Senterwood Cemetery

  Johnson Co Cemeteries of TX

Est 1852

Photos and transcription by Mildred R. Greenstein

 
Balch-Senterwood Cemetery in Alvarado, Texas
Historical Marker for Balch-Senterwood Cemetery
 
Balch-Senterwood Cemetery is an old African-American cemetery named for the A.J. Senter, undertaker, who purchased and donated  the land for a proper burial ground in 1912.
It is located on Parkway across the fence west of the Balch- Alvarado Cemetery where white families are buried off of Atchley and Cummings Street.
 
A little slave girl owed by the George Sigler family was spreading laundry to dry on the bushes and was killed by a black bear early one morning in 1856. Her screams echoed through the little creek valley. Men from all around the area raced vainly trying to help her. She was buried just across the fence from the community cemetery, making hers the first grave in the area to become the Senterwood Cemetery.
 
About 1992 while helping Beverly Short arrange for a clean-up for Balch-Alvarado Cemetery, Jeanine Tribble and Mildred R. Greenstein were trying to wade through the briars and bushes to make preliminary survey. It was at this point they spied tombstones buried in the leaves across the back fence. They feared the stones were vandalized and toss over the fence. After making a big effort to identify the stones, Mrs. Tribble and Mrs. Greenstein found them to be Africian- American citizens in Alvarado, TX. It was this find which started the efforts to properly care for this forgotten part of Alvarado history.
 
The Baker Funeral Home in Fort Worth purchased an additional acre of land and conducted services here for many years. They stopped burials here by 1980 because the cemetery was filled. Many attempts were made to secure the records from the Baker family, but it appears the records had been misplaced. Most of the graves are unmarked which gives the feeling of an empty field despite the many souls resting beneath the grass. The graves were arranged in semi-circles on either side of a central driveway. The twenty-two photos are the only visible stones in the cemetery as of November 2009.
 
An attempt was made to recreate a list of burials from numerous family records shared from the African- American community and newspaper obituaries. Our thanks to Mrs. Jeanine Forston Tribble and Mrs.Rubin Stevenson for their great work in contacting families for this list. Much of the information is strictly word of mouth from family members. There are many unknown.
[*] indicates obituary information
 

A Little Slave Girl died 1856 slave of Sigler family

Allen, Leon died 1977 age 51

Allen Otis Mar. 3, 1946 -Mar. 12, 1954 died of leukemia

Anderson, Cora Jun. 4, 1885 - Jul.5, 1934

Anthony, Lloyd died * Oct. 25, 1946 murdered by Frances Bell

Bailey, Sam Sept.17, 1886 - Jan 1972

Bates, Camie

Bates, Henry

Bates, Trudy w/o Buddy Bates

Bates, two infants

Bell, Mr. Len [WWII]

Benfoot, Martha died Mar. 28, 1930 age 85

Benfoot, Idessa died Aug. 6, 1909 d/o Martha Benfoot

Billups, Mrs. Penoia died Oct. 1958

Boozer, David

Boozer, Ophelia w/o Bill Boozer

Boozer, William "Bill" h/o Ophelia Boozer

Bowser, Anna Lee abt. 1900

Bowser, Ophelia

Bowser, Rev. George Sr. Oct 6, 1904 - Jan 28, 1958

Bowser, Willie Josephus Nov. 15, 1879 - Oct. 26, 1963

Bridgewater, Anthony died Sept. 1962 child died of lockjaw

Bridgewater, LaDonna d/o Shirley Obit 21 June 1973

Bridgewater, Lonnie [died 1970's]

Bridgewater, Peggy [died 1970's]

Bridgewater, Peggy Bernice d/o Shelly Veer & Annie Lee [Bowser] Bridgewater

Bridgewater, Peggy Lee Dec. 1948 - Dec. 1948

Bridgewater, Peggy Lee died 1967/ 1968

Brown, Charlie died 1923/1924

Brown, Mrs. Alyer died 1962 w/o P. B. brown

Brown, Luther

Brown, Pierce B.1886 -1961

Brown, Pauline Apr 30, 1930 - Jul. 1, 1930 d/o P.B. & Ayler Brown

Brown, Paul Apr 30, 1930 - Jun. 25, 1930 s/o P.B. & Ayler Brown

Brown, Rosie Lee died * Oct 25, 1946 d/o P. B. Brown, murdered by Joe W. Wheeler

Brown, William died Feb. 1954

Bryant, child of Mary died * Jan 12, 1912

Bryant, Mary died * Jan. 12, 1912

Carroll, Charles T. Mar. 3, 1968 - Apr 26, 1968

Carson, J.B. died * Dec. 8, 1939

Childs, Alberta Oct. 2, 1908 - Jun. 17, 1923 d/o Sam & Mary [Porter] Childs

Childs, Roy "Nubb" Feb. 22, 1902 - Dec. 12, 1974 s/o james & Mary Childs, daughter Brenda

