Restlawn Cemetery
Hildago County, TX
Status: Located – Needs More Research
Year Established: Unknown
Council of Governments: LRGVDC
Public History: THC Marker Text: This property is believed to be the only graveyard in Hidalgo County dedicated for African American burials. Prior to its founding in 1928, blacks were allowed burial space only in private ranch cemeteries. In the 1920s, Edinburg had a growing black community of domestic and agricultural workers and entrepreneurs. A.Y. Baker, county sheriff and director of the Hillcrest Cemetery Association, designated a half-acre in the undeveloped northwest corner of Hillcrest for a “Black Cemetery,” which was renamed Restlawn in 1993. The oldest grave, unmarked, is for Leonard Bass (d. 1928). World War II veteran Jacob White (d. 1945), for whom local American Legion Post 884 was named, is also among those interred here. Historic Texas Cemetery – 2004
Community History: From “Labor of Love” (https://www.utrgvrider.com/labor-of-love/)
“Among those buried at Restlawn are Joseph Daniel “Danny” Callis, a former sports editor of The Pan American, the student newspaper at Pan American University, a legacy institution of UTRGV. A large aluminum plaque was placed in the cemetery in Danny’s honor in 2010. On it are his 1967 yearbook photo from Edinburg High School and a description of the many accomplishments he achieved during his short lifetime.
“Rising Star Church, one of the two historic black churches in the Edinburg community, chose the name Restlawn for the cemetery.”
“The [Hidalgo County] Historical Commission sponsored the ceremony and the [local chapter of the] NAACP had just formed and they donated plants,” Valerie Ramirez said. “… That was our first year. And with a lot of effort, we’ve been able to maintain it, and we keep having a ceremony every year. This will be our 25th year.”
Cemetery: Restlawn Cemetery