Parker Memorial Cemetery
Grapevine, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The first burial here is thought to be that of Christina Driskill (1797-1862), whose son-in-law Isaac Green Parker (1816-1875) owned the land. In 1881 Parker's widow, Mary (Polly) Parker Turner (1820-1897) deeded the 4.31-acre plot for a public burial ground. A tabernacle was erected in 1928 and used at first for funeral services and later for meetings of the cemetery association. Formerly known as "Clements Cemetery", it was renamed "Parker" in 1937. Many members of the Pleasant Glade Community are buried here.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This burial ground grew out of the land of Isaac Green Parker, whose mother-in-law is thought to rest in its earliest grave. In 1881 Parker's widow, Mary "Polly" Parker Turner, formally deeded more than four acres for a public cemetery, and a 1928 tabernacle later hosted funerals and community gatherings alike. Once called Clements Cemetery, it took the Parker name in 1937 and holds many members of the old Pleasant Glade community.
Why it matters
Rural family cemeteries like this one preserve the names and kinship ties of the pioneer families who settled North Texas, offering a ground-level record of community life that official histories rarely capture.
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Related people
- · Isaac Green Parker
- · Mary Parker Turner
- · Christina Driskill
Themes & tags
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