SAVE St. Mary Cemetery – Activists hope to prevent destruction of local cemetery

Image: Activists and guests who attended the SAVE St. Mary Cemetery rally in Ellis County, Texas pose around a sign hung by the Elmerine Bell Family and supporters on the fence that was added by Creek Land & Cattle Company after the land developer destroyed a preexisting fence line while creating a road thru a portion of St. Mary Cemetery, destroying gravestones in the process that dated back to the 1870s.

Activists and guests who attended the SAVE St. Mary Cemetery rally in Ellis County, Texas pose around a sign hung by the Elmerine Bell Family and supporters on the fence that was added by Creek Land & Cattle Company after the land developer destroyed a preexisting fence line while creating a road thru a portion of St. Mary Cemetery, destroying gravestones in the process that dated back to the 1870s. (Barry Byers)

Image: On a mission to SAVE St. Mary Cemetery is local activist Elmerine Bell of Italy, Texas. Bell who speaks to fellow activist and supporters that drove in from around Ellis County and across the state to witness first hand the damage created by the Creek Land & Cattle Company at the historic location.

On a mission to SAVE St. Mary Cemetery is local activist Elmerine Bell of Italy, Texas. Bell who speaks to fellow activist and supporters that drove in from around Ellis County and across the state to witness first hand the damage created by the Creek Land & Cattle Company at the historic location. (Barry Byers)

Image: Those attending the rally sign a log book and collect information documenting the disturbing events that have occurred at St. Mary Cemetery.

Those attending the rally sign a log book and collect information documenting the disturbing events that have occurred at St. Mary Cemetery. (Barry Byers)

Image: Those attending show their support for the SAVE St. Mary Cemetery cause as Birdie Sneed Montgomery, a 6th generation member of the Rankin Family, signs her name. The Rankin Family descends from Willoughby Rankin, who it is believed to have traveled from Alabama with the family of Fredrick Harrison Rankin in 1823. According to the handbook of the Texas Historical Association, on July 7, 1824, Fredrick Harrison Rankin was a one of *Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred Colonists. Grave markers and Texas death certificates verify that three of Willoughby Rankin’s children as well as a number of other descendants are buried at St. Mary Cemetery. Members of three younger generations of the Rankin Family currently reside in Milford.

Those attending show their support for the SAVE St. Mary Cemetery cause as Birdie Sneed Montgomery, a 6th generation member of the Rankin Family, signs her name. The Rankin Family descends from Willoughby Rankin, who it is believed to have traveled from Alabama with the family of Fredrick Harrison Rankin in 1823. According to the handbook of the Texas Historical Association, on July 7, 1824, Fredrick Harrison Rankin was a one of *Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred Colonists. Grave markers and Texas death certificates verify that three of Willoughby Rankin’s children as well as a number of other descendants are buried at St. Mary Cemetery. Members of three younger generations of the Rankin Family currently reside in Milford. (Barry Byers)

Image: Teaner Durham Johnson and Jimmy Cockran stand silently and wonder what else might be lost if something is not done to stop Creek Land & Cattle Company and other companies from illegally intruding on sacred ground.

Teaner Durham Johnson and Jimmy Cockran stand silently and wonder what else might be lost if something is not done to stop Creek Land & Cattle Company and other companies from illegally intruding on sacred ground.

Image: Nina Rankin Pennington and Copel Cotton show their support for Elmerine Bell and her efforts to help correct the damage done to the St. Mary Cemetery that was once peacefully tucked away between Italy and Avalon. Cotton is the son of John Cotton (1850-1969) who is buried at St. Mary Cemetery. An interview with John Cotton, “Ex-Slave Starts School at 116”, written by Talmadge Canat, was published in the Corsicana Daily Sun on December 11, 1966.

Nina Rankin Pennington and Copel Cotton show their support for Elmerine Bell and her efforts to help correct the damage done to the St. Mary Cemetery that was once peacefully tucked away between Italy and Avalon. Cotton is the son of John Cotton (1850-1969) who is buried at St. Mary Cemetery. An interview with John Cotton, “Ex-Slave Starts School at 116”, written by Talmadge Canat, was published in the Corsicana Daily Sun on December 11, 1966. (Barry Byers)

Image: All walks of life, young and old, attended the SAVE St. mary Cemetery Rally held recently near Italy, Texas to see for themselves the level of damage inflicted on the burial site by the Creek Land & Cattle Company out of Nevada. On the left is Bruce Fowler who is a member of Ellis County Historical Commission. William Allen, on the right, along with Curtis Kirby, discovered the damage in March when they both arrived at the cemetery to mow the grass. Allen drove in on his motorcycle from Natchitoches, Louisiana and is the brother of Elmerine Bell.

All walks of life, young and old, attended the SAVE St. mary Cemetery Rally held recently near Italy, Texas to see for themselves the level of damage inflicted on the burial site by the Creek Land & Cattle Company out of Nevada. On the left is Bruce Fowler who is a member of Ellis County Historical Commission. William Allen, on the right, along with Curtis Kirby, discovered the damage in March when they both arrived at the cemetery to mow the grass. Allen drove in on his motorcycle from Natchitoches, Louisiana and is the brother of Elmerine Bell. (Barry Byers)

Image: Latricia Shaw and Dennis Perkins walk the WEST section of the St. Mary Cemetery property where their ancestors are buried. The broken and hanging tree limbs are the resulting aftermath of a bulldozer that removed undergrowth without concern for the burial plots that were in harms way.

