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February 14, 2025






Color photograph of concrete slab graves in Blanchette Cemetery in Beaumont, TX

Blanchette Cemetery, Jefferson County

Grave Concerns in Texas, February 2025

A Publication of the Cemetery Preservation Program

"The Cemetery Preservation Program of the THC supports cemetery preservation efforts in each of the 254 counties across the state. Cemetery Preservation Program staff provides consultation, educational materials, and training to concerned citizens and public officials. In addition, the program offers the Historic Texas Cemetery (HTC) designation and maintains a statewide inventory of cemeteries to record and protect historic burial grounds. Click here to learn more about our work. [ [link removed] ]"

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HTC Highlight: Blanchette Cemetery
Color photo of volunteer group and Texas Historical Commission staff outdoors in the Pear Orchard Cemetery in Beaumont, Texas

This quarter, we’re highlighting Blanchette Cemetery in Beaumont. We designated this cemetery as a Historic Texas Cemetery in December. Blanchette is in a complex of four cemeteries in the Pear Orchard neighborhood, one of Beaumont’s oldest African American communities.  Formally platted and dedicated in 1935, the earliest marked grave dates from 1917, and the cemetery may have been used for burials as early as 1910. Prior to 1964, ownership of the cemetery changed several times; as a result, the cemetery is associated with a number of prominent Black businesses and individuals.

A black guitar-themed gravemarker for Rev. Willie J. Johnson

The majority of graves in Blanchette date from the 1910s to the 1960s, and many of the individuals were born in Louisiana, migrating to Beaumont after the 1901 oil discovery at Spindletop. The cemetery features a variety of grave markers, including numerous examples of concrete ones made by hand. One notable marble gravestone bears the emblem of the Mosaic Templars of America [ [link removed] ], an African American fraternal organization that offered death and burial insurance to its members. Another prominent gravestone commemorates singer and guitarist Blind Willie Johnson [ [link removed] ].

Although Blanchette Cemetery receives basic periodic lawn maintenance, there is a new interest in better documenting and physically preserving the site. Sacred Historic Spaces [ [link removed] ] and the Jefferson County Historical Commission [ [link removed] ] are working to do just that. Read more about efforts to preserve the Pear Orchard cemeteries in this news article from the Beaumont Enterprise [ [link removed] ].



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HTC Honor Roll

We’re thrilled to announce that 17 cemeteries have received HTC designations since November 12! Congratulations to the following cemeteries:

Gold colored certificate graphic containing the names of 17 Historic Texas Cemeteries

Atx-text: Gold colored certificate graphic listing the following historic Texas cemeteries: Hinojoza-Perez-Saucedo Cemetery, Bastrop Co. Lewis Family Cemetery, Cherokee Co. Hebron Cemetery, DeWitt Co. Wilson-Douglas Cemetery, Grayson Co. Stockard Cemetery, Henderson Co. Blanchette Cemetery, Jefferson Co. Foley Cemetery, Lavaca Co. Owensville Cemetery, Robertson Co. Center Union Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Travis Co. Zion Hill Cemetery, Van Zandt Co. Samuel Calhoun Cemetery, Walker Co. Fore Cemetery, Williamson Co. Patrick Cemetery, Williamson Co. McNeil Cemetery, Williamson Co. Salyer Cemetery at Strickland Grove, Williamson Co. Picosa-Martinez Cemetery, Wilson Co. Mt. Zion Cemetery, Wood Co.

 

 

Want to designate a historic cemetery you care about? Visit our website [ [link removed] ] to get more information, watch a how-to video, and download the application.

Official Historic Texas Cemetery Medallion

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How to Plan a Cemetery Tour (or take one!)

Cemetery tours are a popular way to showcase local history. More than just an educational event, a well-produced tour can help build public support, recruit new volunteers, and even generate much-needed revenue for cemetery maintenance and preservation.

Learn how to plan an engaging and impactful tour for your cemetery. Hosted by THC’s Museum Services Program, this recorded webinar [ [link removed] ] walks you through the planning stages step-by-step. Get advice on choosing the right format and tone to carrying out the logistics and publicity.

