Historic New Garden Friends Cemetery

Our Cooler Than You Would Think Historic Cemetery

The Historic New Garden Cemetery is one of the oldest Quaker burial grounds in North Carolina, maintained by the New Garden Cemetery Association in partnership with New Garden Friends Meeting.

Established in the 1700s, the cemetery reflects generations of Quaker history, community life, and local heritage. The Association oversees the care of the grounds, maintains historical records, and supports families with burial needs.

To walk amidst the graves of Friends and others buried in New Garden Cemetery is to stroll through history, from pre-Revolutionary days right up to the present.

Historic Cemetery Tours

We offer guided cemetery tours with historian Max Carter on the first Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. Occasionally the schedule changes due to weather or availability. Please check this page for the most current information.

Among those buried there:

  • Nameless British and American soldiers who fell at the Battle of New Garden and later at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. (Friends from New Garden tended to the wounded from both sides, caring for them in their frame Meeting House.)

  • Vestal Coffin, known as the First Conductor of the Underground Railroad.

  • Baseball legends Rick and Wes Ferrell, who grew up on a nearby dairy farm. Rick was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; his record for the most games caught stood for more than 40 years. Wes was one of the greatest pitchers of the 1920s and ’30s.

  • John and Mary Woody are buried here. They set aside portions of their land for purchase by African Americans after the Civil War, enabling the families of former slaves to build homes and seek financial stability.

  • Poet Randall Jarrell, who taught at UNCG and was the 11th Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. That position is now known as Poet Laureate.

At New Garden Cemetery, we honor centuries of tradition with

thoughtful, compassionate care. In keeping with our founding values, the cemetery serves members of the Quaker faith and their relatives. This helps us honor the legacy and continuity of our community.

New Garden Cemetery Association provides respectful and

timeless burial services. Our services are designed to support

families and preserve the sacredness of this historic ground.

  • Traditional & Green Burials

  • Memorial Services

  • Records & Support

  • Inclusive Burial Costs

  • Bronze Memorial Wall

  • Ash Scattering in Memorial Woods

  • Grounds & Maintenance

  • Cemetery Tours (Every First Monday at 4 p.m. with Max Carter)

Our Services

Learn more

New Garden Cemetery, located behind the Meeting House at
801 New Garden Road,
is owned and maintained by
the New Garden Cemetery Association.

Office Hours:
Tuesday – Friday
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

336-292-5487
Appointments appreciated
_________________________

Tom Wright, Cemetery Association President

Caretta Brown,
Cemetery Office Administrator
Sales & Records
__________________________

New Garden Cemetery Association Mailing Address:
901-A New Garden Rd

Greensboro, NC 27410

Interested in learning more?

Complete the form below

Supporting the Cemetery

The ongoing care of New Garden Cemetery is made possible through plot sales and the generosity of families, friends, and community members who value this historic Quaker burial ground. Contributions help us maintain the grounds, preserve records, and continue the stewardship that has guided this space for generations.

If you feel led to offer support, gifts may be mailed to our office. Your kindness helps us continue caring for this sacred place.