Oak Grove Colored Cemetery

Oct 14

Site Brief:

Founded: 1921

Location: Graham, TX

Additional name(s): William P. Johnston Memorial Cemetery, Graham Colored Cemetery, Johnston Cemetery

Affiliate group(s): N/A

History:

The Oak Grove Colored Cemetery is located on the US 380 Bypass and Texas 16 in Graham, Texas. The land for the cemetery was donated by Addie Graham on May 7, 1921. It was deeded by Addie Graham for the specific purpose of burying colored people. It was known to be the "colored section" of Oak Grove Cemetery ( a public cemetery owned by the City of Graham and located within the City of Graham,Texas. It is known to be the only African American Cemetery in Young County. The first known burial was in 1929. The most recent and the last burial was in 1963. The name of the cemetery was unofficially changed to William P. Johnston Memorial Cemetery to separate it from the predominately white Oak Grove Cemetery. We believe this unofficial name change was an attempt to hide the legal racial segregation and to disaffiliate it from the Oak Grove Cemetery. We also believe that the unofficial name change was also an attempt to erase African American history.

In July 2023, Rev. Vanessa A. Sims, began looking for her sister's grave. During her search for her sisters grave, she found the cemetery land with overgrown trees, debris, and heavy road equipment on top of cemetery land, city and county officials denied ownership of cemetery land, no survey existed, the Young County Central Appraisal District website owner name was listed as the Colored School and Cemetery, a drainage easement had been placed on cemetery grounds, cemetery land had been taken to install 3 lanes of the US 380 bypass, a fence had been installed to shorten the cemetery, and sections of the cemetery had been sold to 2 private individuals. The African Americans buried in this sacred space had been devalued and neglected by city and county officials. It was shameful and a disgrace to those interred at that sacred space. To protect and preserve this historic African American Cemetery, a descendant namely, Rev. Vanessa A. Sims, applied for and was able to obtain a Texas Historic Cemetery designation from the Texas Historic Commission in May 2024. Additionally, the Texas Historic Commission has approved a Historic Marker/Medallion for the cemetery.

Dr. Tamra L.Walter, historical Archaeologist and the Texas Tech Archaeology team will continue the archaeological investigation of the cemetery on October 12, 2024. In her July 2024 archaeology investigation report entitled "A Place Among the Saints" she writes "Extensive mapping efforts also indicate possible disturbances and encroachments that have negatively impacted the cemetery. Current records reflect that there are 41 graves located in the cemetery. Based on the cemetery deed, it is highly possible that 150 graves could fit within the boundaries of this cemetery.