Historic Cemetery

Grayburg Cemetery, Black, New

a.k.a. Grayburg Colored Cemetery, new

Sour Lake, Texas
Location: Grayburg Cemetery (#2) colored-new AKA Grayburg Colored Cem.-New Rootsweb: “Colored-new. No detail.; Grayburg Cemetery (New) — Recorded: HARD01—Parsons; M. Wright (1976), map 2&3, Hwy 105 corridor, West. Located on Hwy 326, large, many unmarked graves, about 40 marked graves. Earliest about 1953.” THC Site visit MB 11/21/03: S of Sour Lake, Tx., Hwy 326. Formal and informal markers, diversity over time. Many carnes. Cedar and Magnolia marker trees, Cape Jasmine. Abundant floral grave materials. Wooded area on three sides, rural residential, adjacent to highway. Approx. 2 acres. GPS 30.06.54.82400N –94.24.12.02077W Quad 3094-122.

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