STATE LINE-WOODLAWN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
African American Section

"They oughta..."
How many times have we all heard this phrase when discussing
projects that need to be undertaken?  In the case of the
African American section of Woodlawn Cemetery, there are no
"they."  There are only "we."  It is up to us to clean and
maintain this cemetery.  Many of Booker T. Washington High
School's alumni can find part of their heritage resting at
this cemetery.

Previous efforts
On May 26, 1952, The Twin City Cemetery Association was
organized to clean and maintain the African American
Section of Woodlawn Cemetery on the Arkansas side and
the Rose Hill Cemetery on the Texas side.  At some point
this organization became inactive and the cemetery was
again overrun with weeds and other growth.

Then in 1963, Mrs. M.I. McQueen asked for volunteers to
meet at the cemetery on Memorial Day with their tools to
clean the cemetery.  On that cleanup day, they realized
this was a big project that would require ongoing effort.
They organized the State Line-Woodlawn Cemetery
Association on the spot.  This organization struggled on
over the years to raise money by various fund-raising
projects and dues.  By the late 1990s, its principal members
were either dead or too old and frail to carry on.   So the
cemetery again became an eyesore.

Current efforts
A new association began meeting in May, 2001.  Among the
goals of this group are not only to clean and maintain the
cemetery, but also to identify and document grave locations,
compile biographies on some of the people buried there,
and move toward a perpetual care arrangement.  But this
takes money.  To those of you who have relatives or loved
ones buried there, we request $25.00 per person buried as
2002 dues for maintenance, or whatever you can afford.
If you do not have family buried there but would like to
help, we welcome you as dues-paying members.  We also welcome
volunteers.


Make checks payable to:  STATE LINE-WOODLAWN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION:  AA SECTION
                                        c/o Edwin Finn
                                        Route 2, Box 284
                                        Texarkana, TX 75501
                                        Telephone:  (903) 792-5230            AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ ____________

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