Julia Greeley was known as Denver's "Angel of Charity," and was an important part of Denver's community in her time despite a traumatic background. Born a slave in Missouri, her right eye was permanently maimed by a slave master’s whip at a young age. After gaining her freedom at the end of the Civil War, she emigrated to Colorado to work as a domestic servant. She was among the first Black Christian pioneers in Colorado.
Julia was truly an angel in her charitable works. She was very poor herself and analysis of her remains showed terrible arthritis. Despite this, she became famous for walking miles at night with a mattress on her back or pulling a red wagon loaded with supplies for a poor family. When a family was too proud to ask for charity, she would beg for them. She spent what little money she did earn helping the poor. She was especially well loved by the city’s firefighters, who she tended to in the wake of tragic losses.
Stories abound of her warm personality. At one time, she entered her church’s beauty competition. Voters had to pay 10 cents per vote. Despite living a hard life and a maimed eye, she rallied her firefighter friends and many others to her cause, winning the competition while earning about $300 for her church. In another incident, one of her friends had lost a child due to its inability to digest food, and was told that she could not have further children. Julia told her friend that in one year she would come back to find a little angel running around. Sure enough, her friend had a daughter, whom Julia became the nanny for. The only picture we have of her is taken with that baby girl in McDonough Park.
When she died in 1918, hundreds of people from all walks of life showed up for the wake of this humble domestic worker. She is the only person whose remains are interred at the Denver cathedral. An amazing fixture of Denver’s history despite terrible adversity in her upbringing, renaming McDonough Park for her would be a great way to move forward from the past and honor a great role model relevant to modern times.
5 Comments
To honor Julia Greeley by renaming a park in her memory would celebrate not only her extraordinary life of charity, humility, and faith, but also the enduring spirit of compassion she brought to the people of Denver. Though she possessed little in material wealth, she gave abundantly of herself—quietly serving the poor, visiting families in need, and carrying the love of Christ into the streets of this city. A park bearing her name would become more than a place on a map; it would stand as a living reminder that true greatness is found in selfless service, kindness, and love for neighbor. It would inspire future generations to learn her story and follow her example of mercy, perseverance, and holiness. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman whose light still shines brightly in Denver and far beyond.
Prayers for passage of this legislation.
I’d like to sign the petition for the Angel of Charity
She also delighted in taking neighborhood children to City Park.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Julia Greeley was known as Denver's "Angel of Charity," and was an important part of Denver's community in her time despite a traumatic background. Born a slave in Missouri, her right eye was permanently maimed by a slave master’s whip at a young age. After gaining her freedom at the end of the Civil War, she emigrated to Colorado to work as a domestic servant. She was among the first Black Christian pioneers in Colorado.
Julia was truly an angel in her charitable works. She was very poor herself and analysis of her remains showed terrible arthritis. Despite this, she became famous for walking miles at night with a mattress on her back or pulling a red wagon loaded with supplies for a poor family. When a family was too proud to ask for charity, she would beg for them. She spent what little money she did earn helping the poor. She was especially well loved by the city’s firefighters, who she tended to in the wake of tragic losses.
Stories abound of her warm personality. At one time, she entered her church’s beauty competition. Voters had to pay 10 cents per vote. Despite living a hard life and a maimed eye, she rallied her firefighter friends and many others to her cause, winning the competition while earning about $300 for her church. In another incident, one of her friends had lost a child due to its inability to digest food, and was told that she could not have further children. Julia told her friend that in one year she would come back to find a little angel running around. Sure enough, her friend had a daughter, whom Julia became the nanny for. The only picture we have of her is taken with that baby girl in McDonough Park.
When she died in 1918, hundreds of people from all walks of life showed up for the wake of this humble domestic worker. She is the only person whose remains are interred at the Denver cathedral. An amazing fixture of Denver’s history despite terrible adversity in her upbringing, renaming McDonough Park for her would be a great way to move forward from the past and honor a great role model relevant to modern times.
5 Comments
Acknowledging how beloved and respected Julia Greeley was, The Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News, and the Denver Catholic Register, wrote substantial, glowing obituaries about her upon her death. Her love transcended the racism of the time and shines as a ray of hope today. She is Denver's own -- she made it her home, was embraced and died here -- and more people need to know about her.
To honor Julia Greeley by renaming a park in her memory would celebrate not only her extraordinary life of charity, humility, and faith, but also the enduring spirit of compassion she brought to the people of Denver. Though she possessed little in material wealth, she gave abundantly of herself—quietly serving the poor, visiting families in need, and carrying the love of Christ into the streets of this city. A park bearing her name would become more than a place on a map; it would stand as a living reminder that true greatness is found in selfless service, kindness, and love for neighbor. It would inspire future generations to learn her story and follow her example of mercy, perseverance, and holiness. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman whose light still shines brightly in Denver and far beyond.
Prayers for passage of this legislation.
I’d like to sign the petition for the Angel of Charity
She also delighted in taking neighborhood children to City Park.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 50 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Acknowledging how beloved and respected Julia Greeley was, The Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News, and the Denver Catholic Register, wrote substantial, glowing obituaries about her upon her death. Her love transcended the racism of the time and shines as a ray of hope today. She is Denver's own -- she made it her home, was embraced and died here -- and more people need to know about her.