1- Brief Overview

This community-led project will restore lost cemetery records, preserve oral history, uplift youth artists, and provide a peaceful garden and storytelling space for generations to come.

Location: In back of Historic Richland Cemetery.

BOT’s Place is a vision for a sacred space dedicated to reflection, remembrance, and legacy building in honor of Ms. Mildred Louise Johnson Leatherwood Wolfe (1925–2024).

3- The Situation

🔥 Decades ago, a fire destroyed burial records at Richland Cemetery.

3-The Problem

🗣️ No physical place exists to reflect, record, or reclaim that history.

4- The Solution

BOT’s Place will restore lost records, create a space for remembrance, and amplify the voices of the Greenville community while contributing to the cultural vitality. 

5-Strategic Partnerships

We wish to work with a diverse range of community partners to bring BOT’s Place to life:

1. Hughes Main Library Memory Lab
   For digital archives and training to preserve family histories and genealogical research.
   
   

2. Greenville Master Gardeners
   To co-create and maintain the Green Room Garden, fostering a peaceful space for reflection.
   
   

3. City of Greenville Cultural Affairs
   City partnership for historical integrity, city resources, and cultural programming.
   
   

4. Local Schools and Youth Art Programs
   Partnering for art education and youth leadership development, creating a space for youth to express creativity and honor history.
   
   

5. Descendants of Richland Cemetery Families
   Engaging families whose ancestors rest at Richland Cemetery to preserve and amplify their stories.
   
   

6. South Carolina Historical Society
   Offering resources and expertise to preserve and share local history, helping ensure the accurate documentation of the cemetery’s legacy.
   
   

7. Greenville County Parks, Recreation & Tourism
   Partnering to promote BOT’s Place as a community resource and a stop on local heritage walking tours.
   
   

8. The Heritage Fund of Greenville
   Providing potential funding for the restoration of cemetery records and the educational programs linked to the history of Richland Cemetery.
   
   

9. Civic and Social Organizations (e.g., NAACP, local Rotary Clubs)
   Supporting community outreach, volunteer engagement, and partnerships for creating civic pride and involvement.
   
   

10. Local Artists and Art Collectives
    Collaborating to create art installations, murals, and exhibits in the Legacy Gallery, honoring Ms. Mildred’s legacy and fostering youth creativity.
    
    

11. Greenville African American History Project
    Connecting the cemetery’s history to broader regional initiatives focused on preserving African American heritage in Greenville.
    
    

12. Community-Based Organizations (churches, local nonprofits)
    Partnering for outreach, volunteer efforts, and supporting the preservation and care of the cemetery.
    
    

13. University of South Carolina Upstate – History Department
    Collaborating on research, oral history preservation, and offering student involvement through internships and projects.
    
    

14. Greenville Urban Forestry Program
    Helping care for and develop the green spaces around BOT’s Place, ensuring the long-term health of trees and the botanical elements of the garden.
    
    

15. Local Media Outlets (e.g., The Greenville News, WYFF 4)
    Supporting public awareness through news stories, radio features, and social media, amplifying the impact of the BOT’s Place project.
    
    

6-How You Can Help

We are gathering letters of support from civic, cultural, faith-based, and educational groups to help establish BOT’s Place as a permanent legacy space. 

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Sign and submit letters of support from your organization or group.
  
  

• Become a partner in the garden, archive, or youth programs.
  
  

• Donate time to help clean, record, or mentor.
  
  

➡️ Download the Letter of Support Template
➡️ Submit your signed letter or endorsement