RENDON CEMETERY
Tarrant Co, Cemeteries of TX

1876 - 1981

Submitted by Margaret R. Bates Apr 2001
Update and photos by Mildred R. Greenstein Nov 2009

The area where the present Rendon Cemetery stands was deeded to the Community in 1897 by W. L. Norwood.  The land was to be used for a school, church, and a cemetery.  The church soon began and a school was organized, which used the church building.  The cemetery was also put to use.  The first grave is disputed to be either Elizabeth (Lizzie) Huston, a member of the Washam family, or as another source states, the grave of a baby resting under the present FM Highway 1187.   Another early day settler, Mrs. S. F. Norwood, born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on February 10, 1812, is also buried in the cemetery

There are three cedar trees, known as the "miracle" trees, located in the southeast part of the cemetery, which were planted by Talmadge (Tab) Bilzard in the fall of 1937. There were originally four, but only three survive. These mark the graves of Talmadge (Tab) DeWitt Blizard (1 Feb 1887 - 3 Nov 1965); Lena Althea Huey Blizard (15 Jan 1895 - no date); Mae Bell Blizard (infant daughter born and died 3 May 1937).  This information given by Maree Blizard Sheffield in the summer of 1981.

The early care and nurture of the cemetery was accepted by the citizens of the community as their responsibility.  Most were farmers and could take off from their duties to help in a general cleaning when needed.  The men would clean and the women would prepare a meal.  This worked for many years, but the dynamics of the community changed, leaving mostly older folks to care for the cemetery. 
Eventually, only selected graves were kept up by members of their own families who remained in the area. This was in the early 1950s, and the cemetery was at a very low ebb.

On May 29, 1955, interested people formed a cemetery association.   The officers elected at their organizational meeting at the Retta Baptist Church were: 
President, Lindy Sheffield; Secretary-Treasurer, Hazel Williams; Trustees, Loyd Z. Malone, J. Fleming King, and Frances Norwood. Two years later, the association began a fundraiser for the purpose of erecting a fence.  The fence and walk-in gate was installed in 1964 for a cost of $1,085.50.  Today, the cemetery has reached near capacity, and is closed to new burials. It is located at the crossroads of FM 1187 and Rendon-Forest Hill Drive, five miles east of I-35 and west of the old Highway 287.

Inscriptions were copied by Maree Blizard Sheffield, Pearl Blizard Hembree, and Joy Holley in 1981 and were published in 1986 by the Mansfield Historical Society.  Used by permission.

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