A McCamey, Texas cemetery has received a historical marker that families say is a way to honor the faith, resilience and unity that defined their neighborhood.
MCCAMEY, Texas — A small cemetery in McCamey now holds more than just the remains of loved ones. It holds the heartbeat of a community whose stories shaped West Texas.
“We had a really vibrant community. We had restaurants, swimming pools, community centers, and a beautiful school,” said Dr. Lorenzo Spratt, reflecting on a neighborhood built on faith, family, and neighbors looking out for each other.
Longtime residents recall growing up surrounded by love and safety.
“We didn’t worry about nobody messing with us or none of that,” one resident said. “Nothing but love coming up in this place.”
But as time moved on, many of those stories faded.
“The beauty of the entire community, it’s gone with the wind, and I don’t think it will ever return again,” Spratt said.
Now, the cemetery where many of those families rest has been officially recognized with a historical marker, preserving the community’s history for generations to come.
“We’re super thankful that it is going to be considered a historical marker because it is,” said Marianne Alsup, who grew up spending summers in McCamey. “There’s a lot of history, hard times, great times, sad times. Hard-working individuals are resting there.”
For Alsup, supporting the effort to preserve this history was never a question.
“It feels good, but it feels like, why wouldn’t I?” she said. “Why wouldn’t I want to honor those people?”
For community members like Demetrius Myers, the marker is a reminder of the importance of passing down these stories.
“I believe it’s important for us to continue to pass it down to our next generation to know who we are as a group of people,” Myers said. “It’s very important that we know who we are as a community.”
While the marker cannot bring the past back, it ensures the stories of McCamey’s Black community will not be forgotten.
“This brings back to life all the old things, the old people that touched our lives, that made us who we are today,” one resident said.
On this sacred ground, the legacy of a vibrant community continues to live on.
