Historic Cemetery

Gilliland-Boykin Cemetery

Zavalla, Texas 75980
Location: From Zavalla at SH 69/SH 63E intersection; 63 E .7 miles to FM 147. FM 147 E. 5.8 miles to FM 3123. West on FM 3123 .6 miles to CR 395 (locked gate, road sign gone). SW .3 miles to cemetery at end of road on Cassells-Boykin Park propertyThis site is located on private park property. The CR that leads to the site is locked, and was probably gated and locked because of vandalizm to the site. There are a few sandstone markers (Boykin). The site is overgrown but there is some evidence that it has been cleaned in the past. There is one Cit. of the Republic of Tx medallion on the grave of Sam Gilliland.

To address the problem of cemetery destruction and to record as many cemeteries as possible, the Texas Historical Commission offers the Historic Texas Cemetery designation.

The Historic Texas Cemetery designation was developed in 1998 to help protect historic cemeteries by recording cemetery boundaries in county deed records to alert present and future owners of land adjacent to the cemetery of its existence. Every county in Texas has at least one cemetery designated as a Historic Texas Cemetery through this program. The HTC designation is the first step toward preservation of a historic cemetery.

A cemetery is eligible for designation if it is at least 50 years old and is deemed worthy of recognition for its historical associations. The very nature of a cemetery being a landmark of a family’s or community’s presence is considered to validate the criteria of historical associations. Any individual, organization, or agency may submit a request for designation.