Motley Cemetery
Mesquite, Dallas Co. Cemeteries of Tx
Submitted & Photos by Monetta Alexander Lockey
The Motleys are one of the founding families of Mesquite and until the 1950s or 1960s the old homestead with its huge house was still occupied. The house burned and the land was sold to Dallas County for use for Eastfield Community College. The cemetery is located on the college campus and is well maintained by the Motley descendants. .
A couple of interesting things found in the cemetery are the unmarked graves which rumors say are slave graves and the markers showing where an arm and a foot are buried. The story behind that would be interesting to know.
This cemetery has a historical marker. It states:
Z. Motley Cemetery Zacharial Motley migrated to Texas (1856)
from Kentucky with his family and slaves. He and his wife Mary, five sons, and three daughters
helped settle this area and built their home some 200' northeast of this site, a one-half acre
portion of the original homestead bought from the Crittenden Survey.
Earliest known burial (1863) was Penelope Motley McLain, a daughter,
and the wife of Capt. J.B. McLain. The plot is still in use and is owned and
cared for by Motley descendants. Twenty-five known graves include family members
and their slaves. (1976)
Directions: From Hwy#30 East take the Motley Exit and travel north. Immediately on the left is Eastfield Community College. The cemetery is located on the southeast corner of the college campus. The cemetery is well maintained and has a white fence around it. It is unlocked and can be visited by the public. Some tombstones were broken in the past and have been pieced together and placed in concrete slabs.
I have marked these with *. My notes are in ( ). All other notations are on the stones themselves. These are listed in the approximate order of location as all buried here are connected with the Motley family. One blank stone* Known only to God* (These two are rumored to be slaves. No records to prove this.) (unreadable)
One blank stone*
Known only to God* (These two are rumored to be
slaves. No records to prove this.)
(unreadable) A. wife of J.B. McLain, born June 14, 1831, died Dec 27 1863 *
J. B. M'L *
arm of John S. Motley 1894*
Z. Motley, born June 10, 1805, died Mar. 10, 1868*
Mary wife of Z. Motley, born Jan 18, 1814, died Oct 31, 1890*
"We are gathering Home" (more inscription unreadable)
Mary H. wife of Guss Lawrence born Apr 20, 1853, died July 12,
1885*
"Dying is but going home" (more inscription unreadable)
Mary F. M. dau of Guss & M.H. Lawrence born July 6, 18 ??, died Aug. 1, ??*
Motley (double headstone) - Wife Husband
Fredna Ueckert Motley - Mother of John Robt and Nancy - Oct 25, 1905 - Nov
23, 1987
Charlie R. Motley - Father of John Robt and Nancy - Aug 3, 1903 - Dec. 31,
1988
Riggs (double headstone) "Together Forever"
Frances M. 1907 - 2000
Thomas M. (Slats) 1904 - 1992 (Mason's symbol)
Sallie A. Motley born Sept 14, 1854 - died Feb 8, 1922
Grantham (double headstone) Wife Husband
Emma Motley Grantham Feb 4, 1902 - Dec. 4, 1990
Harry Y. Grantham Aug. 6, 1901 - July 7, 1987 (Mason's symbol)
married Feb. 12, 1924 Parents of Lynda Sue
Islett (double headstone)
Ressie Motley May 3, 1907 - July 6, 2000
L. D. Mike Apr. 27, 1910 - July 7, 1983
wed Feb 22, 1937
Hamlin (double headstone) Wife Husband
Mildred Motley Hamlin Mar 3, 1916 - Jan. 14, 2000
J. T. Hamlin July 3, 1907 - Nov. 15, 1985 (Mason's symbol)
Tritch (double headstone) Mother Father
Fay Motley Tritch son Roy Patrick Tritch Apr 29, 1905 - June 5,
1992
Roy Paullis Tritch son Roy Patrick Tritch Mar 28, 1908 - Nov 18,
1992
William M. Motley June 2, 1881 - Aug 9, 1970
Ida Lee Motley Oct 1, 1887 - Mar 21, 1956
Sweet William Motley July 3, 1911 - June 6, 1912
William Masten Motley Oct. 26, 1909 - Oct. 28, 1909
Thomas Z. Motley May 1, 1870 - Mar. 27, 1927
Motley, Virgie L. wife of T.Z. Motley born Nov 27, 1884 died Dec. 6,
1918
Motley, Baby Josephine daut. of TZ & VL Motley born Apr. 19,
1905 died Aug. 29, 1905
Motley, Isabelle wife of F. M. Motley Sept 29, 1849 - June 21, 1894
"She was a kind wife, a fond mother, and a friend to all."
Francis M. Motley Sept 22, 1844 - June 14, 1915
"Gone to a bright home where grief cannot come"
Mrs. Mollie Motley 1856 - 1939
Hattie L. dau of F.M. & I.M. Motley born Sep 27 1879 died
(broken off)*
Our Father and Mother (This is a large monument)
Zachariah Motley June 10, 1805 - Mar 10, 1868
His wife Mary Lynn Jan 18, 1814 - Oct. 31, 1890
"They were a kind and affectionate husband and wife, a fond father and
mother, and a friend to all."
Children of Zachariah and Mary Motley
(On north side of the monument)
William H.
John T.
Robert P.
Mary H.
Sallie A.
Nannie P.
Jefferson Z.
(On south side of monument)
James E.
Martha A.E.
Jefferson L.
Penelophy A.
Frances M.
In loving Memory of Hazel B. Motley "Nannie" Nov. 25, 1910 - Jan.
10, 1998
Wilma Lawrence Carrington September 27, 1909 - November 30, 1977
Lawrence (double headstone)
Mattie A. Easley May 22, 1874 - Feb. 4, 1929
Jefferson (Joe) Z. Aug. 10, 1880 - May 8, 1948
The foot of G.C. Motley buried Jun 5, 1911
Mary Lawrence - October 27, 1906 - March 9, 1990
Poynter (double headstone)
Jurine Jordan (has birth date but no death date - assume still living)
Charlie Mundall Mar 3, 1912 - Feb. 1, 1998
John T. Motley Jan 18, 1848 - July 24, 1912
Mary E. his wife April 27, 1851 - July 28, 1929
"Stranger can you tell is this where individuality ceases or does it exist
beyond"
B. F. Motley Jan 24, 1875 - Feb. 9, 1927
Delbert C. Motley WAGR US Army World War I Oct. 1,
1893 - July 11, 1988
J. L. Motley July 26, 1840 - May 12, 1919
His wife Martha Mar 26, 1849 - Oct. 16, 1897
"Resting till the Resurrection Morn"
William M. Motley April 22, 1846 - March 29, 1921
"A precious one from us has gone
A voice we loved is stilled
A place is vacant in our home
Which never can be filled"
Nancy A dau of D.H. & D. J. Hill born May 6, 1874 died (broken off.
This
was leaning up against a tree as if they were planning to repair it.)
