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Lynching of Thomas Williams

UNSOLVED1927Near Memphis, Tennessee2 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Thomas Williams, an African-American man, was lynched by a mob near Memphis, Tennessee, on September 28, 1927. Williams was accused of attacking a white woman, but no trial or conviction is documented before he was lynched.

Williams's body was found bearing multiple bullet wounds in Pleasant Union Churchyard, approximately two miles from the site of the alleged incident near Memphis. John R. Steelman's doctoral research on mob violence in the American South included the Williams case.

No known prosecution followed the killing.

This case is part of a broader historical pattern of extrajudicial killings of African Americans in the United States during the early twentieth century, frequently following unproven accusations against Black men, particularly involving allegations concerning white women. Such killings were rarely investigated or prosecuted by local authorities at the time.

Key facts

Victims
Thomas Williams
Date
1927
Location
Near Memphis, Tennessee
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1927-09-28

    Thomas Williams, an African-American man accused of attacking a white woman, was killed by a mob near Memphis, Tennessee; his body was later found in Pleasant Union Churchyard, about two miles from the site of the alleged incident.

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People

  • Thomas Williams

    VICTIM

    African-American man killed by a mob near Memphis, Tennessee, after being accused of attacking a white woman.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Near Memphis, Tennessee

35.1175, -89.9711

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Thomas Williams, an African-American man, was killed by a mob near Memphis, Tennessee, on September 28, 1927, after being accused of attacking a white woman.
Where did the crime happen?
Near Memphis, Tennessee.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Tennessee

Sources

  1. PRESSTennessee Lynching Victims Memorial — Williams, Thomas (Memphis, Sept 28, 1927)America's Black Holocaust Museum · 2026-07-11
  2. ENCYCLOPEDICLynching of Thomas WilliamsWikipedia · 2026-07-10