Fortson (aka Hightower) Cemetery, Panola Co. TX Gloria B. Mayfield-

The cemetery is located on the Panola-Harrison line . Seven miles south of Waskom, Texas on Farm Road # 9, 1/2 mile north of intersection of FM 451. It is a small cemetery: but it is well-fenced and well-kept. First Interment was in 1849. Robert S. and Jane A. Field Hightower came to Texas from Fayette County Tn in 1840. Jane's health failed and Robert took her back to Tennessee. She died in 1847 and he had her body embalmed, brought it back to Texas and kept it above ground in a wooden mausoleum until his death in 1849. Brother is buried in the same grave, under the cedar tree. Information supplied by Hazel Hightower Smith.

I wanted to add this note: Now I'll explain the Hightower Cemetery. It was a real old cemetery out in the woods. All the grave markers' had fallen apart, the names washed off of them. So, the families who knew they had people there threw those things' away, and put a large marker with all their names on that one marker. There was one old marker that they left and I read it, it was Druary Field. Mr. Hightower feels the Respess's are buried there too. Aunt Ethel (L.R.'s wife.

Last Name	First Name	Birth	Death	Remarks
Elliott	Billie Jean	10-27-1929		w/o James
Elliott	Carol Lynn	10-10-1955	6-1-1958	d/o James T & Billie Wall Elliott
Elliott	James Tendall	4-21-1929	5-31-1958	h/o Billie Jean
Field	James A.	1795	1859	Family Records
Field	Sarah (Sally) Hightower	1798	1849	w/o James A.
Field	Thomas A.	Mar 23 1857	Aug 21 1858	S/o Drury & Fannie age 18 months, born Panola Co. TX
Fortson	Frances Marion	12-26-1869	2-1-1947	h/o Mary Hightower Fortson
Fortson	Infant son	1908	1908	s/o F.M. & Mary Hightower Fortson
Fortson	Mary Hightower	10-4-1873	10-10-1968	w/o Frances
Fortson	Richard Glynn	1-10-1906	12-5-1907	s/o Frances Marion and Mary Hightower Fortson
Hightower	Fannie M. Fortson	1-7-1860	12-3-1902	D/o A.J. & Maria Frances Fortson
Hightower	Gussie Mabra	6-7-1891	12-30-1966	w/o John L.
Hightower	Henry Lee	3-27-1881	3-17-1962	s/o Edgar W. & Josephine Cargill
Hightower	Jane Anderson Field	1815	1847	w/o Robert S.
Hightower	Lee Stafford	2-4-1971	4-3-1971	Gerald Lee & Jan Wise Hightower
Hightower	James F.	2-1-1842	11-0-1919	s/o Robert S.
Hightower	John L.	4-22-1885	11-6-1957
Hightower	Malcolm	1859	Apr 19 1895	S/o R. L. & Martha Powell
Hightower	Martha E. Fortson Rogers	-	-	2nd wife of Richard L.
Hightower	Martha A. Powell	-	-	lst wife /o Richard L.
Hightower	Mattie Owens	12-23-1873	2-9-1960	w/o William Marney
Hightower	Richard L.	May 24 1856	Apr 5 1890	h/o 1. Martha A. Powell 2. Martha E. Fortson Rogers 3 Alice Fortson 91 yrs 11 mo 11 da
Hightower	R.L. (Dick)	9-25-1875	9-5-1967	s/o Richard Levesly & Martha E.
Hightower	Robert S.	1795	1849	h/o Jane Anderson Field Hightower
Hightower	Sarah P.	1840	1858	d/o Robert S. & Jane A. Field Hightower Family Records
Hightower	Stephanie Jan	-	1972	D//o Gerald Lee & Jan Wise
Hightower	Troy	8-22-1960	8-23-1960	D/o Gerald Lee & Jan Wise
Hightower	William Marney	1865	5-19-1956	s/o Richard L. & Martha Powell Hightower
Hightower	John Lawrence	4-22-1885	11-8-1957	h/o Gussie Mabra s/o Edgar & Josephine
Owens	Amory Starr	5-30-1884	12-26-1954	bro/o Mattie Owens Hightower
Owens	William J.	11-13-1880	6-10-1956	s/o Judge W.J. Ownes
Rogers	Hannah (Anna) Hightower	-	-	w/o Joe E. Rogers d/o Richard L. & Martha A.
Rogers	Joe E.	-	-	s/o Martha E. Fortson Rogers step-son/Richard L.
Rogers	Oswald	-	-	s/o Joe E. & Hannah Hightower Rogers
Rogers	Roy	-	-	s/o Joe E. & Hannah
Hightower	Infant Twins	stillborn	1911	ss/o John L. & Gussie
Rogers	Willie Henrietta Boisseau	1-5-1866	12-20-1946	2nd/w of Joe E. Rogers