Darden Cemetery

Willow Springs
FAYETTE COUNTY, TEXAS

A Historic Texas Cemetery

The Darden cemetery was established with the burial of Joe Johnson on September 1, 1963 on land owned by Willie Darden, Jr. The 100 X 120 foot plot was fenced off and designated as a burial ground. All persons buried here are African-Americans.

The Darden Cemetery is located on the James Miles Survey, 1.6 miles southwest of Willow Springs on Highway 159. It is situated at a corner east of Highway 159 and Darden Loop.

Norman C. Krischke inventoried the cemetery on October 26, 1972 in company with Willie Darden, Jr. who provided some of the notes below. More recently, Dirk Bailey photographed the grave stones in February 2010. Additional information comes from death certificates.

Please contact Rox Ann if you have additions or corrections.

Name Birth Death Notes
Darden, (unknown) Funeral home marker with surname only
Darden, Eddie  25 Apr 1907 23 Aug 1994 Marker
Darden, Emma Lucille 26 Aug 1921 7 Jul 1976 marker
Darden, Faite 2 Feb 1892 20 Feb 1966 Son of Lewis Darden and Mary Robinson, died of a heart ailment(2). Death certificate says he is buried in Fayetteville cemetery which is incorrect.; marker
Darden, Fred 1915 2005 Marker
Darden, George 1 Oct 1889 19 Feb 1966 There is a death certificate for George Darden, 1 Jan 1890-24 Jan 1964, son of Louis Darden and Mary Robertson, buried in Darden Mamorial [sic.] Cemetery. Is this the same person? No death certificate found for George Darden with dates found on marker; Marker
Darden, George 6 Mar 1903 12 May 1986 Marker
Darden, Jane 1883 1977 Marker
Darden, Lela A. 23 Sep 1909 9 Mar 1986 Marker, footstone
Darden, Myrtle L. 6 Sep 1903 6 Dec 1997 Marker
Darden, Quilla 6 Dec 1924 23 Apr 1985 Marker
Darden, Ruby Mae 19 Aug 1919 15 Sep 1989 Marker
Darden, William 1883 1959 (Memorial only), 22 Nov 1883 - 24 Oct 1959. William Darden, Sr. is buried in Colorado County at Pisek Community along a railroad at Mount Pilgrim Cemetery (1). Stone memorial inside concrete curb.; Marker
Darden, William Jr. 31 Nov 1904 12 Aug 1990 Marker, military marker
Holmes, Earnest 25 Aug 1926 8 Nov 1969

25, 1926 - 8 Nov 1969, Pfc. U.S. Army, World War II; marker

Holmes, James Sr 22 Sep 1899 3 May 1998 Marker
Holmes, Leon 1941 29 Dec 1984 Marker
Johnson, Almond Jr. 2 Jun 1957 20 Mar 1970 Son of Almond Johnson, Sr. and Lillie V. Stevenson, died of burns (2). He was sleeping near a stove at his grandfather's when coal oil was thown in the wood heater to bring the fire to life. The act resulted in an explosion throwing kerosene and fire onto Almond as he lay on his cot and burned him badly because he got up and ran(1); unmarked?
Johnson, James 29 Mar 1892 18 Dec 1966 Texas, Pvt. U.S. Army, WWI; marker
Johnson, Joe 22 Oct 1893 26 Aug 1963 Railroad laborer, died of heart attack, son of Henry Johnson and Annie Calvin (2), brother to James Johnson, first grave in the cemetery (1); unmarked?
Johnson, Mary Floyd 15 Nov 1889 26 Sep 1969 18 Nov 1896 - 26 Oct 1969, daughter of Lev Floyd and Milay Winn (2); marker
Johnson, Virginia 1887 1982 Marker
Marchell, Helen 7 Dec 1878 1986 Marker
Nickerson, Louis 8 Aug 1927 1974 Marker
Orise, Edward 9 Oct 1885 29 Feb 1984 Marker, footstone
Pointer, Corine Warner 15 Jun 1891 19 Jan 1976 Marker
Terry, Alfred 14 Feb 1893 24 Aug 1967

Farmer, died of heart attack, son of Martin Terry (2); marker

Terry, Sealy 1881 1974 Marker
Watson, Melvina D. 7 Sep 1901 16 Mar 1984 Marker
White, Johnnie Unmarked?

1. Info from Willie Darden, Jr. , 1972

2. Info from Death Certificate