Welcome to the Historic Redford Cemetery

In 1831 Israel Bell, a Pekin Village, MI commissioner, gave one acre of land to the village for a cemetery. Originally called Bell Branch Cemetery after the river and the settlement founded by Bell in 1818, the name was changed to Redford Cemetery following the village renaming to Redford Township. It also was known as the Pioneer cemetery. Additional acreage obtained in 1849, 1854 and 1883 expanded the cemetery to ten acres of which part is in Redford Township and part in Detroit. A wrought-iron fence was built for the cemetery in 1886 with money contributed by Redford Township citizens. Among those buried here are Israel Bell and many military veterans that served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War and both World War I & World War II.

In the 1920’s, the Descendants of Redford Pioneers created the Redford Cemetery Association and worked with both Redford and Detroit to gain control of the cemetery. In the early 1930’s this was realized and remains today. The cemetery is still managed by the non-profit Redford Cemetery Association, with support from donations and volunteers to maintain the property.