Rockland East Cemetery, Houston County, Texas

Rockland East Cemetery, Houston County

This cemetery is located outside of the fenced in Rockland Cemetery which is a few miles away from Lovelady. Some books say that this is possibly an African American cemetery for the area, however, I have received e-mails from local people saying that it is not and the people buried there are of many races. No one seems to know why these graves are outside the fence. It possibly started out as a segregated cemetery and then evolved into a cemetery for different races. A nice thought that hopefully epitomizes our growth as a county, state and country. My research also indicates that there are many, many unmarked graves. Please see the second table on this page.

Please note that the comments column contains my personal observations and things I thought would be helpful. Also, I recorded every marker, which means, one person may be recorded twice if they had two markers (i.e. a military marker in addition to their family marker). If you have any questions after viewing the list, please e-mail me at Letty Harrington.

This cemetery was transcribed by Letty Harrington on April 13, 2001. This transcription is not connected to the Rockland Cemetery or the County of Houston. This information is a personal project only. The information herein is given freely for personal use and can not be linked to any commerical sites. *NOTE: This was transcribed using a digital camera. Click on the name to view a photo of the headstone.
NAME B. DATE D. DATE INSCRIPTION COMMENTS
ANDERSON, Mr. George Mar. 9, 1909 Jun. 8, 1993   FHM
ANDERSON, Parmelia Dec. 2, 1913 Jun. 5, 1986    
ANDERSON, Rev. Earl Nov. 15, 1911 Sept. 22, 1988 Beloved Father-In God's Care  
ARMSTEAD, Rev. Oliver Oct. 19, 1919 Sept. 25, 1995 Age 75 FHM
BROWN, James Dec. 17, 1907 Dec. 7, 1971 Texas TEC5 US Army WWII Military Marker
CRAWFORD, Karen 1944 2001   FHM
CROFFORD, Alice 1881 1960   FHM
CROFFORD, David Wayne Sept. 1, 1972 Nov. 15, 1998 In God's Loving Care-Our Beloved  
CROFFORD, Lester Jun. 10, 1908 Feb. 16, 1988 Married June 12, 1930 Double stone with Orena
CROFFORD, Orena Fev. 18, 1915 Apr. 3, 1998   Double stone with Lester
DAVIS, James A. Mar. 3, 1931 Jul. 30, 1989    
DOLAN, Bill 1881 1930    
ELLIS, Curtis Lee Mar. 15, 1954 Mar. 3, 1994    
ELLIS, Ethel Jordan Mar. 31, 1914 Apr. 23, 2000 Age 86 FHM
ELLIS, James Daniel Jul. 24, 1939 May 13, 1982    
ELLIS, Mr. J.D., Jr. May 6, 1905 Jun. 4, 1999 Age 94 FHM
ELLIS, Shellie Feb. 25, 1913 Dec. 13, 1967 Father  
EPPS, Ben May 31, 1892 Feb. 13, 1975   Double stone with Pearlie
EPPS, Pearlie Apr. 6, 1895 Aept. 13, 1972   Double stone with Ben
EPPS, Persilla Sept. 16, 1856 Jul. 30, 1940 Mother  
HAMILTON, Callie Nelson Jul. 16, 1903 Apr. 5, 1992    
HAMILTON, Herman Mar. 15, 1903 Feb. 20, 1987    
HAMILTON, Leroy Apr. 19, 1923 Nov. 21, 1976 Beloved Father  
HAMILTON, Mr. Wilbert Apr. 6, 1923 Aug. 24, 1995 Age 66y 11m 18d FHM
HAMILTON, Mrs. ??? Mar. 9, 1927? Mar. 23, 1998? Age 71 FHM
HAMILTON, Roy Edward 1943 1977 A dear son and father  
HAMILTON, Willie Feb. 29, 1879 Feb. 25, 1967    
HANDSBOROUGH, Eddie Sept. 22, 1922 Aug. 11, 1991 Beloved Mother  
HANSBOURGH, William Ray, Sr. Mar. 21, 1956 Jul. 20, 1992 SR US Navy Next to Eddie Handsborough
HARRIS, Cora Nelms Aug. 29, 1899 Nov. 7, 1992 Asleep in Jesus  
HARRIS, Eugene Mar. 17, 1894 Apr. 28, 1976    
HARRIS, O.T. 1915 1994 PFC US Army WWII Military Marker
