Oak Lawn Cemetery

Oak Lawn Cemetery was officially established in 1878 when William T. Perry deeded property to R. M. Collins, the mayor of Decatur, for a public burial ground for area residents. At that time however, at least one marked grave, that of Eli Lindley (d. 1867), existed, indicating that a private cemetery had first been established here. Other marked graves dating as early as 1857 are believed to have been relocated to this site after the public cemetery's founding. The city of Decatur managed the cemetery between 1878 and 1928. During that time, local residents C. and Caroline Harmon generously donated land to the city on four occasions to enlarge the cemetery property. In 1928, in response to the recent formation of a cemetery association by E. P. Gibson, W. P. Thurmond, and T. J. Dillehay, the city ceased its management of Oak Lawn. Between 1928 and 1986, the cemetery association maintained the burial ground, which was again enlarged in 1947 and 1960. In 1986, after the dissolution of the association, the City of Decatur resumed responsibility for the graveyard. Now consisting of over forty acres of property, Oak Lawn Cemetery is the final resting place of over 3,700 area residents.

Oak Lawn Cemetery is a historical marker in Decatur, Wise County, dedicated in 1991. It is one of 89 historical markers documented in Wise County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 159 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.2573, -97.5761 near Decatur. The nearest cataloged historic site is Vesey, Randolph (Uncle Ran) (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Oaklawn Cemetery #1, Battle of the Knobs, and St. John Missionary Baptist Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5497003650. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.