“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Arthur Ashe
Civil rights activist and tennis legend,
interred at Woodland Cemetery
Who We Are
The Woodland Restoration Foundation was formed in 2020 by local businessman Marvin Harris, who had been involved with efforts to restore nearby Historic Evergreen Cemetery. The Foundation raised the funds needed to acquire the cemetery, and is now working to raise more funding to complete the restoration process. The Foundation works with community volunteers, local businesses, and supporters from across the country to meets its goals. Woodland Restoration Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Our Mission: Woodland Restoration Foundation was formed to maintain, preserve and educate the community about one of the city’s oldest African American cemeteries. Woodland is located in Henrico County, Virginia and is the final resting place of approximately 30,000 African Americans.
Our community-led volunteer organization facilitates the revitalization efforts, returning dignity to this historic location dating back to 1917. The Woodland Restoration foundation will grow the mission of the cemetery while respecting the original design of the property.
An education and genealogy center will be developed that will directly support this mission.
Save Historic Woodland Cemetery
At Woodland Restoration Foundation we’re raising funds to protect and restore Historic Woodland Cemetery, which is the final resting place of tennis legend Arthur Ashe and thousands of other African Americans from the Richmond community. The cemetery was founded in 1917 by American businessman, newspaper editor, and civil rights activist John Mitchell, Jr. The cemetery fell into disrepair over recent decades, with a handful of families and volunteers struggling to maintain it. The Woodland Restoration Foundation is working with community volunteers, local businesses, and government support to restore dignity to this sacred site.