Historic Cemetery

Berryman Cemetery

Anderson, Texas 77830
Location: Berryman Cemetery. (black) Anderson, 1888. Recorded: GRIM11, GRIM12—Parsons.. Tombstone/Rootsweb, TxDoT map. GNIS on Navasota map. H&P, Grimes Co Hist.: Local hist. map. “AA… first cem. for blacks located in Anderson near home of lawyer Meachum. On July 26, 1888 Meachum deeded a tract of land about 2.5 miles from Anderson and 0.25 mile from Hwy 90 to Steve Ragland, Thomas Lindley & John White, trustees of 2nd Anderson Colored Baptist ch. for a burial ground for the black people. Deed, vo. 32, p. 569. Plot of land recently fenced to replace old fence from 1880s. … Organization formed, with officers. Family members responsible for upkeep. Program committee.” [No index, no details] Near Anderson. SEE Cemeteries of Grimes County, vols 1-5 John Maxwell, GCHC.THC site visit MB 4/17/04: Large site, may have been expanded. Hilltop location facing S vista. Hedgerow of Hackberry and freegrowth, gate off CR 447, about 0.2 mile E of SH 90. Formal, large and small, some informal and locally caste. One undamaged shell grave, formal. Obelisks. Memorial marker. A few marker trees, Cedar. Lillies, Irises. NW area has some areas of overgrwoth, but whole area recently mowed. Adjacent to pasture, rural farm and ranch. [Note: No graves observed with name Berryman, perhaps named for former landowners?]Approx 2.2 acres. GPS 30.28.04.66406N –96.00.28.19849W. Quad 3096-144.Low endangerment: maintained, fenced, near residences, recent burials. SEE Notes.

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.