Historic Cemetery

Tyus Cemetery

a.k.a. Tyus Bluff Cemetery

Fairfield, Texas 75840
Location: NE of Fairfield about .5 miles from the Trinity River on TDCJ land, Coffield Unit. Proceed out FM 1364 to junction with CR that connects with FM 489. Turn east on this county road to road junction (about 3.3 miles). Take left for for 1.3 miles to gate on east side of the road. Go .8 miles from gate on Coffield Prison property road until a road taking off in a SE direction is reached. The cemetery is .2 miles from the Trinity River.

Source: Freestone County Sheriff’s office by J. R. Sessions, Jr., Sheriff; Morrow, Betty Moss, THC Library; USGS

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