Dallas Co., TX: Motley Cemetery This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Monetta Lockey Upload date: 2/25/2005 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm **************************************************** Motley Cemetery Mesquite, Dallas County The Motleys are one of the founding families of Mesquite and until the 1950s or 1960s the old homestead with its huge house was still occupied. The house burned and the land was sold to Dallas County for use for Eastfield Community College. The cemetery is located on the college campus and is well maintained by the Motley descendants. . A couple of interesting things found in the cemetery are the unmarked graves which rumors say are slave graves and the markers showing where an arm and a foot are buried. The story behind that would be interesting to know. This cemetery has a historical marker. It states: Z. Motley Cemetery Zacharial Motley migrated to Texas (1856) from Kentucky with his family and slaves. He and his wife Mary, five sons, and three daughters helped settle this area and built their home some 200' northeast of this site, a one-half acre portion of the original homestead bought from the Crittenden Survey. Earliest known burial (1863) was Penelope Motley McLain, a daughter, and the wife of Capt. J.B. McLain. The plot is still in use and is owned and cared for by Motley descendants. Twenty-five known graves include family members and their slaves. (1976) Directions: From Hwy#30 East take the Motley Exit and travel north. Immediately on the left is Eastfield Community College. The cemetery is located on the southeast corner of the college campus. The cemetery is well maintained and has a white fence around it. It is unlocked and can be visited by the public. Some tombstones were broken in the past and have been pieced together and placed in concrete slabs. I have marked these with *. My notes are in ( ). All other notations are on the stones themselves. These are listed in the approximate order of location as all buried here are connected with the Motley family. One blank stone* Known only to God* (These two are rumored to be slaves. No records to prove this.) (unreadable) (unreadable) A. wife of J.B. McLain, born June 14, 1831, died Dec 27 1863 * J. B. M'L * Arm of John S. Motley 1894* Z. Motley, born June 10, 1805, died Mar. 10, 1868* Mary wife of Z. Motley, born Jan 18, 1814, died Oct 31, 1890* "We are gathering Home" (more inscription unreadable) Mary H. wife of Guss Lawrence born Apr 20, 1853, died July 12, 1885* "Dying is but going home" (more inscription unreadable) Mary F. M. dau of Guss & M.H. Lawrence born July 6, 18 ??, died Aug. 1, ??* Motley (double headstone) - Wife Husband Fredna Ueckert Motley - Mother of John Robt and Nancy - Oct 25, 1905 - Nov 23, 1987 Charlie R. Motley - Father of John Robt and Nancy - Aug 3, 1903 - Dec. 31, 1988 Riggs (double headstone) "Together Forever" Frances M. 1907 - 2000 Thomas M. (Slats) 1904 - 1992 (Mason's symbol) Sallie A. Motley born Sept 14, 1854 - died Feb 8, 1922 Grantham (double headstone) Wife Husband Emma Motley Grantham Feb 4, 1902 - Dec. 4, 1990 Harry Y. Grantham Aug. 6, 1901 - July 7, 1987 (Mason's symbol)married Feb. 12, 1924 Parents of Lynda Sue Islett (double headstone) Ressie Motley May 3, 1907 - July 6, 2000 L. D. Mike Apr. 27, 1910 - July 7, 1983 wed Feb 22, 1937 Hamlin (double headstone) Wife Husband Mildred Motley Hamlin Mar 3, 1916 - Jan. 14, 2000 J. T. Hamlin July 3, 1907 - Nov. 15, 1985 (Mason's symbol) Tritch (double headstone) Mother Father Fay Motley Tritch son Roy Patrick Tritch Apr 29, 1905 - June 5, 1992 Roy Paullis Tritch son Roy Patrick Tritch Mar 28, 1908 - Nov 18, 1992 William M. Motley June 2, 1881 - Aug 9, 1970 Ida Lee Motley Oct 1, 1887 - Mar 21, 1956 Sweet William Motley July 3, 1911 - June 6, 1912 William Masten Motley Oct. 26, 1909 - Oct. 28, 1909 Thomas Z. Motley May 1, 1870 - Mar. 27, 1927 Motley, Virgie L. wife of T.Z. Motley born Nov 27, 1884 died Dec. 6, 1918 Motley, Baby Josephine daut. of TZ & VL Motley born Apr. 19, 1905 died Aug. 29, 1905 Motley, Isabelle wife of F. M. Motley Sept 29, 1849 - June 21, 1894 "She was a kind wife, a fond mother, and a friend to all." Francis M. Motley Sept 22, 1844 - June 14, 1915 "Gone to a bright home where grief cannot come" Mrs. Mollie Motley 1856 - 1939 Hattie L. dau of F.M. & I.M. Motley born Sep 27 1879 died (broken off)* Our Father and Mother (This is a large monument) Zachariah Motley June 10, 1805 - Mar 10, 1868 His wife Mary Lynn Jan 18, 1814 - Oct. 31, 1890 "They were a kind and affectionate husband and wife, a fond father and mother, and a friend to all." Children of Zachariah and Mary Motley (On north side of the monument) William H. John T. Robert P. Mary H. Sallie A. Nannie P. Jefferson Z. (On south side of monument) James E. Martha A.E. Jefferson L. Penelophy A. Frances M. In loving Memory of Hazel B. Motley "Nannie" Nov. 25, 1910 - Jan. 10, 1998 Wilma Lawrence Carrington September 27, 1909 - November 30, 1977 Lawrence (double headstone) Mattie A. Easley May 22, 1874 - Feb. 4, 1929 Jefferson (Joe) Z. Aug. 10, 1880 - May 8, 1948 The foot of C.G. Motley buried Jun 5, 1911 Mary Lawrence - October 27, 1906 - March 9, 1990 Poynter (double headstone) Jurine Jordan (has birth date but no death date - assume still living) Charlie Mundall Mar 3, 1912 - Feb. 1, 1998 John T. Motley Jan 18, 1848 - July 24, 1912 Mary E. his wife April 27, 1851 - July 28, 1929 "Stranger can you tell is this where individuality ceases or does it exist beyond" B. F. Motley Jan 24, 1875 - Feb. 9, 1927 Delbert C. Motley WAGR US Army World War I Oct. 1, 1893 - July 11, 1988 J. L. Motley July 26, 1840 - May 12, 1919 His wife Martha Mar 26, 1849 - Oct. 16, 1897 "Resting till the Resurrection Morn" William M. Motley April 22, 1846 - March 29, 1921 "A precious one from us has gone A voice we loved is stilled A place is vacant in our home Which never can be filled" Nancy A dau of D.H. & D. J. Hill born May 6, 1874 died (broken off. This was leaning up against a tree as if they were planning to repair it.)