Location: LLeo Community New Bethel Cem.aka Morning Star Church Cem.—SEE Lee Co, Tx Cems, vol 1-2 (1991): “Us 77 N from Giddings 13 miles to New Bethel Baptist Church on left, right on CR 330 for 0.4 mile to cem on left. New Bethel or Morning Star Church once sat across this gravel lane from the cem but was moved to its present location on Hwy 77. Land once owned by Baylor family. Index.” THC site visit MB 9/04/03: S of Lexington, CR 455 to E off SH 77. [road names may have changed] Large fenced cem with metal arched entryway. Diversity of markers over time, including fieldstones and creative local markers. Abundant floral and decorative grave materials, benches, plantings. Some marker trees. Most graves face E, although some at E end of cem face W. Surrounded by pastures. Recent bull-dozer damage from unknown source, tumbling out and moving about 6 large gravestones into sandy dozer path. Reported to THC and to Lee Co Cem Committee Oct. 2003.Approx 3.20 acres. GPS 3022.25.05977N –96.58.41.71663W. Quad 3096-232.Medium risk of endangerment, perhaps by remote location, evidence of recent disruption of large formal markers by backhoe or dozer. Also surrounded by pasture, with pasture gates into cem. Evidence of cattle damage to fence. However, is maintained, has recent burials, abundant floral and decorative materials, and associated church.
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.