LETTER: On St. Mary’s Cemetery

To the editor:

Many of us have been saddened by the situation at St. Mary’s Cemetery. St. Mary’s is a historically black cemetery near Avalon. Like a lot of rural cemeteries, part of it was not marked in a way which would make it readily identifiable.

However, regardless of what has transpired – both in the courts and through exchanges between concerned parties – I think it is time to move forward and recognize the graves in the area, which to my understanding are identifiable through scientific analysis that has already been done.

I would ask that those graves of the deceased that are now identified would be honored and appropriately marked, if desired, by their families and according to their burial customs.

This is only my opinion; I am not speaking on behalf of the commissioners’ court. As an individual, I believe this would do a lot to help folks heal and to display the state of civilization in our county.

Regards,

Paul D. Perry
Ellis County Commissioner, Precinct 3