*TEXAS HISTORIC SIGN,  - Robertson County, Texas |  *TEXAS HISTORIC SIGN - Texas Gravestone Photos

*TEXAS HISTORIC SIGN

Greater Riverside (aka New Colored/ St Mark's) (African American) Cemetery
Robertson County,
Texas

This cemetery has served the African American community in Hearne and the old town of Hearne since 1894. The area was originally settled by farmers, many of whom brought slaves with then when they immigrated to Texas.
Hearne, named for Christopher Columbus Hearne, was platted in 1868 and developed as a crossroads for rail traffic.
This burial ground was originally named The New Colored Cemetery, though it was known by a variety of names over the years. It was most commonly called St Mark's Cemetery until 1933, when it became known as Riverside. The original burial ground was made up of twenty acres purchased by the colored association. The Primitive Baptist Church donated an acre to the burial ground when they relocated from here in 1906, and St. Manuel Baptist church added an addition three acres in 1948.
The first known interment here was of Chaney Delilia Henderson in 1896. Since that time, hundreds of burials have occurred here. The grounds hold an especially large number of military veterans, including those who fought in conflicts dating to the Spanish-American War. Among the cemetery's features are markers for the Mosaic templars of America, a Black Fraternal Association with few known chapters In Texas.
The Greater Riverside Association formed in 1982 to maintain the 24 acre cemetery. The Association also renamed the burial ground. Today, Greater Riverside Cemetery continues to serve as a testament to the rich African American legacy in the community of Hearne.

Historic Texas Cemetery 2007
Marked as property of Texas

*Photo courtesy of
Holly Bonorden Jentsch

Contributed on 9/11/19

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Record #: 202176

Location/GPS: View Map

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Submitted: 9/11/19 • Approved: 11/19/19 • Last Updated: 11/22/19 • R202176-G0-S3

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