I spent this past weekend looking around three Metro Detroit area cemeteries. I think you might be surprised at some of the names I came up with on my journey. I went to Woodmere Cemetery in downtown Detroit, at Fort and Woodmere. I went to Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodward Ave, between 7 and 8 Mile roads, near the old Michigan State Fairgrounds. Finally, I went to the White Chapel Cemetery on Crooks Road in Troy, next to I-75.

Starting with Woodmere Cemetery in Downtown Detroit.

From WWII - Private Eddie Slovik. The only US Soldier that was tried, convicted, and executed for desertion. Others were tried, convicted, and sentenced but not executed for desertion. He was made the example. His wife petitioned the Army to have his remains returned to the US. They were finally returned in 1987. Martin Sheen starred in a movie called "The Execution of Eddie Slovik"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Slovik

James Vernor - the man that invented Vernor's Ginger Ale.

Henry Leland - founder of both Cadillac and Lincoln. He also partnered with Boss Ketering to develop the electric starter for the 1913 Cadillac. It was developed after the tragic death of their friend Byron Carter, of CarterCar. Leland was a rags to riches to rags story.

This is truly a sad rags to riches to rags story.....none other than David Dunbar Buick. He died penniless from cancer. Millions of cars have been built in his name, even to this day.

Edited July 22, 2025Jul 22 by Frosty

Next up - Woodlawn Cemetery on Woodward Avenue, between 7 and 8 Mile Roads.

There are a lot of famous folks buried here and I will be the first to admit, I've barely scratched the surface.

This is the Rosa Parks Chapel. Ms. Rosa Parks became famous during the US Civil RIghts movement when she refused to give her seat on a Montgomery AL bus to a white man. She later moved to Detroit. The bus she refused to give up her seat was built in Pontiac. It was found and restored and it is now on permanent display in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan. Ms. Parks remains are interred in the chapel but it was locked at the time I visited.

Other main entrance to the chapel.

Elijah E. Myers - this is not a name most people would know. However, he designed the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing. He would go on to also design and build the Texas and Louisiana State Capitol buildings, the only man to design more than one capitol building. His design greatly influenced many state capitol designs after that. He also designed many important buildings in Mexico and Puerto RIco.

Some notable people are in the main mausoleum, which is three stories tall!

Most people outside of Detroit won't know who Mel Farr is. He was a former Detroit Lion running back from UCLA. After retiring from football, he owned and promoted several of his own Detroit area Ford dealerships. He would be shown in a suit with a red cape and his catch phrase wasl "Mel Farr - Superstar". I am sure Justa and Indyman Joe will remember him. His commercials were really cheesy, especially with his wife.

You can barely make out the letters but this should say George W Trendle. Again not a big name to most folks. George was the creator of "The Lone Ranger" and "The Green Hornet", which first started on Detroit radio. They were later syndicated and made famous in radio, TV, and the movies.

The Queen of Soul herself - Ms. Aretha Franklin - R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Here is the private mausoleum of the Dodge Brothers (Horace and John) and their wives. Quite the Egyptian theme here. This cemetery has soooo many private crypts like this. It's wild to see.

How about Edsel and William Clay Ford - son and grandson of Henry Ford himself, and their wives. William Clay was also the owner of the Detroit Lions NFL team until his passing. The team is now managed by William's daughters. Their crypts are directly across from the main mausoleum, next to a pond - so beware the damn geese!!!! Note the shin high fencing, to keep the geese out and crapping all over the place.

There is a third Ford family crypt I didn't photograph because of the hedges. It is for Benson Ford (a.k.a Edsel Ford Jr) and his wife. Benson and William are both Edsel Sr's sons.

Other celebs buried here that I didn't have time to find:

Renaldo "Obie" Benson (1937–2005) – Member of Motown's Four Tops

Albert Cobo (1893–1957) – Mayor of Detroit

Duke Fakir (1935-2024) - Member of Motown's Four Tops

Harvey Fruehauf (1893–1968) – son of August Fruehauf and president of Fruehauf Trailer Corporation

Susie Garrett (1929–2002) – Actress, star of Punky Brewster and sister of actress Marla Gibbs

George M. Holley Sr. (1878–1963) – Automotive engineer, designer and founder of Holley Carburetor

Joseph L. Hudson (1846–1912) – Department store magnate - yes - that JL Hudson!

James K. Okubo (1920–1967) – World War II US Army recipient of the Medal of Honor

Edward Patten (1939–2005) – Member of Gladys Knight & the Pips

Lawrence Payton (1938–1997) – Member of Motown's Four Tops

Barbara Randolph (1942–2002) – Motown/R&B singer

David Ruffin (1941–1991) – Lead singer of The Temptations

Levi Stubbs (1936–2008) – Lead singer of Motown's Four Tops

Ronald White (1938–1995) – Member of Motown's The Miracles

Edited July 22, 2025Jul 22 by Frosty

The third and final cemetery was the White Chapel Cemetery in Troy Michigan, north of Detroit, off I-75 and Crooks Road.

This polar bear monument is in remembrance of the "Polar Bears". Members of Michigan's 339 regiment were sent to Archangel Russia near the end of WWI to convince Russia to fight against Germany in the war. In the process, they ended up fighting the Bolshiviks and 95 men were killed.

The turquoise headstones you see are for some of the remains of the men that died in Russia and were later returned home.

Radio broadcaster in the Detroit area for more than 40 years, we find Joseph Priestly McCarthy (a.k.a. "JP"). He was a legend in the Detroit area.

How about "Dr Death" himself?

ABout 20 yards from JP McCarthy's grave we find......

Finally we find......

This was the Hot Wheels/Johnny Lightning left on John's grave. I put it back after taking this picture.

In the main mausoleum lies Josephine Hoffa, Jimmy Hoffa's wife. There was an active funeral going on in the mausoleum, so I didn't go in out of respect for the service that was going on.

Edited July 22, 2025Jul 22 by Frosty