Macedonia Cemetery (Includes 2 Reinterred graves from Robinson Cemetery; 61 Reinterred graves from New Zion Cemetery), Sabine County, Texas - From the Sabine County Court House in Hemphill, Texas take FM 83 (Worth Street) East 1 block to FM 83/State Hwy 87.  Go North or Left on FM 83/Hwy 87 for about 1 mile to where FM 83 turns Right (At the Dairy Queen) and follow FM 83 for ??? miles until you reach Macedonia Church on the Right.  Turn Right at the Church and the cemetery is behind the church.  Graves from New Zion Cemetery and Robinson Bend Cemetery were moved to this cemetery before Toledo Bend Reservoir was built.  This cemetery has a Historical Marker.  Additional information added in parenthesis.

     The following "History of Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery" was provided with the Historical Marker & Index of the Cemetery in 1999.
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                     "History of Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery"

     Nestled amidst some of the most fragrant gardenias in Texas, Approximately two miles Northeast of Hemphill on FM83, is the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery.  Without regard to religious denomination, faith, or affiliation, the cemetery has been the interment site for most of the black residents of Sabine County for over a century.
     The cemetery is named for the church that sets in front of it.  Church records show the Macedonia Baptist Church was established at its current site in 1885.1 Like Antioch Missionary Baptist Church organized at Gravelhill in 1876, the church is among the very few Sabine County churches established prior to 1900 which has been in continuous existence since that time.2
     The church's continued existence, however, has not been easy.  In January 1918, the church burned.  Services were help under a bush arbor until it could be rebuilt.  The church was rebuilt but burned again in September 1926.  As a testimony to the tenacity and commitment of the black residents of the community, the church was again rebuilt and stands today as a source of faith, hope, and pride to the community.
     According to some of the older residents of the community, Macedonia Cemetery and Macedonia Baptist Church had their origin even earlier than 1885.  This means Macedonia Church and Cemetery must have begun shortly after Hemphill came into existence in 1858.2  According to Whitman Johnson, a lifelong resident of Hemphill, his father, Henry Johnson, born in 1862 told him of what was referred to as "Old Macedonia Church and Cemetery".3   Old Macedonia is located about one mile north of Hemphill approximately 1/2 mile from the current Hemphill High School.  The facility served as the meeting place for both Methodist and Baptist congregations. Whitman Johnson said his father told him that when Macedonia Church moved to it current location, the Methodist congregation continued to use the church until it burned the late 1800's.  Records at the Sabine County Courthouse show the Old Macedonia Cemetery and Church was given to the Colored Methodist church by Joel Craig in 1893.4  During an interview with Blanche Toole, Sabine County Historian, she said that in the mid to late 1800's there was a steam mill and a settlement of black people located in this area.  She said this community of blacks disbanded when the mill closed in the early 1900's.5  Today, Old Macedonia Cemetery has approximately six marked and ninety unmarked graves.  The earliest marked grave is that of T. B. Buckley, born in 1862 and died in 1905.6  The most recent markings indicate that some family members continued to bury their love ones at Old Macedonia Cemetery until the early 1940's.
     No one seems to know the original seller of donor of the land for the current site of the Macedonia Cemetery.  Neither does anyone know exactly how long the cemetery has been in existence.  However, since church record clearly establishes the church's existence at this location since 1885, it is believed the cemetery has been here as long as the church has been here.  Over the years, additional acreage has been purchased to expand the cemetery to meet the growing needs of the community.7  It was increased to 5 1/2 acres in 1968 when Robinson Bend's entombed was moved to the cemetery to make room for Toledo Bend Lake, the fifth largest man made lake in the United States.
