Updated May 2017

In 19th century America, it was common for families to have cemetery plots on their land. What's not quite so common is for those plots to survive into the 21st century, especially when the city has grown around them.

Assignment #147 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to venture behind the Cash Saver Cost Plus Food Outlet (the grocery store formerly known as Piggly Wiggly) and check out the Bettis Family Cemetery.

Long before the grocery store, the plot of land at the corner of Madison and Belvedere belonged to the Bettis family, one of the first families to settle in the Memphis area.

The Bettis house is long gone, but a small plot of land that served as the family burial ground remains. The headstones are very bad shape, broken and cracked (which is sad) and the area is not well kept, unfortunately. You might see some weird trash.

It's still a weird midtown thing, and an interesting history tidbit. This old blog post from the Haywood County Line blog has more information.

Go There:

Bettis Family Cemetery
Angelus St. at Madison behind the Cash Saver Cost Plus Food Outlet

Originally published May 2012.