REST LAWN CEMETERY by Debra Blacklock-Sloan, with Assistance from Bernice N
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An Application for a Harris County Historical Marker for REST LAWN CEMETERY by Debra Blacklock-Sloan, with assistance from Bernice N. Mistrot and presented to the Harris County Historical Commission January 24, 2016 (Revised October 27, 2017) I. CONTEXT Rest Lawn Cemetery is located at 8400 Wheatley Street in the historically African- American community of Acre(s)1 Homes, roughly twelve miles northwest of downtown Houston. The area was very rural when the cemetery was organized in the early 1930s. The two known oldest black burial grounds in the area are Paradise Cemetery2 on West Montgomery Road established in 1918 by Dr. Charles P. Brokaw and Cemetery Beautiful3 founded by the Fuchs family in 1931 and located directly across the street from Rest Lawn. Harris County, Texas census records (1900- 1910) reflect very few black families living in the area. The residents were predominately German, Mexican, and Italian immigrants as well as native-born whites who migrated from different parts of the United States. The area was sparsely populated with farms and dairies. Beginning in 1910, businessman Alfred A. Wright purchased 631 and 83/100 acres4 and developed the property as Acre Homes5 and Highland Acre Homes6 subdivisions." Residents added an "s" to the word "Acre" resulting in the mispronunciation of the community's name even today. Wright had two companies and sold property to blacks and whites. Blacks could purchase an acre of land for $120.00 with a $5.00 down payment and monthly mortgage at six percent interest.7 In addition to the cheap land, black families were attracted to the low taxes, easy, slow- paced life, lack of building restrictions (homes varied in sizes, shapes and colors), and wide-open spaces. “You could leave your doors unlocked windows open and nobody would bother you.”8 Most residents lived an agrarian lifestyle – raising chickens, cattle, hogs, and horses, and running truck farms. Others were laborers, factory workers, “waterfront” workers and domestics who commuted to work in other parts of town. Very few families owned cars.9 Acres Homes had two main roads – Yale Street paved at the start of World War I (and renamed West Montgomery Road), and Mail Route Road blacktopped in the 1940s which was renamed West Little York.10 In addition to the main roads only dirt roads and trails existed in the community as reflected by Google Earth maps. Some 1930 census records list no addresses for residents because they were Rest Lawn Cemetery -1- Harris County Historical Commission Debra Blacklock-Sloan September 10, 2016 (Rev. October 27, 2017) too far from Houston to be listed in city directories. Route numbers were issued to these residents.11 Two prominent families, Ben Harrison (June 2, 1897- January 2, 1985)12 and Mae Beechie King Harrison (October 29, 1903-December 22, 1994)13 and B.C. (Bennie Carl) Elmore (August 29, 1909- March 29, 1973) and Inez King Elmore (September 8, 1911-January 17, 2004)14 owned and operated the first dry goods store, post office and drug store, established in 1945. Migration to the community increased steadily and by the late 1950s the business district contained service stations, Masonic Halls, numerous churches, grocery stores, hardware stores, taverns and cafes, volunteer fire department, GI school, furniture stores, beauty and barber shops, and other small businesses. There was also one physician and dentist office. During this time Acres Homes was considered the “largest unincorporated Negro community in the southern United States.”15 After years of residents’ failed attempts to incorporate and appeals to county authorities for better utilities and services,16 the City of Houston gradually annexed sections of the community from 1967 to 1974.17 Residents saw the construction of additional schools, a multi-purpose center, library and fire station.18 As a result Acres Homes became a thriving, self-contained exurbia and residents no longer had to travel outside the community for most services.19 Though the Acres Homes community has a more diverse population as of this writing some sections still remain pretty rural. II. OVERVIEW Rest Lawn Cemetery in Houston, Harris County, Texas is one of the oldest cemeteries in the historically African-American community of Acres Homes. On February 26, 1932, Mrs. R. E. (Robert Ezekiel) Doty purchased 9.88 acres from John W. Harris and Florence H. Myers to establish the cemetery which lies in the Phillip Thompson Survey, Abstract 768.20 Mrs. Doty, a native of Milam County, Texas born Eddie Corrine Varner, was a teacher at Montrose Elementary School at this time (and later became its principal). 