Nashville business and community leaders expressed shock and sadness over the death of real estate developer and philanthropist Bill Freeman. Freeman died Sunday evening, Nov. 17 at his home. He was 73.
As one of the city’s most respected business titans, Freeman was not only admired for his business acumen but his heart for community.
A native of Nashville, he threw his hat in the ring in 2015 to become Nashville’s mayor. Although he lost his mayoral bid to then-Mayor Megan Barry, the first woman elected to the office, he was influential in elevating priority issues such as education, affordable housing and transportation needs impacting the city.
Longtime residents are expressing condolences for what many are calling “a tremendous loss” to the Nashville community.
Rosetta Miller-Perry, publisher of The Tennessee Tribune, was a close friend to Freeman, and remembers fondly her talks with him about business and the strong support, kindness and generosity he showed to she and others.
“Our friendship began in 1991 with many business lunches throughout that year,” Miller-Perry said. “I will forever remember Bill’s smile and gentle kindness. Bill is gone from our sight now, but never from our hearts.”
She continued “Nashville will change from year-to-year, our lives will change from day-to-day, but the memory and impact of a good man will never fade from the memory of those of us who were lucky enough to be Bill Freeman’s friend.”
Freeman was highly engaged in the political landscape and was a major supporter of the Democratic Party. Through his savvy relationship-building skills, he helped to raise millions for both local and national candidates, including Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. He also served as a member of the White House Historical Association and was a treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party in 2009.
Former Vice President Al Gore referred to Freeman as one of Nashville’s “kindest and most dedicated champions.”
“Bill Freeman was a giant in our city, known as much for his role in helping Nashville grow as he was for his commitment to ensuring that all of its residents could thrive,” Gore said. “Bill always sought out new ideas and knowledge in his pursuit of a better future for his community – one of the traits that made him such an important leader in our local media landscape. I was lucky enough to see that curiosity firsthand when he and his son Bob joined me on a trip to Antarctica to better understand the impacts of the climate crisis. He will be sorely missed. My heart goes out to his beloved wife Babs and his sons, Harvey, Mike and State Rep. Bob Freeman.”
State Rep. Harold M. Love, Jr., Ph.D., said, “Bill Freeman was a wonderful man who had a tremendous heart and love for people. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have had our paths cross. He legacy of investing in people will live on forever.”
Freeman’s footprint in Nashville’s growth was built through his commercial real estate and business firm – Freeman Webb Company – which he launched in 1979 with then-business partner, the late Jimmy Webb who died in 2019. The duo also founded FW Publishing in 2018. Freeman’s son, state Rep. Bob Freeman, currently serves as president of Freeman Webb Company.
“Bill Freeman and his close friend, Jimmy Webb, were growing their young real estate company when I moved to Nashville in 1984 at 27 years old. They were among the first to welcome me and give me opportunities to grow in their hometown,” said Tony Giarratana, real estate developer and president of Giarratana Development, LLC. “Several of my close friends and team members are alumni of Freeman Webb Company. Bill will be deeply missed by his family and community.”
Freeman received dozens of award and was also known as a dedicated supporter of numerous causes, including serving on the Tennessee State University Foundation Board, the Nashville Davidson County Mental Health and Veteran Assistance Foundation, appointed to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship board by President Biden in 2022, and served eight years with the Metro Nashville Airport Authority board, to name a few.
“Bill Freeman was a friend to all of Nashville,” said Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk. “He worked hard to give the working men and women of this community better living standards from housing to wages. We are a better city because of Bill Freeman.”
Cathy Bender, senior vice president at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, echoed sentiments around the deep legacy Freeman left across Nashville and throughout the state of Tennessee.
“His commitment to creating a better world for all has left a profound impact on our city for generations to come,” Bender said. “Bill led with kindness and his generosity was unparalleled. He will be sorely missed.”
Freeman attended the University of Tennessee for a short while before leaving the university to pursue a career in real estate. Prior to establishing Freeman Webb Company, he worked at Metro Development and Housing.
He is survived by his wife, Babs Tinsley Freeman, and sons, Bob, Harvey and Mike Freeman.