     The cemetery has over 500 graves.8  There are 357 marked and 193 unmarked graves.  Many of the early graves are unmarked.  No doubt, as slavery had ended only 20 years earlier, most blacks were too economically depressed to purchase markers.  The earliest marked graves are of two early settlers to the black community.  The graves are those of Olin Robertson, born February 15, 1828 and died January 19, 1906, and Daniels Thomas, born October 10, 1908, and died May 25, 1913.9  Approximately ten percent of the graves in the cemetery are those of Veterans of Foreign Wars.10  Ten graves of those of men who fought in WWI; thirty-seven are from WWII; four are from the Korean Conflict and two are from the Vietnam Conflict.  One of those men, L. C. Blake, died in battle during the Vietnam Conflict.  In keeping with black men's patriotism to this country, each war is well represented.
     The cemetery is also the final resting place for several black pioneer centenarians and over ninety nonagenarians, several of which were born during slavery.  Centenarians include Lee Ella Smith, Born April 15, 1870 and died February 11, 1971; Oxlean Daniel, born August 15, 1870 and died April 11, 1971; Mary White, born June 1, 1875 and died November 29, 1975, and Lizzie Daniels, boo October 1876 and died January 5, 1979.  All these centenarians were an integral part of the early settlers of the black community in Hemphill.
     The cemetery is the entombment site for many other early settlers of the community.  Many of these people made notable contributions to the community. For example, tax records show Henry Johnson, born in 1862, died and buried at Macedonia Cemetery in 1955, came to Hemphill in the late 1800's.  He purchased hundreds of acres of land and donated the land to build the first black school in Hemphill.  His son, Whitman Johnson, born in 1918 said he rememebers his father and Judge Smiley working on the first school for blacks in Hemphill, It opened in 1926 and was named Rosenwald School.  Judge Smiley, born in 1886 and died in 1981, is also buried in the Macedonia Church Cemetery.
     Mr. Reese Trotty and several other residents of the Thomas Johnson community have maintained the cemetery for many years.  Each year, individuals with relatives buried in the cemetery are requested to donated $10 for the up keep of the cemetery.   The placement of a Texas Historical Marked at this site honors the labor and commitment of all the men and women buried here that helped to shape the history of blacks in Sabine County, TX since the 1800's.
  BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.  Macedonia Baptist Church records.  Mrs. Cleo Trotty, Church Clerk.  FM 83, Hemphill, TX.
2.  McDaniel, Robert Cecil.  Sabine County, Texas:  The First One Hundred and Fifty Years (1836-1986).  Waco, Texas:  Texian Press, 1997, page 32.
3.  Johnson, Whitman, 81 year old lifelong resident of community.  Personal interview, October 1999.
4.  Sabine County Deed Records, Vol, J, page 26.  February 27, 1893, Hemphill, TX.
5.  Toole, Blanche.  Sabine County Historian, Personal interview, August 1998 and May 1999.
6.  Buckley, T. B.  Tombstone at Old Macedonia Cemetery.
7.  Sabine County Deed Records,  Vol. 264, page 336; Vol. 67, page 529 DR; Vol. 51, page 181 DR; and Vol. 201, page 719 DR.
8.  Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery, listing of graves. (attached)
9.  Robertson Olin and Daniels Thomas, Picture of Tombstone at Macedonia Cemetery.
10. Marked graves, Macedonia Cemetery, Listing attached.
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*GPS Coordinates: 3121100N - 09349742W ;  First Marked Burial - {18 Jan 2002} ;  Last Marked Burial - {11 Dec 2002}
Indexed 25 Dec 1999 for Historical Marker ;  Updated from Obits 2 Jan 2003 by Kay Parker McCary

