Location: Bedias Methodist Cemetery—Recorded—Parsons. SEE Grimes County Cemeteries, vols 1-5, John Maxwell, GCHS. H&P, Grimes Co Hist.: Local hist. map. Tombstone/Rootsweb, TxDoT map, three sections to cem. Plot map in file. TxGenWeb: “As of November, 2002, contacts for the Bedias Methodist Cemetery are:Phillip Upchurch - (936) 395-0227Clinton Lyles (936) 395-1046Carolyn Acord - (936) 395-4310They Speak: .txt @ Rootsweb.com THC Atlas: The Rev. Anderson Buffington (1806-91), a Baptist missionary who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, organized this church in 1848. Services were held in a small schoolhouse until the 1850s. In 1859 the congregation built this structure, which also served as a school until about 1903. Members of this fellowship helped start several other Baptist churches nearby. The congregation survived a split in 1913, but later dwindled because of population changes. The last regular service was held here in 1965. Restored in 1974, the building was deeded to the Bedias Cemetery Association.” –THC Atlas. Rootsweb: “Southern Heritage Funeral Home (P.O. Box 145, FM1696W,Bedias, TX 77831-0145. The cemetery is divided into three sections, only two of which have been used to date. Each section is divided into Rows, and each Row into Spaces. Individual graves are numbered by Section, Row and Space. The existence of irregular Rows, family plots and early burials means that some … contact bobpowl@austin.rr.com. Directions to the CemeteryFrom the intersection of Texas State Hwy 90 and FM1696 in center of the town of Bedias, go .1 mile south on Hwy 90 to FM1696 West. Go west on FM1696 for .6 miles to County Road 125. There is green informational Texas Highway Department sign for the cemetery at this intersection. Follow the sign south on CR 125 for .05 mile, the cemetery is on the left (east) side of CountyRoad 125.” Tombstone/Rootsweb, TxDoT map, “Original Burial ground of First Baptist Church of Bedias. …land is owned by Walter Overby. Approx. 500 or more graves, earliest about 1860s. Index.” THC Archive, County File: “news clip of 1996 Bedias Baptist Cem. on FM 2620, vandalism by two children, knocking off marker embellishments and smashing vases.”THC site visit MB 12/31/04 w/ J. Maxwell: Bedias, Tx area, FM 1696 to CR 125, S about 0.1 mile, site on left, E. Across from rural residence, adjacent to woodlands and mortuary company, near busy FM. Large fenced site. Diversity of formal markers over time, large and small, many Cedar and Juniper marker trees. Crape Myrtle, Nandina, Gardenia, Arborvitae, Live Oak, some large stumps of previous marker trees. Obelisks, Spires, commercial, fieldstones, petrified wood (large and small), Methodist minister medalilion. Abundant floral grave materials. US veterans, Methodist Minister, WoW, Masonic, Eastern Star. 3095-332Low risk endangerment, fenced, maintained, still in use, recent burials, on map.
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.