Location: Willingham Cemetery:Willingham Cemetery—TxGenWeb. Texas Landmark 301403N 0961629W Chappell Hill.” --Recorded WASH01—Parsons. Cem Recs of Washington Co (1974): “Willingham Cem – 301403 – 961632 – There are both colored and white graves in this small cemetery, the white interments are inside a chain link fence. Approx 5 marked graves [unknown if both AA & anglo are counted??], Willingham family and others, earliest about 1929. Index.” Tombstone-TxDoT map. THC site visit MB 9/12/03 Earlywine, Tx area. FM 2193, just E of Copelyn Springs Rd. On N side of FM. Nearby Friary of St. Francis. Long narrow site on bluff over road. Bounded on back or N side by heavy freegrowth and fenced pasture road. Formal markers. Chain link fence around several graves, including marker Cedar trees and CSA and vet markers, immediately adjacent to unfenced graves. Fenced area rather overgrown, but evidence of recent clearing of Youpon free-growth. Floral and decorative materials on the unfenced grave area, not in the enclosed area. Diverse marker styles over time.Overgrown fenced section to W is reportedly white burials. Area to E, unfenced but maintained with fairly recent burials, is reportedly AA. This area has abundant floral and decorative grave materials, and formal markers include caste carnes. Approx 0.20 acre. GPS 30.14.03.35470N –96.16.31.4039N. USGS 3096-241Moderate risk of endangerment. Visible from road, on map, some overgrowth but some sections maintained, still in use, evidence of visitation.
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.