Brownfield in Terry County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Brownfield Cemetery
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, April 28, 2014
1. Brownfield Cemetery Marker
Inscription.
Brownfield Cemetery. . The first public burial ground in the new Terry County seat of Brownfield was begun in 1904 when 19-year-old Jessie Hill died and was interred here. By 1907, this land belonged to M. V. Brownfield; records do not indicate whether the cemetery was named for him or for the town. During World War I, the Great Depression and World War II, the cemetery fell into decline as local residents were unable to maintain it. Hispanic farm workers began to settle in this area in the 1940s and 1950s, and by the 1970s the cemetery reflected the change in population. A reorganization of the cemetery association in 1980 led to much-needed improvements. More than 2,000 graves, about 375 of them unmarked, graced the cemetery in 1999. The cemetery remains a chronicle of Terry County.
The first public burial ground in the new Terry County seat of Brownfield was begun in 1904 when 19-year-old Jessie Hill died and was interred here. By 1907, this land belonged to M. V. Brownfield; records do not indicate whether the cemetery was named for him or for the town. During World War I, the Great Depression and World War II, the cemetery fell into decline as local residents were unable to maintain it. Hispanic farm workers began to settle in this area in the 1940s and 1950s, and by the 1970s the cemetery reflected the change in population. A reorganization of the cemetery association in 1980 led to much-needed improvements. More than 2,000 graves, about 375 of them unmarked, graced the cemetery in 1999. The cemetery remains a chronicle of Terry County.
Erected 1999 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12225.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.
Location. 33° 11.267′ N, 102° 17.472′ W. Marker is in Brownfield, Texas, in Terry County. Marker is on North 14th Street (State Highway 137) half a mile north of West Main Street (U.S. 82/380), on the right when traveling north. Marker is just inside the cemetery entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brownfield TX 79316, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 7, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on May 27, 2021, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on May 7, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