Latricia Shaw and Dennis Perkins walk the WEST section of the St. Mary Cemetery property where their ancestors are buried. The broken and hanging tree limbs are the resulting aftermath of a bulldozer that removed undergrowth without concern for the burial plots that were in harms way. (Barry Byers)

Image: Elmerine Bell discusses the game plan with a fellow activists including Frances James and Rex Carey. Carey, on the far right, has been working with Elmerine Bell since the beginning of the devastation at St. Mary Cemetery.

Elmerine Bell discusses the game plan with a fellow activists including Frances James and Rex Carey. Carey, on the far right, has been working with Elmerine Bell since the beginning of the devastation at St. Mary Cemetery. (Barry Byers)

Image: Charlie Ray Walton, Jr., of Dallas, is the grandson of Wallace Joe Devereaux (1886-1927) and Madeline Jones Devereaux (1887-1928). In 1910 the Devereaux Family lived on property owned by Carson P. Reed and Josie Reed near Italy, Texas.

Charlie Ray Walton, Jr., of Dallas, is the grandson of Wallace Joe Devereaux (1886-1927) and Madeline Jones Devereaux (1887-1928). In 1910 the Devereaux Family lived on property owned by Carson P. Reed and Josie Reed near Italy, Texas. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Jason Escamilla and Blooming Grove’s Willie Pyburn agree something must be done to protect St. Mary Cemetery as well as other old cemeteries around the state.

Italy’s Jason Escamilla and Blooming Grove’s Willie Pyburn agree something must be done to protect St. Mary Cemetery as well as other old cemeteries around the state. (Barry Byers)

Image: Aaron Pyburn of Desoto and Elmerine Bell walk the St. Mary Cemetery grounds while discussing the next step in the fight to SAVE St. Mary Cemetery.

Aaron Pyburn of Desoto and Elmerine Bell walk the St. Mary Cemetery grounds while discussing the next step in the fight to SAVE St. Mary Cemetery. (Barry Byers)

Image: Deborah Franklin talks with fellow activist as supporters examine the damage inflicted at St. Mary Cemetery near Italy, Texas.

Deborah Franklin talks with fellow activist as supporters examine the damage inflicted at St. Mary Cemetery near Italy, Texas. (Barry Byers)

Image: Elmerine Bell thanks her good friend, Deborah Franklin, who is also known as Dr. Graveyard, a 5th generation Texan and a 4th generation resident of Mesquite. Franklin currently resides in her family’s home built in 1875. She is a member of both the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Elmerine Bell thanks her good friend, Deborah Franklin, who is also known as Dr. Graveyard, a 5th generation Texan and a 4th generation resident of Mesquite. Franklin currently resides in her family’s home built in 1875. She is a member of both the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Daughters of the American Revolution. (Barry Byers)

Image: Naomi McKinney and her grandfather Willie Pyburn made the drive over from Blooming Grove to attend the SAVE St. Mary Cemetery Rally.

Naomi McKinney and her grandfather Willie Pyburn made the drive over from Blooming Grove to attend the SAVE St. Mary Cemetery Rally. (Barry Byers)

Image: Before: The grounds of St. Mary Cemetery before bulldozers operating on behalf of Creek Land & Cattle Company destroyed the foliage and damaged graves.

Before: The grounds of St. Mary Cemetery before bulldozers operating on behalf of Creek Land & Cattle Company destroyed the foliage and damaged graves. (Elmerine Bell)

Image: After: Supporters were able to view the carnage at St. Mary. Visible grave indentations still exist beyond the newly installed fence line.

After: Supporters were able to view the carnage at St. Mary. Visible grave indentations still exist beyond the newly installed fence line. (Barry Byers)

Image: This picture shows the damage done to St. Mary Cemetery when family members discovered the property had been intruded upon on March 24, 2012.

This picture shows the damage done to St. Mary Cemetery when family members discovered the property had been intruded upon on March 24, 2012. (Elmerine Bell)

Image: This shows a portion of the newly erected chain-link fence that defines a dirt road carved out by the Creek Land & Cattle Company who destroyed burial plots during the process.

This shows a portion of the newly erected chain-link fence that defines a dirt road carved out by the Creek Land & Cattle Company who destroyed burial plots during the process. (Barry Byers)

Image: A better view of an area of the cemetery where the foliage had been removed by bulldozers and where the new chain-link fence is constructed inside the cemetery. Beyond the fence is the road carved out by Creek Land & Cattle Company.

A better view of an area of the cemetery where the foliage had been removed by bulldozers and where the new chain-link fence is constructed inside the cemetery. Beyond the fence is the road carved out by Creek Land & Cattle Company. (Barry Byers)

Image: A view of remaining headstones that survived the actions of the bulldozers.

A view of remaining headstones that survived the actions of the bulldozers. (Barry Byers)

Image: A portion of the newly constructed fence has already been damaged by a fallen tree.

A portion of the newly constructed fence has already been damaged by a fallen tree. (Barry Byers)

Image: Elmerine Bell and fellow activists are determined to ensure those buried inside St. Mary Cemetery, such as Otto Sims (1897-1927), rest in peace.

Elmerine Bell and fellow activists are determined to ensure those buried inside St. Mary Cemetery, such as Otto Sims (1897-1927), rest in peace. (Barry Byers)

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