Walker's Chapel Cemetery
Reklaw, Cherokee County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This cemetery has historic ties to Walker's Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, founded by and named for John Walker, who moved to this vicinity by 1839. Harvey N. Cooper later conveyed this site to the church and its trustees in 1879. The church became the heart of a rural community known as Walker (Walker's) Chapel. The oldest legible marked grave in the community cemetery dates to 1879. There are also several other marked graves from the late 19th century. A number of veterans are buried here, including those who served in military conflicts dating back to the Civil War. Noteworthy features in the cemetery include vertical stones and curbed plots in the older section. By 1965, an association formed for the care of the cemetery and grounds. An annual memorial service is held here each July. Today, although many reminders of the community are gone, the cemetery continues to chronicle the lives of early settlers of Walker Chapel. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This cemetery grew from Walker's Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South, founded by John Walker, who reached this Cherokee County vicinity by 1839. Harvey N. Cooper deeded the church its site in 1879, and the congregation became the heart of a rural community that took the chapel's name. The oldest legible grave dates to 1879, and among the burials are veterans of conflicts reaching back to the Civil War. A memorial service still gathers here each July.
Why it matters
Walker's Chapel Cemetery is the enduring trace of a rural East Texas church community, preserving the memory of pioneer settlers long after the settlement itself faded.
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Related people
- · John Walker
- · Harvey N. Cooper
Themes & tags
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