Markley Cemetery Decoration Day

Cemetery was begun in 1881, with interment of M. C. Norfleet, adjacent to the old Plum Grove School. By 1890, the burial ground had fallen to neglect. A group of men from the surrounding rural community, including J. C. Calvin, J. W. Cox, R. E. Currie, S. G. Dean, Nelson Owen, M. A. Stewart, Andy and Ike Tinney, J. M. Wallace, and W. M. Watson, organized an annual "Graveyard Working Day", to be held on the first Saturday in May. In the early years, people came by wagon and horseback, some camping overnight. After the cleaning work had been completed bouquets of wildflowers were replaced on the graves. About 1900, the settlement was named "Markley", in honor of A. C. Markley, an area landowner who had served in the frontier army during the Indian wars. In 1925, the observation was changed to the first Sunday in May. Although a perpetual care program has been initiated, decoration ceremonies have persisted as an annual social event, preserving a heritage of community cohesiveness and participation. Among the grave decorated each year are those of thirteen Confederate veterans of the Civil War: John F. Bussey, J. C. Butler, Jessie Byrd, R. E. Currie, George J. Lucas, J. D. Mankins, J. L. McDaniel, J. L. Norfleet, Nelson Owen, J.C. Stanley, James Stinnett, Cates Thompson, and David White.

Markley Cemetery Decoration Day is a historical marker in Graham, Young County, dedicated in 1975. It is one of 43 historical markers documented in Young County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 49 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.3684, -98.4449 near Graham. The nearest cataloged historic site is Hawkins Chapel (historical marker), about 5.9 miles away. Others within a short drive include Farmer Cemetery, Farmer, and Little Salt Creek Indian Fight.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5503003220. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.