Bill Freeman Dies at 73

Bill Freeman — the co-founder of Nashville-based real estate company Freeman Webb, a Democratic Party powerbroker, a former mayoral candidate and the owner of Nashville Scene parent company FW Publishing — has died by suicide at his Forest Hills home.

Freeman died Sunday night. He was 73.

“For many years, Bill Freeman was a dedicated advocate for our city, state and community,” says Freeman’s son Bob Freeman. “His passion for making Nashville a better place was evident in every part of his life. Fearless in sharing his opinions on the issues that mattered most, he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those around him and to leave a lasting impact on our shared future.”

A longtime supporter of local journalism and a candidate for mayor in 2015, Bill Freeman teamed with friend and business partner Jimmy Webb to purchase the Scene and sister publications the Nashville Post and Nfocus in 2018 via FW Publishing. Webb died in 2019. 

Freeman attended the Peabody Demonstration School (now the University School of Nashville) and the University of Tennessee. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Kennedy Center Advisory Committee on the Arts, and by President Joe Biden to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. An avid pilot, he was a member of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners and the White House Historical Association. A onetime employee of the Metro Development and Housing Authority, he also served on the boards of the Nashville Area YMCA and Tennessee State University, among many other civic roles. A longtime mason and a former master of Corinthian Masonic Lodge No. 8, Freeman was also a grandfather, a sports fan and a dedicated community booster, donating to countless causes and media outlets in addition to his support of the Scene and its sister publications. 

As the largest Democratic fundraiser in the state, Freeman threw his support behind President Obama, President Biden and numerous other local, state and federal candidates over the course of his career. In his 2015 run for mayor, he was narrowly edged out to miss the runoff. 

"Bill was many things — real estate visionary, mayoral candidate, pilot, media magnate, staunch Democrat — and friend," says Mayor Freddie O'Connell in a statement shared Sunday night. "Our city, state, and nation are better for his tenacity and commitment. We will miss him dearly, and my heart is with his family." 

“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,” former Vice President Al Gore shared on social media. “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.”

“Bill Freeman was a friend to all of Nashville,” says District Attorney Glenn Funk in a statement. “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.”

In October of last year, Bill Freeman transitioned ownership of Freeman Webb Company to Bob Freeman, who also serves as a representative in Nashville's state House District 56. At the time, Bill Freeman said he wanted to spend time with his family, including his wife Babs Freeman. He had previously suffered two strokes. 

In addition to his wife Babs and his son Bob, Bill Freeman is survived by his sons Harvey and Mike. 

“I know Bill Freeman, my dad, will be deeply missed by all who knew him — his family, friends, colleagues and this community,” says Bob Freeman. “His legacy of dedication and commitment will live on in the countless lives he touched.” 

Details on funeral arrangements are still forthcoming. See the Freeman family's full statement below.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency, you can call or text 988 to connect with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services’ crisis and suicide prevention line. You can also chat with 988lifeline.org, or dial the Statewide Crisis Line at 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).

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