Notations/Symbols/Footnotes
 *  Unmarked grave
 #  Reinterred grave from New Zion Cemetery
 +  Reinterred grave from Robinson Cemetery
{ } Information from Obituary - Sabine County Reporter - Hemphill, TX
 ^  Information from Social Security Death Index or Death Record

NAME

BIRTH DATE

DEATH DATE

INFORMATION-COMMENTS

Kahey, Merandy

1874

1969

Kahey, Sam

1900

1972

Kelly, Latrice

1877

1978

Kennedy, Willie Mae

6 June 1902

12 Feb 1908

Kiel, Selena

11 Mar 1904

27 Mar 1977

Lee, Ottis

18 Apr 1918

6 Mar 1976

(WW II)

Lewis, Eddie

27 July 1912

31 July 1986

# Lewis, Ernestine

---

---

(Reinterment #119)

Lewis, Hargis

16 Apr 1943

21 June 1971

Logan, Nathan

25 July 1915

15 July 1966

(WW II)

Maddox, Esther Mae

14 Jan 1920

13 Apr 1980

Manual, John H.

31 July 1906

28 Oct 1952

(WW II)

* McCoy, Karo

---

---

* McCoy, Luecissa

---

---

McCoy, Mack

1 June 1859

8 May 1924

McCoy, Velma

20 Mar 1907

19 June 1980

{McGee, Myrtle Louise

17 Aug 1912

25 Jan 2002

Daughter of Homer Stuart & Anne Edwards - Obit 30 Jan 2002 SCR}

# Milton, Eddie

---

---

(Reinterment #120)

# Milton, Fredy

---

---

(Reinterment #121)

# Milton, Marseal

---

---

(Reinterment #122)

Moore, Kemmie

1920

1968

Moore, Ruby

1927

1996

Nelson, Ellen

1896

1961

# Nelson, Joe

---

---

(Reinterment #74)

Nelson, Verna J.

4 June 1944

21 Oct 1994

Norman, W. B.

6 May 1888

18 Sept 1976

{Owens, Carson

(Age 73)

7 May 2003

w Wiletha Daniels - Obit 14 May 2003}

Parks, Abbie

1 Sept 1893

17 Apr 1958

Parks, Felix, Jr.

1 May 1907

17 Apr 1958

Parks, Hulet P.

15 Feb 1905

17 Nov 1958

Parks, Marvin

13 July 1918

26 Sept 1993

Parks, Nevada

11 July 1899

31 July 1983

Parks, Paul

1919

1983

(WW II)

Parks, Van

1895

2 Feb 1972

(WW I)

Patton, Arthur

1881

1956

{Perry, Albert

(^23 Apr 1944)

14 June 2002

w Eleanor Ruth Perry - Obit 26 June 2002 SCR}

Phemn, Peria

---

---

Pope, Lucille

4 Aug 1900

5 Aug 1976

Pudlley, Odesia

8 Mar 1915

9 May 1915

Rayford, Tom

12 Mar 1904

1956

Rigsby, Audrey

28 Aug 1914

19 June 1996

Roberson, B. C.

1890

1978

Roberson, Myrtie

8 Sept 1893

26 June 1976

Roberson, Olin

15 Feb 1828

19 June 1906

# Robertson, Gusy A.

---

---

(Reinterment #80)

# Robertson, Jim

---

---

(Reinterment #131)

* Robertson, Joenna

---

---

# Robertson, Olin

15 Feb 1828

19 Jan 1906

(Reinterment #75)

Rodgers, Charssic Ann

---

---

Rodgers, Etta M.

1918

1966

Rodgers, Lawernce

1918

1966

Rodgers, N. W.

1936

1986

Samuels, Elsie D.

11 Dec 1875

26 Nov 1946

* Seastrunk, Mattie

---

---

Shaw, Jacob

12 Oct 1993

22 Aug 1994

Shelby, Daniel

1928

1984

(Korea)

Shelby, Pecolia

1898

1979

Shelby, Thomas

2 Mar 1893

22 June 1967

(WW I)

Shipp, Houston

1 Oct 1905

4 Sept 1926

Shipp, Lois

4 Aug 1907

10 Feb 1920

Shipp, Taylor

11 Apr 1880

20 May 1936

Simmons, Agnes

1 Sept 1893

29 Feb 1984

Simmons, Ales

1878

1935

Simmons, Alvoid

7 Oct 1905

17 May 1984

Simmons, Bertha

1909

1987

Simmons, Boid

1910

1990

# Simmons, D. D.

---

---

(Reinterment #98)

Simmons, Darby

12 Dec 1924

20 Feb 1973

(WW II)

# Simmons, Icie

---

---

(Reinterment #70)

Simmons, Icie

2 Aug 1918

2 Nov

(Same as above?)

* Simmons, James Freeland

---

---

* Simmons, Marence

---

---

# Simmons, Mary

---

---

(Reinterment #72)

Simmons, Mary

1876

1922

(Same as above?)

Simmons, Mary

11 May 1885

20 Sept 1949

Simmons, Preston

21 Oct 1931

2 Dec 1997

(Korea)

# Simmons, R. B.

---

---

(Reinterment #69)

Simmons, R. C.

