Cottage Hill Cemetery, Collin County, Texas

Featured photo for April 2003 - Cemeteries of Texas Web site was taken by Gary Webb of a vandalized monument at the Cottage Hill cemetery, in Cottage Hill, Texas.

This monument, obviously vandalized, was once a monumental achievement in design and craftsmanship. If I remember correctly, this piece once stood on top of a large base, but now rests on the ground nearby. What should be a proud symbol of Cottage Hill's ancestry, now shows the degredation and lack of respect, some of it's current citizens have for it's heritage.


Click on photo to go to the cemetery.

McMillen Cemetery entrance sign, Collin County, Murphy, Texas

Featured photo for March 2003 - Cemeteries of Texas Web site was taken by Gary Webb of the entrance sign to the very small cemetery of the McMillen Family in Murphy, Texas.

This shot chosen for composition, contrast and subject matter. In Texas, thunderstorms are a common afternoon event. In the Northwestern Panhandle, storms fireup around 2:00 in the afternoon and usually the same storm systems will track northeast at around 30 mph. Many of these storms move across Texas to the east and usually between 6 and 10 p.m they make there arrival in the Dallas area. Now, this is an extreme generalization, but typically in the spring time storms are a common site. Here while visiting a small family cemetery in Murphy, Texas, a large supercell began to form back to the east. While this storm didn't produce any weather in Murphy, it did produce rainfall, lightning and high winds in the counties to the east of Collin. To get this shot (to include the thurnderstorm) I had to lay on my back just outside the cemetery entrance and point my camera upwards. While this cemetery was very small, with very few markers to shoot, this shot shows, that you can still find interesting angles. And if you were there on that day, this is the view that you would have seen. Beautiful tall evergreens, contrasted sharply by the deep blue sky and rolling thurnderstorms. The reason we include photos here at Cemeteries of Texas, is because we want you to see what it is like to be there.


Click on photo to go to the cemetery.

McMorris marker, Lubbock Co., Texas

Featured photo for February 2003 - Cemeteries of Texas Web site was taken by Sheriff Jerry Hicks of the marker of Carolyn Yuonne McMorris (Jan. 23, 1954, Dec. 5, 1955), located in the City of Lubbock Cemetery.

Two sisters; Debra Callarman and Kay Clarke were always haunted by the death of their baby sister Carolyn at the hands of their step-mother, Coleen Stubblefield at the Ace Motel, where they lived. After giving seperate interviews with police 35 years later, the district attorney Travis Ware, opened an investigation that lead to the conviction of Collen McMorris. Carolyn was buried in a unfrequented corner of the Lubbock cemetery, and as you can see by the photo at left, it is still a remote area of the graveyard. Also note the chipping away of the headstone.

For the full story see: * Carolyn McMorris.
Click on photo to go to the City of Lubbock cemetery.

Shawnlee Perry marker, Lamb Co., Texas

Featured photo for January 2003 - Cemeteries of Texas Web site was taken by Sheriff Jerry Hicks of the marker of Shawnlee Matilda Perry (April 10, 1987, Aug. 26, 1992), located in the Springlake Cemetery in Lamb County, Texas.

Shawnlee was obducted from her backyard by Eddie Rowton, a 44 year old career criminal and sex offender. Her body was found five miles from her home in a farmer's field three months later. The death of Shawnlee Perry greatly affected her family, friends and the entire Panhandle Region. Rowton was convicted in December 1999 and sentenced to death, but died in a prison infirmary March 2001.

Click on photo to go to the cemetery.

Redmud Tabernacle, Dickens County, Texas

Featured photo for December 2002 - Cemeteries of Texas Web site was taken by Joe Miller of the Redmud Tabernacle located across the road from the Red Mud Cemetery in Dickens County, Texas. This fine arts photograph taken in 2002 was titled 'Redmud Tabernacle.'

This photo was chosen for it's unique style. The Black and white media, captured at sunset, is perfect for presenting the Tabernacle in it's natural setting. The geometric shape against natures curves, creates a dynamic contrast.

Click on photo to go to the cemetery for a larger version of this fine arts work.

Angel monument, Lynn County, Texas

Featured photo for November 2002 - Cemeteries of Texas Web site was taken by Joe Miller of a monument located in Grassland Cemetery, in Grassland, Lynn County, Texas. This fine arts photograph taken in 2001 was titled 'Angel with Broken Wing.'

The angel carving was so unique that it caught the attension of both Joe Miller and myself (Gary Webb), resting upon a solid upright monument, it's well crafted design and elligance casts a warmth and grace to this small cemetery in West Texas.

Click on photo to go to the cemetery for a larger version of this fine arts work.