Feel free to stroll the cemetery during the day listening for the sounds that have haunted this site since the Confederate dead were moved here in 1891.
FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL GARDENS
1150 South Dickerson Rd., Goodlettsville, TN 37072
directions
North of Nashville in a small town called Goodlettsville sits Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. To get there, simply take I-65 North for about 6.5 miles to Exit 90A, the Dickerson Pike exit. Take a right onto Dickerson Pike and follow the road for about 5 miles. The cemetery will be on the right-hand side of the road. It is the only large cemetery in the area. You can’t miss it.
history
Unlike many of the other cemeteries in the area, Forest Lawn does not have a remarkably long history. In fact, this cemetery did not accept its first burial until 1954, only a little more than 50 years ago. This doesn’t mean that Forest Lawn does not have its own bit of history to share with anyone who is listening.
The most interesting part of this cemetery is a section known as Music Row, named after the Music Row district in downtown Nashville, mostly because many of the people buried in this section are country music legends. Many died suddenly and tragically while still in their prime.
On a rainy night in 1963, Patsy Cline was flying home from a show with several country music stars. The weather got the best of the plane, and it went down near Camden, Tennessee, instantly killing all on board. Lloyd Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Randy Hughes were all killed in the accident and were then buried at Forest Lawn.
On his way to the memorial service for Patsy Cline, country music star Jack Anglin was driving alone and took a corner too quickly. He lost control of the vehicle and crashed. He died and was buried at Forest Lawn as well.
ghost story
This cemetery itself does not seem to be haunted at all. It actually looks quite peaceful and beautiful. The fact that nothing appears to be creepy or ominous throughout the entire cemetery makes it all the more surprising when reports surface about strange things that happen here.
No one has ever seen a ghost at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. The ghosts here do seem to have something to say, though. Witnesses will sometimes hear what sounds like distant music when they walk near the Music Row section of the cemetery. Other times people will feel uncomfortable when walking alone near this section.
The most common occurrence at this cemetery, however, is that amateur ghosthunters with audio recorders will often record strange voices that they didn’t experience at the time of the recording. This “electronic voice phenomenon” seems quite prevalent here at Forest Lawn. People will record anything from whispers to music that wasn’t heard at the time the recording was made.
visiting
Normally, the best time to search for the Forest Lawn ghosts is during the day since the cemetery closes at dusk and the ghost stories here require you to actually enter its confines. This is OK, however, because most of the reports and recordings that originated here were made during daylight hours. Be respectful, bring a recorder, and explore the cemetery. Make sure you spend most of your time in the Music Row section since this is where most of the reports come from.
GRAVE OF GRANNY WHITE
Travelers Ridge Drive and Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37220
directions
This strange location is about 5 miles outside of downtown Nashville. Simply take 12th Avenue South from the city. After a couple miles, the road changes its name to Granny White Pike. Follow the same road for another 2.5 to 3 miles until you see Travelers Ridge Drive on your left by the sign that says “Inns of Granny White.” The grave itself is fenced off at the front of the subdivision.
history
Early in 1743, nearly 270 years ago, Granny White was born in North Carolina. Her early life was quite normal for a woman from that area and time. She married a man named Zachariah, had children, and lived happily. Things began to change when her husband was killed at the Battle of the Bluffs in 1781. Granny White, then named Lucy White, was left without money. Things compounded when her son died, leaving her two grandchildren, Thomas and Willis, orphaned. In 1801, the State of North Carolina declared that she was unfit to care for her two grandchildren, so she took them with her and moved to Tennessee, settling on the land where the Inns of Granny White sit today.
In order to make enough money to care for her small family, she used the culinary skills that she had developed earlier in her life. She set up an inn and a restaurant that quickly became popular with the weary men who had just traversed the Natchez Trace, which ended four miles from her property. Her ingenuity and business savvy allowed her and her grandchildren to survive. Granny White eventually passed away in 1816 and was buried on her property. The nearby road leading into Nashville was named after her.
ghost story
The spirit of Granny White lives on despite the fact that she has been dead for almost 200 years. While her memory may have inspired many older people never to give up, in a more literal sense people have encountered the actual spirit of Granny White even today.
The story goes that if you were to approach the grave of Granny White at any time of the day or night, you will experience this ghost. Her ghost takes the form of a simple sound. If you stand near the grave, you will supposedly be able to hear the sound of a heartbeat coming from the ground. Sometimes, if you’re standing close enough, you can even feel that beating heart through the ground. Granny White’s story speaks of an unwillingness to give up despite age and adversity. Perhaps her will still hasn’t given out and her heart continues to beat audibly to this day.
visiting
The grave itself is fenced off, but you can still walk close enough to experience its unique ghost. This area near the grave where the ghostly heartbeat can be heard does not close at night. If you want to experience the added creepiness of approaching the grave after dark, there is nothing to stop you from doing so.
This doesn’t mean that the ghostly heartbeat will only manifest at night. You are more than able to approach the grave during the day as well. Just stand there for a few moments being as still as you can. Most people who try this will eventually hear the sounds of her heart still beating beneath the ground.
HENDERSONVILLE MEMORY GARDENS
353 East Main St., Hendersonville, TN 37075
directions
Take I-65 North for 12 miles to Exit 95, the Vietnam Veterans Boulevard exit. Follow Vietnam Veterans Boulevard for about 7 miles to Exit 7, Callender Lane. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Indian Lake Boulevard. Follow Indian Lake for almost a mile, and then turn left onto North Anderson Lane.