21 Her husband Robert Ezekiel Doty, was an Ohioian22 and real estate salesman.23 They moved to Houston from Milam County in the early 1920s.24 It is interesting that Mrs. Doty purchased the property with the knowledge that Cemetery Beautiful had been established a year earlier directly across the street. This strategic business move suggests she gave serious consideration to attracting black clients and decided to take a gamble. Rest Lawn Cemetery -2- Harris County Historical Commission Debra Blacklock-Sloan September 10, 2016 (Rev. October 27, 2017) Doty25 filed a dedication and map for the cemetery on March 13, 1932.26 When Doty sold the cemetery to realtor Luther M. Inkley and his business partner Attorney Elmer Hay in 194227 at least eleven burial plots were referenced in the deed. However, a map recording of the cemetery dated May 21, 1946,28 (Exhibit B) bears no resemblance to Mrs. Doty’s 1932 dedication map. The map reflects Rest Lawn’s boundaries as Reserve “A” to the north, Prairie View Street to the east, Rev. B.J. Lewis Drive to the south and Wheatley Street to the west. In the mid-1950s Inkley began selling lots in the cemetery’s southeast and southwest section as residential property.29 These lots are situated off Double Avenue which dead ends into the cemetery and Wheatley Street which is the front section of the cemetery. It is unknown whether the decision to sell residential lots in Rest Lawn was due to slow sales/ competition from Cemetery Beautiful. Elmer Hay died in 1949 30 and Luther M. Inkley in 1963.31 Local resident Jimmie L. Masters, Jr. and his partner Frederick E. McGlockton purchased Rest Lawn from Inkley's widow Sylvia, and Hay's widow Merle, in 1970.32 Masters worked at Cemetery Beautiful for several years33 before organizing his "MJM Cemeteries” company in 1971.34 He later purchased several lots on Prairie View Street which abut Rest Lawn and converted them into burial spaces to expand the cemetery.35 In the mid-1990s several clients accused Masters of burying their loved ones in mass graves.36 An investigation ensued and several graves were disinterred. Original cemetery maps and other records in Master’s possession were subpoenaed by prosecutors but never returned. Masters was charged with theft of services and indicted but the charges were eventually dropped in 1995.37 Sadly headstones from disinterred graves were never returned to their original plots and now lay next to a chain link fence that borders the north end of the cemetery. At this writing only 1.5000 acres is all that remains of Rest Lawn's original 9.88 acres. Oak, juniper, crepe myrtle, mimosa, pecan, magnolia and cedar trees are interspersed throughout the cemetery’s middle and back sections. A dirt road entrance extends along the cemetery’s north and south end and another runs through it from Double Avenue. Perimeter wooden and chain link fencing in the cemetery is from nearby homes that border it on the southwest and southeast sections. The rest of the cemetery’s landscape is simple and customary in nature with graves oriented in an east-west direction. There are an estimated 570 burials in the cemetery38 and the oldest graves which front Wheatley Street have concrete headstones. The rest are of marble, Rest Lawn Cemetery -3- Harris County Historical Commission Debra Blacklock-Sloan September 10, 2016 (Rev. October 27, 2017) limestone and granite with the exception of a large 3- foot high wooden cross in the cemetery’s east section on Prairie View Street. It is unknown when the first burial occurred but the earliest recorded is that of eight year-old Brenda Anderson in 1943, who resided in the Third Ward.39 Also interred here are Masons40 and veterans of U.S. military conflicts dating from World II41 and Korea.42 One famous burial is that of Bellville, Texas native Weldon H. Philip Bonner, (March 22, 1932 – June 29, 1978),43 better known as "Juke Boy Bonner" an American blues singer, harmonica player, and guitarist. Bonner was influenced by Lightnin' Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, and Slim Harpo. He accompanied himself on guitar, harmonica, and drums in songs such as "Going Back to the Country," "Life is a Nightmare," and "Struggle Here in Houston."44 It is difficult to pinpoint the last burial because in Rest Lawn because of mass grave burial charges brought against Jimmie L. Masters, Jr. A physical inventory reveals the oldest burial year listed on a headstone is that of Janice L. Richardson who died in 1992. Rest Lawn experienced vandalism and neglect after Masters’ indictment and is no longer active. Members of Abundance Living an ex-offender re-entry program began maintaining the cemetery in 2009. Some of the volunteers felt committed to help because they were searching for family members buried there.45 Johnnie C. Tatum’s Second Chance Outreach, Inc., a 501 (3) (c) organization took over maintenance of Rest Lawn in 2012.46 His non-profit offers education, rehabilitation and outreach to assist individuals in need of a second chance.