HARRIS, Valina Feb. 14, 1938 Oct. 28, 1973    
HAYS, Rufus Dec. 10, 1896 Dec. 16, 1944 Texas Pvt. 24 Inf. Military Marker
HEIMAN, Kathryn Sept. 1, 1927 May 31, 2000 In God's Care Back: Friend of the Charles Martin Family
HUNT, Fanny 1868 1964 Brother & Sister Double stone with Pink Martin
JAMES, Nell Bell Apr. 13, 1921 Mar. 31, 1991 Precious memories-This world is not my home FHM
JOHNSON, Bertha E. Berry Nov. 21, 1959 Nov. 12, 2000 Mother/Back: Husband, Edward, Children: Ticen, Tyrone, Brandon, Elbert, Untwaun  
KEELS, Pearl 1889 1972   Double stone with Willie
KEELS, Willie 1890 1970   Double stone with Pearl
LACY, Lillie Oct. 25, 1913 Oct. 18, 1996 Age 83 FHM
LACY, Mrs. Ella Mae 1898 1923    
LARUE, Arlene Nelson Jun. 27, 1930   Our Children: Barbara, Tom, Michael, Dean Double stone with Thomas
LARUE, Bonnie C. Sept. 28, 1922 Jul. 5, 1999   Double stone with Wm. E.
LARUE, Thomas Wilson III Feb. 27, 1951 Aug. 28, 1977 We think of him still as the same and say he is not dead-he is just away Footstone_ "Shoat" In remembrance from your friends
LARUE, Thomas Wilson, Jr. "T.D." Sept. 5, 1923   Married Apr. 26, 1948 Double stone with Arlene
LARUE, Wm. E. "Bill" Mar. 9, 1926   Married Sept. 4, 1948 Double stone with Bonnie
MARTIN, Charlie P., Jr. Feb. 1, 1926 Mar. 27, 1999 Married Sept. 4, 1948 Obituary Double stone with Ludia (FHM)
MARTIN, Ludia Mae Mar. 18, 1933 Dec. 19, 1990 We will meet again Double stone with Charlie
MARTIN, Pink 1870 1941 Brother & Sister Double stone with Fanny Huey
MOTEN, Beverly Elaine Sept. 23, 1954 Dec. 23, 1989 Mother-Back: Children: Wanessa, Tracy, Marcus Double stone with Traleslie
MOTEN, Traleslie Marques Sept. 25, 1982 Dec. 23, 1989 Son Double stone with Beverly
MURPHY, Jasper May 6, 19?9 Apr. ?, 1978    
NELSON, Mr. Stevenson F. Sept. 15, 1910 Jun. 12, 2000   FHM
OWENS, Frank Sr. Sept. 25, 1943 Jan. 9, 1994 Beloved son and brother (son of Minnie Moore Owens)
OWENS, Lutisha Barns Apr. 9, 1895 Feb. 14, 1974 Beloved mother and Grandmother  
OWENS, Will Jan. 31, 1895 Dec. 18, 1968 Texas PVT US Army WWI Military Marker
OWNES, Dayton   Oct. 26, 1958 Departed this life No birthdate
RAMIREZ, Abel Torres Apr. 19, 1961 Jul. 21, 1990 Husband  
SIMS, Ida 1891 1955    
SIMS, Robert Nov. 15, 1895 Jul. 19, 1944 Texas Pvt. F. Cl. 328 Serv BN Military Marker
SNELL, C.A. May 11, 1921 Mar. 2, 1992 Married Oct. 12, 1939 Double stone with Myrl
SNELL, Charlie Archie May 11, 1921 Mar. 2, 1992 S1 US Navy WWII Military Marker
SNELL, Myrl Feb. 10, 1923     Double stone with C.A.
TAYLOR, Daniel Aug. 13, 1984 Dec. 24, 1984    
TAYLOR, Jesse Jul. 1, 1893 Mar. 14, 1983 PVT US Army Military Marker
THOMAS, Beckie M. Owens Nov. 13, 1922 Jan. 19, 1985 Beloved mother and Grandmother  
UNKNOWN CHILD 1990 1993   FHM was illegible
WASHINGTON, Mrs. Nellie Ann Feb. 13, 1913 Jul. 28, 1991 In loving memory of  
WATSON, Della Apr. 15, 1907 Dec. 25, 1975 Mother  
WATSON, James Dec. 25, 1902 Apr. 9, 1969 Father  

The following is a list of names of people supposed to have been buried in the Rockland East Cemetery which we did not see headstones for when we visited. We may have missed it, it may have been destroyed or they may never have had one, as my research sources often use cemetery records as opposed to headstone transcriptions. I suggest that if you desire further information on any of the following, that you contact the Houston County Courthouse which has a historical society that resides in the courthouse building..

