBER OF GRAVES: 266

NUMBER OF REMOVALS TO OTHER CEMETERIES: 9

NUMBER OF RETURNS TO CHINA: 6

TOTAL NUMBER OF INTACT GRAVES: 251

First Chinese buried at Elmwood - Sam, Sam on Feb 14, 1882, grave site is unmarked. The first Chinese in Memphis was buried in 1874 - probably in a pauper's cemetery.

Some illnesses that the early settlers suffered from were consumption, typhoid fever,yellow fever, dysentery or TB.

Elmwood was open to everyone, including citizens from Arkansas and Mississippi. One such citizen is John Chew from Blytheville, AR. He died alone in his store of an apparent heart attack. Among the possessions found in his two-room quarters were $25,000 in moldy coins and currency. Some of the coins dated to 1835.

Another citizen from Arkansas was a Chinese with a Spanish first name of Antonio. According to the obituary, he was caught on fire and died as a result.

Lam Soon was called a "patriot" in a memoriam written in The Press Scimitar article dated November 1941. He was a huge supporter of the United China Relief and literally died for the cause one night after collecting donations. It was late at night when he fell asleep at the steering wheel and died on a highway in Mississippi. His fatigue probably stemmed from lack of rest after managing his restaurant Mandarin Inn.

May Kim Joe, a Memphian, with her husband were owners of grocery stores and a restaurant. Among the honors she received were the following: " boss of the year" by the Memphis Jaycees; an honorary Shelby County commissioner and city councilman and received the key to the City of Memphis.

Another Memphian is Joe T. Chew. Among the Chinese merchants on Beale Street, he operated a grocery store along with the Chinese laundries and cafes. An historical marker on Beale Street marks this era of Chinese history.