15 Feb

---

# Simmons, R. V.

---

---

(Reinterment #94)

# Simmons, Robert

---

---

(Reinterment #71)

Simmons, Robert

13 Oct 1878

27 May 1947

(Same as above?)

Simmons, Robert

24 Dec 1905

28 Dec 1957

(Same as above?)

Singletary, Baby

1964

1964

Singletary, Bennie

8 Aug 1910

22 Sept 1976

(WW II)

{Singletary, Verleaner

(^22 Apr 1924)

10 Dec 2002

Obit 18 Dec 2002}

Smiley, Adron R.

25 July 1904

27 Sept 1951

* Smiley, Ben

---

---

Smiley, Benjamin H.

---

22 Apr 1967

Smiley, Charlie

20 Apr 1876

23 June 1944

Smiley, Ida Mae

3 Mar 1900

9 Mar 1980

Smiley, Judge C.

16 Dec 1886

21 Feb 1981

Smiley, Karo Lee

18 Jan 1915

26 Nov 1948

Smiley, Katie

3 July 1875

24 Sept 1953

Smith, Anderson

1867

1960

Smith, Anna

25 Nov 1901

15 Jan 1994

Smith, Bennie

25 Aug 1895

13 Dec 1941

(WW II)

Smith, Bertha

1896

1960

Smith, Bessie

25 Nov 1907

27 June 1979

Smith, Charles

10 Feb 1895

8 Sept 1976

(WW I)

Smith, Clara

1925

1960

Smith, Lee Ella

15 Apr 1870

11 Feb 1971

Smith, Mary

19 Oct 1959

30 Sept 1985

Smith, Mimmie

17 Oct 1890

---

Sneed, Elsie

23 May 1910

29 July 1986

Sneed, Essie

1907

1995

Sneed, Leroy

1902

1993

Sneed, Liddie

---

---

Spain, Louston

25 Apr 1916

4 July 1978

# Spencer, Alvin

---

---

(Reinterment #123)

Spencer, Alvin

24 July 1927

10 Nov 1958

(Same as above?)

# Spencer, Genner

---

---

(Reinterment #114)

Spencer, George Hollis

2 Feb 1886

21 June 1973

# Spencer, Joe

---

---

(Reinterment #117)

# Spencer, Leo

---

---

(Reinterment #113)

Spencer, Lillie D.

20 Dec 1894

11 Aug 1988

Spencer, Lizine

9 Apr 1892

23 Feb 1970

# Spencer, Lonnie

---

---

(Reinterment #118)

# Spencer, Louise

---

---

(Reinterment #124)

Spencer, Mack

1901

1976

Spencer, Marvin

28 May 1924

21May 1984

(Korea)

# Spencer, Tishie

---

---

(Reinterment #116)

Spencer, (Unnamed)

1925

---

# Spencer, Willie Mae

---

---

(Reinterment #115)

Stafford, Lillie

1891

1976

Teal, Marie

29 July 1904

8 Mar 1970

Thomas, Adair

1888

1980

Thomas, Almo

1938

1986

Thomas, Alton

1919

1981

Thomas, Bessie

1 Jan 1893

3 Aug 1989

Thomas, Climmie

1900

1975

Thomas, Daniel

(10) 15 Oct 1908

    25 May 1913

Thomas, David

1925

1960

Thomas, David Lee

18 Apr 1954

15 Jan 1981

Thomas, Dwuern

---

1984

Thomas, Gloria

28 Feb 1944

12 Apr 1962

Thomas, Harrison

1890

1962

Thomas, Johnnie Mae

31 Dec 1916

Apr 1949

Thomas, L. S.

20 Sept 1906

25 May 1994

Thomas, Lazy Jane

1900

1939

Thomas, Martilda

1842

1916

Thomas, Santa Anna

7 Sept 1894

25 May 1974

(WW I)

Thomas, Sidney

1915

1989

Thomas, Sue

---

---

# Thomas, Teria

---

---

(Reinterment #78)

Thomas, Verdie Mae Hicks

1 Apr 1930

15 May 1988

Thomas, Versie

1892

1965

Thomas, W. T.

15 Dec 1917

10 Feb 1973

Thomas, Willie

16 Oct 1926

13 May 1984