Historic Cemetery

Heath Family Cemetery

De Soto, Texas
Location: Driving Directions:From N. Hampton Rd. go 0.9 mile west on W. Spinner Rd. Cemetery is located approximately 33 ft. south of road, immediately west of sharp bend in road. In front yard of house at 640 W. Spinner Rd. There are two markers visible. This cemetery is highly endangered. It is not a map feature, it is not fenced, and only two stones remains. One is a headstone base with the name Chiswell. The other is broken marble headstone with the name James F. [Dixon] (?) Reports indicate that many graves were moved to Rawlins Cemetery and that only one headstone remains. However, it appears that there are two distinct markers present.

Source: RIP Fields Table

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.

gravesites