Delta Center Stage is getting ready to present another round of the Monuments on Main Street Greenville Cemetery Tour next week.
Historical researcher for the event Kathy Davis Day said these tours are a positive event that’s not only fun, but teaches locals about the city’s history.
“This is just a really wonderful, positive thing because there is so much history in that cemetery and it really is such a unique cemetery with its shape and all of its history,” Day said. “Every year I think, ‘This was such a great tour, there’s no way it’ll get any better than this,’ and every year it somehow does.’”
This year’s walking tour will feature a cast of Greenville ancestors who come from families with multiple generations in the Greenville Cemetery, as well as the Greenville Jewish Cemetery and Delta Memorial Gardens.
The list of people being honored this year include: Margaret England Wilkes, Edmund Taylor Jr., Lucile Robinson Finlay, Gladys Montgomery, Buddy Stern and Richard Montague Goodwin.
“This year has been a pretty emotional series of characters because of the family members I’ve been able to talk to,” she said, noting some of her work has been talking with family members for more information.
Among the cast depicting this year’s group of historic people will be several locals, including Valerie Bryant as Wilkes; Ike Trotter at Taylor; Robin Kelly as Finlay; Lynette Stafford as Montgomery; Warren Johnson as Stern; and Bob Dowell as Goodwin.
Margaret England Wilkes
A painter, sculptor and member of local, state and national garden clubs, Margaret England Wilkes was married to Judge B.B. Wilkes, and was the sister of Frank England. She found beauty in her surroundings and had the talent to capture those images. Her paintings garnered the attention of LeLe Waller, wife of Governor William Waller, who commissioned paintings from Margaret that adorned the walls of the Governor’s mansion.
Edmund Taylor Jr.
Starting in 1932, Edmund Taylor Jr. became the general manager of the Goyer Company, which was the Walmart of its day.
He is described as being a brilliant businessman and generous philanthropist in the Greenville area. He was an advocate for the YMCA and many other local charities, working tirelessly to give back to his community.
Lucile Robinson Finlay
One of the first women admitted to the Mississippi Bar Association, Lucile Robinson Finlay also wrote a best selling book in the late 1940s, “The Coat I Wore,” which was listed on the Best Seller list along with the likes of “Lanterns on the Levee.”
Gladys Montgomery
Born in Delta Memorial Gardens, Gladys Montgomery is referred to as mother of the Greenville Branch of the SEC and NFL football family.
She was the mother to 12 children, including recent inductee to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Wilbert Montgomery.
Buddy Stern
A “colorful character,” Jake C. “Buddy” Stern recently died in his 90s. He was easily recognized with a drink in his hand, wearing a smirk on his face, and telling stories that would keep people laughing. Born in Glen Allan, Buddy worked in Florida as a manager for a furniture chain before retiring back in the Delta. He was recently interred in the Greenville Jewish Cemetery.
Richard Montague Goodwin
An English born pilot, Richard Montague Goodwin found himself in the heart of the Delta training American pilots during Word War II. Following WWII, he remained n Greenville and became the son-in-law to one of Greenville’s most renowned educators, Louise Mayhall. He became a farmer and family man, an accomplished musician and sailor, and a great example of a life well lived.
Tour dates
Coinciding with Hot Tamale Festival weekend, the cemetery tours will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and the first Sunday group will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Folks attending the tour are asked to park across the street from the Greenville Cemetery at St. James’ Episcopal Church, where tours will depart every 20 minutes starting at 6:30-8 p.m. nightly Friday and Saturday and between 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Each site will have limited seating for those who are unable to stand the entire time.
According to Delta Center Stage’s website, “DCS has invested heavily in transportation, exterior lighting, and portable sound reinforcement to make this outdoor event comfortable and accessible to all. Plan to visit, and you will agree that our community’s tour is one of the most professionally executed events of its kind anywhere.”
Adult general admission tickets cost $20 and students or youth ages 16 and younger cost $10. All proceeds will benefit Delta Center Stage and the Greenville Cemetery Association.
Tickets can be purchased online at deltastage.com or at the Bass Offices, 323 S. Main St., Lagniappe, 1361 E. Reed Road, or Montage Marketplace, 3227 U.S. 82 E.
For more information, visit deltastage.com or call 662-820-5489.