A group of people in a cemetery listening to a costumed tour guide

Then, find some inspiration by taking an upcoming tour of a historic cemetery near you:


* February 22: Glenwood Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Houston)
* March 22: Abilene Municipal Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Abilene)
* March 22: Old City Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Brownsville)
* April 12: Oak Grove Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Nacogdoches)
* All year: Texas State Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Austin)


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Famous Graves—Congressman Mickey Leland
Black and white photo of congressman Mickey Leland marching against apartheid in South Africa

This Black History Month, we’re remembering the life of George Thomas “Mickey” Leland (1944-1989) [ [link removed] ], one of Houston’s hometown heroes who served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Leland was known internationally for his commitment to solving human rights and world hunger issues.

He attended Texas Southern University’s School of Pharmacy in the 1960s, where he became an outspoken leader of the local Black Power movement in Houston. In 1972, Leland was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from the 88th District of Houston. He became known as a champion of healthcare rights for low-income Texans. Leland remained in the state legislature until 1978 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Barbara Jordan’s former congressional district.

Leland’s tenure in Congress is best remembered for his fight to solve the problems of domestic and international hunger and malnutrition. He helped create the House Select Committee on World Hunger and in 1985, urged Congress to send $800 million in famine relief funds to Africa. Tragically, on his sixth trip to Africa, a plane carrying Leland and fifteen others crashed en route to a refugee camp in Ethiopia.

Leland is buried in the Golden Gate Cemetery [ [link removed] ] in Northeast Houston. His headstone is inscribed with the words:

“I Have Fought The Good Fight. I Have Finished The Race. I Have Kept The Faith.”

Photo of black granite headstone for U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland
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HTCs in the News

Roots of Long-Lost African American Cemetery Spread Across Texas [ [link removed] ]—San Antonio Express-News (Multiple cemeteries in Bexar and Karnes Co.)

Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Historic Refuge Cemeteries [ [link removed] ]—ValleyCentral (El Rancho Granjeno Cemetery, Cameron County)

Historic Black Dallas Cemetery Gets Historical Marker Unveiled [ [link removed] ]—Dallas News (White Rock Cemetery Garden of Memories, Dallas Co.)

Restoration Process Moves Forward for Fifth Ward’s Historic Evergreen Negro Cemetery [ [link removed] ]—ABC13 (Evergreen Negro Cemetery, Harris Co.)

City of Edinburg Honors MLK Day by Cleaning Historic Cemetery [ [link removed] ]—ValleyCentral (Restlawn Cemetery, Hidalgo Co.)

These Southeast Texans are Restoring Beaumont’s Black Cemeteries [ [link removed] ]—Beaumont Enterprise (Pear Orchard cemeteries complex, Jefferson Co.)

Overcoming Segregation: Owensville Cemetery Honors Its Past and Its Future [ [link removed] ]—KXXV (Owensville Cemetery, Robertson Co.)

Unearthing History at Camptown Freedom Colony Cemetery in Brenham [ [link removed] ]—KCBX (Camptown Cemetery, Washington County)

Washington County’s History Uncovered One Gravestone at a Time [ [link removed] ]—KBTX (Old Washington Cemetery, Washington Co.)

Taylor Reclaims Hundreds of Unmarked Graves Belonging to Its Black Citizens [ [link removed] ]—Fox 7 Austin (Taylor City Cemetery, Williamson Co.)

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Upcoming HTC Marker Dedications

February 15: Conroe Community Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Montgomery Co.)

March 2: Idalou Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Lubbock Co.)

April 5: Oakland Cemetery [ [link removed] ] (Dallas Co.)

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Real Places conference logo

Real Places [ [link removed] ] is where ideas and inspiration for preserving Texas history are born. Presented by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission and Phoenix I Restoration and Construction, LLC, Real Places 2025 will feature over 100 expert speakers and more than 50 sessions, workshops, and tours all about historic preservation and heritage tourism.

New this year are “Basic” and “Premium” registration options. Sign up this month to save on registration! The final rate increase will occur on *March 21*.

*Learn More* [ [link removed] ]


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