Cole, Mary

Cole, Rev J.G. June 19, 1866 - *Jun. 4, 1917

Criner, Theda May 15, 1907 - May 19, 1930 d/o Richard & Susie [Bibb] Criner, died in auto accident

Dears, Horace Jr. died Sept. 16, 1905 was shot, 34 years old

Dears, Jessie H. Nov. 7, 1938 - Mar. 31, 1939

Deere, Richard

English, Mrs. Mahalia died Oct.9, 1977 age 88

Evans, Louise Oct. 28, 1902 - Nov. 13, 1969

Ezell, Blue died Jul, 15, 1965

Ezell, Celia Oct. 20, 1908 - Aug. 6, 1961

Ezell, Eddie Nov. 1891 - Mar. 17, 1921 [ WWI]

Ezell, Herman Blackman June 15, 1893 - March 14, 1953 [WWI]

Ezell, Jessie

Fisher, Mr.

French, Willie June 8, 1889 - Aug. 24, 1952 [WWI]

Fry, James Henry Nov. 11, 1948 - Dec. 1, 1949 s/o John Robert & Gwen Victoria [Short] Fry

Fry, Mrs. Joe died * Mar. 21, 1914

Gillispie, Predena Mae died Nov. 6, 1960

Halman, Mattie Bell died 1971

Harris, Volner Sr. Feb 3, 1901 - Jan. 1953

Henderson, Dan Feb. !2, 1901 - Jan.17, 1953

Hodge, Lizzie July 4, 1882 - Feb. 25, 1913

Holland, Elish

Holland, Russell

Hollin, Clara died Oct. 16, 1915 d/o Luther &. Bella [Estes] Hollin, 1 yr. 3mo.

Holoman, Mattie Bell died Jul. 15, 1971

Holloway, E.D. died Sept. 1953

Holloway, Mary died Dec.30, 1934

Howard, Dicy Sept. 22, 1834 - July 7, 1917

Jarman, Ruth Estelle died Aug. 27, 1968 w/o Clarence Jarman, d/o Harold & Estelle Barnett

Jordan, Delia

Lane, Veola Holland died Jun. 1948

Lee, Altha died Oct. 8, 1937

Louis, Mrs. Lizzie died Nov. 1958

Mallicote, Clarence Dec. 16, 1945

Marshall, Mrs. Nora * Dec. 1938 age 43

Mathis, John Lenard Sept. 13, 1943 - March 29, 1967 [Air Force]

McGill, Wilson Dec. 23, 1880 - Feb. 12, 1932 of Cleburne, TX

Nealy, Lillie Mae Sansom died Nov. 29, 1966

Norwood, Isiah died 1967

Norwood, Monroe July 20, 1949 - Sept. 21, 1968 [Military]

Norwood, Sid [infant] died Aug. 25, 1937

　

Oaks, Fay died 1940

Oaks, Hardy Fisher died 1935

Oaks, Ray died 1940

Oaks, Tom Sr. died 1919/1920

Odie, Lee Apr. 18, 1891 - May 10, 1953 [WWI]

Odie, Narcelia died 1981

Odie, Tom

Odom/ Odems, Ray Thurman Jan. 25, 1928 - Nov. 21, 1979

Polk, Elorie Brown Mar. 27, 1913 - Jul. 19, 1933

Porter, Hattie Wyatt 1885 - Nov. 2, 1969

Price, Fellix May 26, 1920 - Sept. 19, 1964

Reece, Bessie Wilson died Aug. 29, 1968

Reece, Charlie Nov. 6, 1911 - Jan. 30, 1944 [WWII]

