CEMETERY: New Home Cemetery, Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas From: Margaret Bates 20 Feb 2001 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** NEW HOME CEMETERY Farm Road 1464 about one mile north of Highway 90 near Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas. This cemetery comprises approximately 2 acres and is located across the road and a little north of the Old Orchard Golf Club. There are many painted stakes, pipes (both metal and PVC) that are used for markers. There are also plantings which are obviously meant to mark graves, such as large banana plants and yuccas. All around the cemetery are signs of progress -- bulldozers were at work to the east and earth had been moved right up to the edge of the cemetery. Clearly, this is an endangered site. Possibly the only thing saving it is its proximity to the road. There is an entrance of sorts in the middle of the cemetery which is large enough for one or two cars to park off the road. The graves are separated into two main sections, north and south. The cemetery was very irregular in rows and topography and there are probably a large number of unmarked graves. Clearly, the little cemetery is the eternal resting place of many poor folks, although there were a few very fine stones. Largely, the "proper" stones were military markers. Nearby, about 1/2 mile south, is Buford H. Jester Unit of Texas Department of Corrections. It is not really thought that there is any connection between the cemetery and the DOC, but this may be the case. Graves were recorded first in the north section, rows from south to north, moving from west (the road) to east. Next recorded was a small section of graves located just to the south of the entrance. The the south section was recorded, moving in the same directions. North Section Row 1 UNKNOWN, "Dad," no dates. Plastic pipe cross, faded artificial flowers UNKNOWN, metal funeral marker with no card, faded artificial flowers SMALLWOOD, Miller Dewayne, 18 Dec 1976 - 22 Dec 1985 "Gone to a Better Land: Pink/gray granite, small marker. Concrete blanket and headstone base. SMALLWOOD, Plez, 20 Jul 1922 - 26 Feb 1985, USA WWII, military marker WILLIAMS, Bruce Edward, USMC 12 Nov 1959 - 16 Sep 1981, military marker Row 2 UNKNOWN, metal funeral marker with no card, "Happy Mother's Day" faded artificial flowers UNKNOWN, metal funeral marker with no card, plastic pipe cross WILLIAMS, Willie, 1 Oct 1917 - 22 Mar 1989, TEC 5, USA WWII, military marker WILLIAMS, Lou Willie, 20 Dec 1912 - 4 Jun 1997 (ss/w O.D. Williams) WILLIAMS, O. D., 31 Oct 1914 - 12 Dec 1979 GANT, Lula, 1888-1971, "Mother" GANT, Willie, 10 Jun 1894 - 3 May 1980, Pvt. USA WWI, military marker Row 3 HOLIDAY, Kayla, 18 Oct 1999 (only date). Child's grave, size very evident from fill dirt. Birthday card in plastic said "Little 1 Year Old" UNKNOWN, Child, plastic pipe cross, no markings UNKNOWN, plastic pipe cross, no words (Possibly three more graves) Row 4 UNKNOWN, plastic pipe cross UNKNOWN, plastic pipe cross, rusted metal funeral marker, illegible (these two graves had foot markers that appeared to be concrete piers such as might be poured into a frame for supporting a porch. They were about 1 foot square and 10 inches tall. Row 5 UNKNOWN, plastic pipe Row 6 UNKNOWN, broken metal funeral marker JOHNSON, __line, 21 Feb 1893 - 5 Feb 1995, Age 91 (metal funeral marker nearly illegible) Middle Section Row 7 BERRY, Pearlie, 15 Jun 1875 - 9 Sep 1957, "Mother" Concrete marker, name and dates carved and painted UNKNOWN, plastic pipe South Section Row 8 UNKNOWN, broken stone MILES, Burford Sr., no dates, "At Rest" CARMICHAEL, Ida, 11 Jan 1885 - 30 Oct 1968 SWIST, Hattie, 22 Aug 1892 - 31 Oct 1977 SWIST, Edna, 6 Dec 1900 - no date RODGERS, James E., 6 Aug 1929 - no date Row 9 SWIST, Millie, no dates, "At Rest" JENNINGS, Rosa, 16 Jan 1888 - 3 May 1950 JENNINGS, Robert Sr., 20 Apr 1870 - 25 Mar 1952 UNKNOWN, metal funeral marker, no card, broken or temporary stone DOGAN, Herman "D", 12 Sep 1910 - 11 Jan 1983, "Loving Father" DOGAN, Addie L., 4 Aug 1911 - 17 Dec 1991 Row 10 SWIST, Menda, 11 Apr 1881 - 29 May 1976