OAK GROVE COLORED CEMETERY

FOUNDED: 1921

ADDITONAL NAMES: William P. Johnston Memorial Cemetery, Graham Colored Cemetery, Johnston Cemetery

AFFILIATION(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 deed 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) within the city of Graham, Texas. The first known burial was in 1929. The most recent and the last burial was 1971. The name of the cemetery was unofficially changed to separate it from the predominately white cemetery.

In July 2023, Rev. Vanessa A. Sims, began looking for her sister's grave. During her search for her sister, she found the cemetery to be overgrown, city and county officials denied ownership of cemetery land, no survey existed, 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. The Texas Historic Commission has approved a Historic Marker/Medallion for the cemetery.

To protect and preserve the cemetery, community member, Rev. Vanessa A. Sims, applied for and was able to obtain a Texas Historic Cemetery designation from the Texas Historic Commission in May 2024.

Dr. Walter and the Texas Tech Archeology 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 indicates possible disturbances and encroachments that have negatively impacted the cemetery. Based on multiple oral accounts and a review of historic maps including the right of way map (discussed in an early section of this report), it is highly likely that the construction of Highway 380 and the associated drainage infringed upon the OGC-WPJ Cemetery. Most distressing about this realization, is the real possibility that burials are under the actual roadway."

BCN Contact Information:

Rev. Vanessa Sims

vanessaannsims@gmail.com