Mt. Pleasant Cemetery

At the close of the Civil War, local African Americans, newly freed from slavery, formed the Mt. Pleasant Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The Rev. M.F. Jamison served as the first pastor for the group, which was part of the East Texas Annual Conference. Members built a brush arbor and peace camp in this area and were led by the Rev. Frank Rabb, Major Sanders and Parson Choice in the early years. They formally organized as a congregation in 1871. As more settlers moved into the area over the next two decades, the need arose for a community cemetery. In April 1891, trustees for the church purchased two acres at this site, adjacent to the sanctuary, from J.C. and S.S. Barnett. The earliest marked grave in the burial ground is that of a seven-year-old boy who died in July 1890. There are also several unmarked graves, believed to date to the early 1870s. Today, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery continues to be linked to the church, although it has moved. A church committee maintains the burial ground, the final resting place for generations of area pioneers and families, including military veterans, Freemasons and community leaders. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004

Mt. Pleasant Cemetery is a historical marker in Kilgore, Gregg County, dedicated in 2004. It is one of 81 historical markers documented in Gregg County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 124 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.4230, -94.9180 near Kilgore. The nearest cataloged historic site is Strong Memorial (cemetery), about 0.7 miles away. Others within a short drive include Mount Moriah, Post Oak Baptist Church, and Kilgore High School.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507013856. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.