We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
A Short History of the Abandoned Cemetery Association of Parker County, Texas, Inc.
The Abandoned Cemetery Association of Parker County, Texas, Inc. (or ACA for short) was chartered in the State of Texas in 1995, and received its tax exemption status in 1998. However, it had operated as a Committee of the Parker County Historical Commission (PCHC) beginning in 1985. At the time, Commissioners were discussing selling the Poor Farm which it had purchased in 1883 to house indigent citizens of the County. The Farm has a cemetery that the PCHC members recognized needed to be preserved, thus the Committee, led by Mary Kemp, was formed to restore the cemetery, which they immediately did. The cemetery received a Texas Historical Marker in 1986. Little did the founders know where this would lead.
It was not long thereafter that people across the County let the PCHC Committee know that they, too, had abandoned cemeteries on their properties. The list started growing. Lowell “Dodie” Sullivan had been working on a family cemetery in the northern part of Parker County, and had information on several more abandoned cemeteries where other relatives were buried. He and Ms. Kemp joined forces, and thus the ACA was born. The list kept growing. The ACA now cares for almost 80 of the 153 known cemeteries in Parker County. They range in size from a few square feet, to several acres. Today, no organization in the State of Texas cares for as many cemeteries as the ACA.
By special resolution of the Texas House of Representatives, the ACA was recognized for its preservation work on the occasion of its 30th anniversary in 2015.
Cemeteries are maintained by volunteers as well as some paid workers on larger cemeteries. Various organizations, such as the 4-H Club and several Scout troops, have helped with fencing and clean-up activities. Commissioners Court assists with funding, while the ACA raises additional funds from donations and other fundraisers.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in preserving Parker County’s abandoned cemeteries.
Currently there are over 70 cemeteries in Parker County under the care of the association. Mostly, the cemeteries are small, located in rural areas scattered though out the county. ACA operates totally on donations and volunteer effort.
We thank all our donors and volunteers for helping us meet our goals.