Arthur Ashe

Birth Name:

Arthur Robert Ashe Jr.

Birth Date:

July 10, 1943

Birth Place:

Richmond, Virginia

Death Date:

February 6, 1993

Place of Death:

New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York

Age:

Cause of Death:

AIDS-related pneumonia

Cemetery Name:

Woodland Cemetery

Claim to Fame:

Sports

Arthur Ashe was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam titles in singles and two in doubles and was the first Black player selected to the United States Davis Cup team, and the only Black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Australian Open. At the height of his career Ashe was ranked world No. 1 by Rex Bellamy, Bud Collins, Judith Elian, Lance Tingay, World Tennis and Tennis Magazine (U.S.) in 1975. That year, Ashe was awarded the 'Martini and Rossi' Award, voted for by a panel of journalists, and the ATP Player of the Year award. In the ATP computer rankings, he peaked at No. 2 in May 1976. He retired in 1980. In 1983 Ashe acquired HIV from a blood transfusion he received during heart bypass surgery. In 1993 Ashe died from AIDS-related pneumonia at age 49. His funeral was held at the Arthur Ashe Athletic Center in Richmond, Virginia. Governor Douglas Wilder, who was a friend of Ashe's, allowed his body to lie in state at the Governor's Mansion in Richmond as more than 5,000 people lined up to walk past the casket.

Fun FactS

Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court for the US Open and the largest tennis arena in the world, is named in his honor.

After he contracted the AIDS virus Arthur Ashe was asked, ‘Is this the hardest thing you’ve ever had to deal with?’ And he said, ‘No, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with is being a black man in this society’.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Woodland Cemetery

2300 Magnolia Road

Richmond, Virginia, 23223

USA

North America

Map:

Map of Woodlawn Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia

Grave Location:

Section M

Grave Location Description

As you enter the modest cemetery gates off Magnolia Road, turn left and stay to the left and drive 200 feet and look to the left for the large black memorial to tennis legend and all-around generally great guy Arthur Ashe.