Birdston Cemetery Navarro County, TX near Streetman, Freestone Co., TX: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Birdston Community and Cemetery When V. I. Bird opened a general mercantile store about 2 miles to the northwest in the 1860s, Birdston community was founded. As local economy then depended on cotton, a gin was soon built near the store. In a few years, store and gin were relocated a mile east of this cemetery, at halfway point on main road from Fairfield to Corsicana. The Birdston post office opened Dec. 11, 1866. By 1867 the community also had a school; by 1872 a church building used by all faiths. The cemetery was opened on land donated by Edd and Juliett Burleson for church and school purposes. The first grave, located near the church, was that of a child, Mary Raburn, whose family had been traveling from Fairfield to Corsicana, stopping at Sherrard’s boarding house in Birdston where the child fell ill and died. A second grave was dug near the church when T. J. Gilbert died on Dec. 5, 1872. By 1888 additional cemetery land was sold to trustees by Mrs. Burleson. When Birdston was bypassed in 1909 by Burlington Rock Island Railroad, it lost its post office and businesses; the school closed in 1920. The cemetery has continued in use through ensuing years, and in the 1950s had a new section annexed by purchase of acreage from the Charley Gregory estate. (1972) Status: Active Location: 2 miles northeast of Streetman. The town of Streetman is in Freestone county. While the graveyard is just past the Navarro/Freestone county line inside Navarro County. Latitude DMS: 31 54 37 N; Longitude DMS: 096 18 14 W Oldest Marked Grave: Photo inventory done 5/13/2007 by Eric Wood. However, only a partial inventory. Transcription by Wanda Willard Smith. NOTE => ONLY A PARTIAL INVENTORY!! DEDICATED IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION OF ALL VETERANS WHO SERVED IN THE MANY STRUGGLES FOR FREEDOM E. J. Turner John H. McKissack Neil Tisdale Vernon W. Turner Isaac Bryant Derrell J. King J. J. Hail Edgar Kelly Richard W. Steele Dominic Milazzo Robert Clark Harris W. Milner Walter E. Owens Richard J. Ferguson Ernest Bryant, Jr. Woodrow Emory Marion Mostella Robert J. Steele Homer Fullerton, Jr. Robert A. Jones Elbert Tucker N. Aubrey Tisdale Edgar Epps Van C. Clark Kenneth I. Gilbert John A. Clark Marion Compton Revis Simons L. T. McKissack Elmer Gilbert Aubrey Gregory Tommy J. Bryant Randall Gilbert Jerry Turner Elmer Keel Thomas L. Burleson John DuBose Raymond Henry Jack Cate J. P. Morgan J. W. Robinson Vardeman Keel Horace Steele Troy Anderson T. J. Gilbert Angus K. McGilvary Watt Brown E. E. Lester William B. Broun Willis G. Slade Lynn G. Clark Carlton Gregory George H. Epps Joe Oliver Lee Orr Jenkins Robert J. Epps Jack Reaves Jim Jack Jenkins Wm. G. Johnson Everett F. Moles Sidney Steele Culburn Knight Gilbert McKissack Leonard Allmon Delmer Batey Raymond Grayson Thomas Steele Oran S. Burleson Billy G. Keel Joel Steele Dave W. Clark Wm C. Thompson Elizabeth Ann Bounds Edwin A. Knight Thomas K. Sheppard Carl Ferguson Richard C. Knight Robert Anderson W. M. Hardage William Tekell Marcus V. Turner Kirby Keel, Jr. Cecil Tisdale Homer K. Livingston Burials Allman, Miss Gladys, ??/??/???? - ??/??/1939 Allmon, Willie Irene, 12/10/1893 - 11/26/1987; w/o Willis Sr. *O* Allmon, Willis O'Neal, Sr., ??/??/???? - 11/[27]/1937; h/o Willie Irene *O* Allmon, Willis O'Neal, Jr., [12/11/1919] - 11/15/1999 Anderson, Guy R., ??/??