Lilly Island Cemetery

This burial ground served residents of several communities that formed in this area beginning in the late 19th century. Former slaves resided in these settlements; some came to Texas from Savannah, Goergia with plantiation owner Daniel Hamilton. When Hamilton passed away, his daughter Margaret, with husband John S. Havis, began to manage the plantation. They donated property for church purposes after two former slaves, Cal Hamilton and Delila Scott, requested land on which to conduct worship services. By the late 1880s, members of Lilly Eylan (Island) Missionary Baptist Church met here to worship. In 1903, the congregation relocated to a settlement between Barnes and Camden which took the same name as the church. The original church site became known as Lilly Island Cemetery. The burial ground served residents of Barnes, Camden and Lilly Island. Many settlers were formers slaves and most farmed. Many of the freed slaves also worked for W.T. Carter and Brother Lumber Company, which provided boarding and houses, schools, medical services, a company store and a post office for its employees. The company was the area's main employer and thrived until the end of World War II, when many African American workers migrated to urban areas, leading to the decline of this area's communities. The earliest burial here, of Morris W. Washington, an infant, dates to 1884. Other interments include verterans of foreign conflicts dating to World War I. Today, the Lilly Island Cemetery Assocaition cares for the cemetery, which continues to serve the area and remains as a testament to the former slaves and other residents of the Barnes, Camden and Lilly Island Communities. Historic Texas Cemetery-2006.

Lilly Island Cemetery is a historical marker in Barnes, Polk County, dedicated in 2008. It is one of 49 historical markers documented in Polk County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 134 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.8967, -94.6949 near Barnes. The nearest cataloged historic site is Pine Grove Church of Christ (cemetery), about 0.9 miles away. Others within a short drive include Beard Private Family, Pullen-Davis-Toney Family, and Moscow, Camden & San Augustine Railroad.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507014941. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.