Reece, Clifford

Reece, Hattie

Reece, Milton

Reece, Virgie

Rice, James Willie 1962/1963

Richardson, Carl Denton Jan. 25, 1915 - May 8, 1980

Richardson, Daisy Mae Jul. 13, 1914 - Sept. 6, 1978

Richardson, John H. [Henry] Sept. 30, 1917 - Nov. 30, 1961 [WWII]

Richardson, Rev. Henry James Nov. 2, 1887 - Oct.17, 1963

Richardson, Tom Feb. 4, 1889 - Feb. 3, 1969 [WWI]

Roberts, E.W. Dec. 1, 1866 - Aug. 10, 1924

Roberts, Joe 1847 - Oct. 8, 1937

Roberts, Lou died * Jul. 18, 1924 w/o Joe Roberts

Roberts, Henry [Rev.] July 1, 1900 - June 9, 1964 [WWI]

Robertson, Emmett Oct. 23, 1930

Robertson, Ollie L. died Jul.1944 [Military]

Robinson, Annie Lee [Bowser] Aug. 8, 1929 - Dec 9, 1964

Sampson/Simpson, Billy Jack died Dec. 29, 1925 s/o Elmer & Willie [Williams] Sampson

Sander, Jim Henry died Dec. 8, 1966

Sansom, Alta Lee died 1920

Sansom, Alta Lee died * Oct. 8, 1937 d/o Tim Sansom

Sansom, Mrs. Amanda Jun. 1876 - Jul. 22, 1960 w/o John Sansom

Sansom, Fannie Wilson died * Feb. 14, 1936 [another 1928]

Sansom, Tom died * Oct. 2, 1948 "Uncle" hit by a car

Simpson, Anderson died *Jun. 2, 1944

Simpson, Billy J. 1923 - 1926

Simpson, Ella Mae

Simpson, infant of Elmer & Willie simpson Feb. 3, 1932

Simpson, Mr. John Howard died Dec. 2, 1940 s/o Elmer & Willie Simpson

Simpson, Martha 1947/1948

Stell, Mr.

Stell, Mrs. Theo Stella died Jun. 10, 1950

Stevenson group marker - no dates on stone

Stevenson, Arthur Lee Jan. 19, 1943 - May 15, 1943

Stevenson, Brian no dates on stone

Stevenson, Connie no dates on stone

Stevenson, Donald Gene Apr. 11,1950 - Jun. 19, 1963

Stevenson, no dates on stone

Stevenson, Fannie Elizabeth Novell Apr. 22, 1883 - Oct. 28, 1962

Stevenson, Gladys 1921 - 1947

Stevenson, Marshall 1907 - 1951

Stevenson, T.C. no dates on stone

Stevenson, Theodore Jun.10, 1896 [or June 10, 1916] - Aug. 1, 1950

Stewart, L.S. [Blue] Mar. 11, 1899 - Jan 29, 1949

Stewart, Lannon/ Lymon died 8 Dec. 13, 1938 s/o L.S. Stewart -died in a fire

Taft, Mrs. Betty Lee died Mar. 28, 1968 age 42

Taylor, Addie

Taylor, Tom died * Mar. 29, 1935 age 60

Thomas, Annie Mae died DEc. 27, 1974 w/o Oran Thamas, sister Ola B. Alford

Thomas, Flora Mae died Apr. 7, 1967

Thomas, Lee Willie Dec.26, 1926 - Sept. 11, 1986

Thomas, Oran Jr. Oct. 26, 1930

Tift, Daddy died 1945

Tite, Jessie Cooper died 1945

Vons[?], Felix died 1990

Wason, ? Dec.23, 1880 - 1932

Wedemas, Carl Henderson died Jan 29, 1941 s/o Earl W. & Bertha Wedemas

Wilean, Mrs. M.

Williams, Dinah * Jul 1930

Williams, Virgle

Wilemon, John Henry died * Jan. 24, 1941 s/o Earl Wilemon, grandson of Henry Richardson

Woods, George [infant] died Dec. 18, 1920

Woods, J.W. 1864 - 1912

Wright, Mattie died Dec. 2, 1958

Wyatt, Emma

Wyatt, Leutha died 1930

York, Aunt Dicy died 1921 w/o J.D. York

York, Buela

York, Elizabeth Aug. 10, 1830 - Apr. 21, 1921

York, Minda