Pace Cemetery

Submitted by Susan Hawkins hawkins@texoma.net

Cemeteries of Texas Coordinator: Dolores I. Bishop

The Pace Cemetery is now under a cement slab. A huge fertilizer plant west of Bonham on old Hwy 82 (now 56) is located on top of it. Though some graves were supposed to be moved to Willow Wild in Bonham, most were reported not moved. Many of the original markers were bois d’arc wood unreadable and burned in grass fires. Among the graves were the slaves of the Pace and possibly other families.

The plant was located next the T & P Railroad on the highway in 1969. At which time a marker was placed in a little park but has disappeared and been built over. Floy Hodge a local historian, who wrote in the 60’s, stated that many people were buried there between the 1840’s and 1880’s. In 1895 Railroad construction destroyed a large part of the cemetery. At that time some of the bodies were moved to Willow Wild in Bonham. Many were left, those not on the Railroad right of way.

Floy Hodge listed those she could recall being buried there and stated that most graves identity was lost. She states that the first grave was a "Mr. Dale who was a black man."