Historic Evergreen Negro Cemetary Project
Mission Statement
Our mission for Evergreen Negro Cemetery is to bring a community together to connect families to their ancestors to tell stories of the past to
foster future generations. Our organization will continue to create a mechanism to save historic cemetery resources. We will use technology
to identify, research, and document the history of the people buried in these historical cemeteries. Our project will connect the local
community and tell the story of the contributions of the ancestors as it relates to the foundation and growth. This research and discoveries of
our mutual existence and community struggles will offer a means to reclaim cultural landscapes, reduce suspicions, foster respect and
dignity. We realize that research and documenting of historic cemeteries would create educational opportunities as well as offer a potential
economic born through African American cultural heritage programs. These places have left deep-rooted stories that deserve to be
remembered by future generations
Our Mission is to bring awareness of the crisis happening to our sacred grounds known as Historic African American Cemeteries. We
understand that these sacred places are treasured resources and potentially the last vestiges of untapped accounts of our nation’s historic
data. Historic Cemeteries are museums of history and are a recorded monument of a partially documented era, time, people, and culture.
They attest to the existence of early communities, churches, schools, and the contributions of citizens. These old historic cemeteries provide a
map of community history etched in the terrain and stone of monuments.
Lisa Jedkins, Project Director & Curator
Preparing a place for strangers rest
Restoration
Cemetery View
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
City of Houston Team
Cemetery Entrance
History
Nestled in Houston’s Historic 5th ward Evergreen Negro Cemetery. Located on the west side of Lockwood Drive at
IH 10 on Market Street between Carroll Oliver Way, Lockwood Drive, and Sakowitz Street. The cemetery, divided
by Lockwood Drive into two sections, contains approximately 5.58 acres out of Lot 7 of the Harris & Wilson
Survey (A-32) in Harris County and is believed to be the third oldest African American cemetery in Houston. A.K.
Kelly, Fifth Ward resident, businessman, and former slave, Reverend Edward Lee, and Businessman W.B. Zinkey
began the process of negotiations to purchase the burial grounds around 1893. Records show that the cemetery
transaction was completed between 1928-1929. The last known burial was around the 1950s. After Kelley’s death
on November 26, 1928, he was buried in the family plot in Evergreen Negro Cemetery.
The cemetery burials date from the late 1890s to the early 1950’s. Those interred in the cemetery include former
slaves, Buffalo soldiers, World War I veterans, and other residents of the Fifth Ward and surrounding
communities.
- In 1914, two of the only few black officers with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office were
killed by fellow officers in what has been reported as a case of mistaken identity. Those
officers, Deputy Arthur Taylor (who was appointed as a special deputy of the sheriff’s
office the day before he was killed) and Detective Isaac “Ike” Parsons, were buried in
Evergreen Negro Cemetery. - George Henry Lofton – Buffalo Soldier George Henry Lofton was born in Manchester
North Carolina in 1893 to John Lofton and Lucy McCarter or McArthur, both of whom
had been born slaves. According to census records from 1870 through 1910.
Stories of People known to be buried there are as follows:
On June 5, 1917, George and his younger brother registered for the draft WWI, each living in different states. George
was in Metcalfe, Georgia, and reported he worked for Caldwell Lumber Company “railroading” and that his 85-
year-old father was a dependent that he supported.
Research surmises that George enlisted in 1917, George Lofton was called to duty on June 20, 1918, reporting to
Camp Gordon in Chamblee, Georgia, when he was 24 years old.
He re-enlisted after April 1919 to be still in the Philippines in
1920 until 1921 and again in May 1922 according to the headstone application researcher.
Research into the activities of the 9th Calvary during the WWI period supports the fact that Private Lofton would
have been in the Philippines. Research into the activities of the 10th Calvary during the period 1922-1925 indicates
that the unit was stationed at Camp Huachuca in Arizona until 1933.
Between 1925 and 1930 George’s movements were unknown. However, he and his wife
appeared in the City Directory for 1930 in Houston living in the Fidelity Addition of Houston. They appeared in the
1932 and 1935 Directories.
Birth records can be found for two children: June, born July 17, 1935, died August 3, 1936, and Buried at Evergreen
Negro Cemetery. Mary Louise was born on August 13, 1937.
George Henry Lofton died on April 6, 1939, at the US Marine Hospital in Galveston. He had been hospitalized 26
days prior to his death. His death certificate lists his occupation as a firefighter. The informant, at the time of his
death, said his address was 8002 Hockley St. His body was taken to J.H. Johns & Co. Funeral Home and was buried
at Evergreen Negro Cemetery.
Military Service
Post Military Service
Research indicates that the city began publishing news articles regarding its expansion
efforts in the late 1920s to early 1930s. Between 1957 and 1960, the city of Houston initiated
the expansion of Lockwood Drive, which resulted in the division of the cemetery and
necessitated the relocation of 490 bodies to other cemeteries.
In 2023, during the research for the new Metro Rapid University Corrida project, it was
discovered that 33 to 34 remains had not been removed from the median by the
contractors hired during the Lockwood expansion. Consequently, from January 24, 2025,
to February 5, 2025, efforts will be made to remove the remains from the median known as
“Strangers Rest.” Our goal is to reenter the lost souls back into their rightful place in the
Evergreen Negro Cemetery.
We need your help to preserve the
Evergreen Negro Cemetery, a vital piece
of Houston's history. Join us in our
efforts to maintain and revitalize this
historic site. Your support in mowing,
tree planting, and general upkeep will
make a significant difference. Together,
we can honor the legacy of those
interred here and ensure the cemetery
remains a dignified resting place for
future generations.
If you're interested in volunteering,
please reach out to us.
We Need
You!
Email:
wlhheritage@gmail.com
Phone: 832-441-9317
Checks Mailed to: 3609 Broyles St. Houston, TX 77026
Zelle: wlhheritage@gmail.com
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