NAME
ANDERSON, Amos
ANDERSON, Augusta
ANDERSON, George Sr.
ANDERSON, Robertha
ANDERSON, Willie D.
ARMSTEAD, Hezekiah
ASHE, Calvin
ASHE, Sammie
BAILEY, Alford
BAILEY, James
BAILEY, Josephine
BAILEY, Kelly
BAILEY, Willis M. Sims
BAKER, Willie B.
BARRS, Beck
BARRS, Curr
BARRS, Emanuel
BARRS, Jiles, Sr.
BARRS, John, Sr.
BARRS, Johnnie
BARRS, Lucy
BARRS, Lula Ann
BARRS, Martha Epps
BARRS, Sarah Epps
BARRS, Tom, Jr.
BARRS, Tom, Sr.
BERNETTS, Fannie
BOLDON, Effie Jackson
BROWN, Eddie
BROWN, Jimmie
CARDEN, George
CARRS, Jimmie
CARRS, Lula
CARRS, Mart
CARRS, Sallie
COTTON, Beulah
COTTON, Caroline
COTTON, Robert
COTTON, Rowfield
COTTON, Tom
DIGHTMANS, Burmon
DIGHTMANS, Ceifus
DIGHTMANS, Georgia
DIGHTMANS, Henry
DIGHTMANS, James
DIGHTMANS, O.D.
DIGHTMANS, Richard
DIGHTMANS, Telman
DOTSON, Eddie
EPPS, Daughter of Ben
EPPS, Ellen Harris
EPPS, Malise
EPPS, Mose
EPPS, Saul
EPPS, Shagg
EPPS, Sillars
FIELON, Felex
FIELON, Henry
FIELON, Melinda
FIELON, Phil
FIELON, Tisha
HACKETT, Florida
HALL, Caroline
HALL, Charley
HAMILTON, Leona
HARRIS, Dan
HARRIS, Frank
HARRIS, Ike
HARRIS, Joe
HAYES, Beulah
HAYES, Eliza
HAYES, Huff
HAYES, Jimmie
HEFLIN, Arie (born 3/18/1880 bur. 9/17/1944)
HEFLIN, C
HEFLIN, John (b. Apr. 1875)
HEFLIN, Matt
HEFLIN, Viola (b. Mar. 1900)
HEFLIN, Willie (bur. 2/4/1973)
HICKS, Arthur
HICKS, Becky
HICKS, Channie
HICKS, Henry
HICKS, Lydia
HICKS, Sallie
HICKS, Sammie, Jr.
HICKS, Sammie, Sr.
HUNTS, Bud
HUNTS, Henry
HUNTS, Wife of Bud
JACKSON, Edward
JACKSON, Harriet
JACKSON, Hiram
JACKSON, Lucky
JACKSON, Otis
JORDAN, Emmaline
JORDON, David
JORDON, Doc
KING, Baby
KING, Mariah
KING, Mary Belle
KING, Will
KITCHEN, Lee
KITCHEN, Mariah
LADELL, Emmaline
LADELL, Louise
LADELL, Randell
LEWIS, Lucille
MARTINS, Alzona
MARTINS, Bertha Mary
MARTINS, H.
MARTINS, Lula
MARTINS, Ned
MARTINS, Nelson
MARTINS, Pearlie
MURPHY, Larry
MURPHY, Lattie
MURPHY, Liege
MURPHY, Lillie
MURPHY, Lizzie
MURPHY, Myrtle
MURPHY, O.
MURPHY, Richman, Jr.
MURPHY, Richman, Sr.
MURPHY, William
NEALS, George
NEALS, Lucy
NELMS, Andora
NELMS, Chaney
NELMS, Clemon
NELMS, Earl
NELMS, Henry
NELMS, Sarah
OWENS, Matt, Jr.
OWENS, Matt, Sr.
RANDOLPH, Ella
RANDOLPH, Jackson
RANDOLPH, Jeff
RATTERREE, Steve
RHODES, Burl
ROBINSON, Dod
ROSS, Rachel
RUNNELS, Marcelles
SIMS, Barbara
SIMS, Henry
SMITH, Henry
SMITH, Mollie
TAYLOR, Albert
TAYLOR, Carrie
TAYLOR, May
TAYLOR, Ollie
TILLIS, Martha
WILEY, Mary