Over its nearly 100 year existence, Washington Park Cemetery has been the designated place of internment for thousands. Sadly, the exact number of those buried at this historic African-American cemetery remains a mystery. The stories of these individuals have often disappeared from remembrance and become mystery as well.

Included in this exhibit is a small list of individuals buried at Washington Park who have made significant contributions to the St. Louis region. Some of them were politicians, while others were servicemen or physicians. It should not be mistaken that the legacies of these individuals are the only ones of value laid to rest at Washington Park Cemetery. Instead, it should be understood that the combination of mishandled cemetery records, lack of perpetual care, numerous accounts of grave disturbance, removal by city development and planning, and general neglect of the importance of African-American history, have hindered the ability to discover the full heritage that lives within Washington Park. Hopefully these names, and all other aspects of this exhibit, will inspire positive interest in, and action on, the behalf of the thousands of valuable souls that rest at Washington Park Cemetery.

George Dennis Brantley (1899—August 11, 1971) George Brantley was the principal of Sumner High School from 1929 to 1968 and was a beloved and respected educator in the St. Louis area. In 2009, ordinance 68345 was passed in his honor. It allowed that the 4200 block of Cottage Avenue to be renamed “George D. Brantley Way.”

Rev. Jasper Chandler Caston (December 28, 1898—November 13, 1950) Reverend Caston is remembered for leading a letter campaign for city hall and other municipal buildings, protesting desegregation in lunch rooms. As a result, an ordinance was passed in April of 1944 regarding the issue. The politician and civil rights leader as served as pastor of memorial Baptist Church in St. Louis.

John Tolbert Caston (November 11, 1860—February 15, 1934) John Tolbert Caston was the father of Jasper Chandler Caston. He was also a notable clergyman, community leader, and physician.

Crittenden E. Clark (February 17, 1872—October 10, 1950) Elected in 1922, Crittenden E. Clark was the first African-American in Missouri to be appointed Justice of the Peace. In 1945, he was appointed to the position of associate city counselor for the City of St. Louis.

Lt. Ira L. Cooper (May 17, 1877—February 15, 1939) After obtaining a degree in ophthalmology, Ira Cooper moved to St. Louis hoping to build a career in that field. After realizing that career path would not blossom, he joined the police force. He would have a successful career in law enforcement. Cooper became the first Black sergeant (1923), as well as the first Black lieutenant (1930) in the St. Louis Police Department.

Dr. Miles D. Davis, Jr. (May 14, 1903—May 22, 1960) Dr. Miles Dewey Davis was father of the legendary musician, Miles Davis. Dr. Davis was a successful dental surgeon who would later turn his hobby of raising and breeding hogs into a very lucrative career.

John Feugh (December 4, 1850—November 28, 1939) John Feugh was the personal assistant/servant to Henry Shaw, founder of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Feiugh also served as caretaker of the Shaw Museum there. For more information on Feugh in the Missouri Botanical Garden Bulletin, July, 1975: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7450107#page/142/mode/1up

Walter R. Hill (July 7, 1868—February 15, 1924) Walter R. Hill was appointed assistant to the associated city counselor, St. Louis, Missouri in around 1915.

Beatrice T. Hurt (December 12, 1900—July 9, 1964) and James E. Hurt Sr. (January 8, 1886—February 2, 1965) James and Beatrice Hurt were the parents of James E. Hurt Jr., entrepreneur and member of St. Louis Public School Board. James Hurt, Sr. was an accomplished physician, practicing for 51 years in the St. Louis community. In 1938, Hurt, Sr. established the Employee Loan Forgiveness Company. This institution provided financial loans within the African-American community during a time when other institutional were not likely to do so. Beatrice Hurt was also very involved in the African-American community. She gave many years of service to the Urban League as was honored posthumously when the Beatrice T. Hurt College Fund was established by the St. Louis Federation of Block Units in 1965.

Aaron Eugene Malone (November 10, 1865—December 22, 1952) Aaron E. Malone was a former teacher and bible salesman and ex-husband of the successful businesswomen, Annie Malone. He was principal of Lincoln High School located in Quincy, Illinois, and served as Professor at Poro College in St. Louis, Missouri.

William Mitchell (December 15, 1896—March 10, 1945) and Joseph E. Mitchel (August 1, 1876—December 17, 1952) The Mitchell brothers co-founded the St. Louis Argus, an African-American newspaper, in 1912. Both brothers were inducted in the St. Louis Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2000. Joseph Mitchell also served in the Spanish American War.

Nannie Mitchell-Turner (May 1, 1887—January 25, 1975) Nannie Mitchell-Turner was the wife of journalist William Mitchell. She is often recognized as a co-founder of the St. Louis Argus newspaper. After the death of William and Joseph, Nannie led the newspaper until her death. Officially named as the “First Lady of the Black Press” by the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Mitchell was a well-respected community leader and journalist.

James W. Myers (December 3, 1874—February 3, 1956) Myers was the first principal of Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri from 1927—1932. He graduated from Stanford University in 1907.

Preston Myree (December 31, 1872—November 22, 1960) Preston Myree was a beloved African-American community leader in the St. Louis area. As a chauffeur of George Warren Brown of the Brown Shoe Company, Myree was the recipient of 75 shares of Brown Shoe Company stock after the death of his employer. These stock investments allowed Myree to build wealth, which he constantly invested into the African-American community. He was also the former VP for the African-American owned New Age Federal Loans and Savings Bank, located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Annette Officer (December 7, 1881—February 2, 1954) and William Officer (May 1, 1879—February 7, 1950) Annette and William Officer were the founders of the Officer Funeral Home located in East St. Louis, Illinois. The family-run and operated business celebrates 100 years of operation in 2017. William was very active in the National Negro Funeral Directors Association throughout his career. In addition to playing an active role in the family business, Annette was a teacher 25 years in the St. Louis Public School System.

Dr. Leon P. O’Hara, Sr. (April 24, 1888—June 17, 1965) Dr. O’Hara attended Fisk and Yale Universities. It is believed that O’Hara sang first bass in the Fisk Jubilee Singers around 1911. His death certificate lists O’Hara as a retired professor.

Charles Hubbard Thompson (June 9, 1891—June 13, 1964) Thompson was an accomplished St. Louis ragtime musician and the 1916 Ragtime Champion of St. Louis. He is best known for his 1914 composition “Lily Rag.”

John R. Steele (May 29, 1862—March 31, 1951) John R. Steele was an accomplished African-American architect in the St. Louis area. He is responsible for partial design of the St. Louis landmark, Compton Hill Missionary Baptist Church, located at 3141 Lasalle.

George L. Vaughn (March 9, 1880—August 17, 1949) As the representing attorney to J.D. and Ethel Shelley in the historic Shelley vs. Kraemer case, George L. Vaughn battled all the way to the Supreme Court in order to contest the validity of racially restrictive covenants. The Supreme Court agreed with Vaughn’s labeling of restrictive covenants as the “Achilles heel of democracy” and the use of restrictive race covenants in real estate was ruled illegal.

Frank L. William (October 10, 1864—February 13, 1953) Williams was the president of the New Age Federal Savings and Loan company, a board member at the Pine Street YMCA, and a member of the Board of Curators for Lincoln University located in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was also the second principal of Vashon High School.

Biographies by Terri Williams, Higher Ground research assistant and graduate student in the department of American culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.