/1919 - ??/??/1952 Anderson, Kathryn R., ??/??/1922 - Anderson Minnie Milner (Curry), 03/06/1910 - 08/02/2002; w/o Robert J. *O* Anderson, Robert J. 06/22/1902 - 06/22/1999; h/o Minnie Milner Anderson, Pearl 03/16/1891 - 04/22/1986 *O* Anderson, Garth T. ? - 08/09/1998 age 78 *O* Bennett, Rosemary, 07/09/1936 - 12/09/2004. “Our Mom, gone but not forgotten” Bonds, Ruby Kathleen (Johnson), 04/14/1934 - 03/16/2008; d/o Benjamin and Aletha Johnson Bonner, Afton Fullerton, 03/24/1918 - 01/29/1991; w/o Ernest Bonner, Ernest, 12/22/1914 - 12/07/1989; h/o Afton. “Blessed are thou who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend, for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love” Bonner, Homer Paul, 04/29/1939 - 05/06/2007; md. 05/26/1960 *O* Bonner, Homer Paul, Jr., 07/04/1961 - 09/04/1962; s/o Homer & Margaret Bonner, Margaret Carter, 12/11/1938 - 10/07/2006; w/o Homer; md. 05/26/1960 *O* Broun, Maurine (Coleman), 08/18/1914 - 09/12/2000 *O* Broun, William Braxton, 11/09/1913 - 01/27/1967 Bryant, Ernest C., Jr., 05/30/1917 - 09/30/2002 *O* Bryant, Isaac, 1832 - ? Bryant, Mary Frances (Livingston), 03/02/1920 - 03/01/2005; w/o Tommy *O* Bryant, Tommy J., 01/17/1922 - 10/03/2006; h/o Mary F. *O* Burleson, Amanda Jane, 04/16/1911 - 05/29/1988. “God’s light in our lives” Burleson, Edd Taylor, 03/19/1905 - 12/20/1988. “In our hearts forever” Burleson, James David, 07/05/1872 - 11/13/1950 *O* Burleson, Mamie M. (Collins), 03/11/1879 - 10/??/1947 *O* Carroll, Mary Edith (Livingston), 01/11/1917 - 07/29/2005; w/o Gordon A. *O* Cate, Addie May, 1/20/1899 - 09/09/1984 Cate, Fannie Smith-Webb, 08/12/1863 - 02/20/1937 Cate, Fletcher Nelson, 11/10/1932 - 05/10/1933 Cate, Ida Williams, 03/03/1872 - 01/02/1919 Cate, Rufus Earl 'Jack', 02/21/1896 - 10/17/1978 Cate, Wade Lawrence, 01/29/1873 - 11/29/1940 Cate, Willis Nelson, 06/12/1869 - 03/25/1935 Catlin, Emmett Edward, 07/14/1883 - 08/02/1957 Chandler, Ethel Elizabeth Steele, 11/18/1892 - 12/3/1979 Clark “In loving memory” Clark, David W. “Doc,” 08/01/1916 - 07/26/1999. “Father” *O* Clark, David W., 08/02/1916 - 07/26/1999. Pvt. U. S. Army, WWII Clark, Hazel Lee (Burleson), 07/10/1915 - 03/07/2008; w/o Joe Richard Clark, Janie McGilvary, 07/07/1885 - 03/02/1964. “O Lord my God, in Thee I put my trust.” Eastern Star Clark, Joe R[ichard], 10/02/1912 - 08/30/1996 Clark, Nash Gilbert, 02/15/1886 - 08/16/1963. Mason h/o Janie McGilvary Clark, Sadie E., 08/21/1930 - 09/17/2001. “Mother”; md. 08/21/1960 Clark, William Wallace, ? - ?; Civil War Veteran Cole, Belle Bessie 05/04/1953 - ?? Cole, Edna Orvilla Bryant, 12/06/1912 - 01/12/2001 *O* Cole, J. B., ca. 1862 - 09/??/1936 Cole, John Alan, ca. 1904 - 03/06/1972 Cole, Robert Clyde, 05/06/1889 - 03/02/1969 Cole, Robert Erian, 04/19/1913 - 11/24/1984 Coleman, Jessie Mae, 11/11/1888 - 03/27/1968. Eastern Star Coleman, Jonathan Benton, 11/22/1886- 08/30/1956. Mason. “Gone but not forgotten” Collins, Martha, ca. 1912 - 02/23/2005 *O* Coslett, James Eddie, 02/14/1942 - 03/21/2003 *O* Curry, Margaret H., 08/15/1913 - 01/06/1996 Curry, Shirley Jean, 11/16/1935 - 03/05/2006; md. 07/07/1934. “Daughter” Curry, Sophia F., 11/04/1903 - 09/11/1996 Curry, Tommy B., 02/12/1908 - 09/13/1985; md. 07/07/1934 Dean, Mrs. M. A., ca. 1888 - 05/??/1952 *O* Didear, Nowell O., 01/11/1921-10/30/2000 h/o Mary Lou *O* Didear, Mary Lou (Jordahl) 07/31/1929-01/04/1998 w/o Nowell; *O* Dunklee, Trew, 2003-07/13/2003 Evans, Allene McConnico, 10/28/1907 - 04/02/2004 *O* Evans, James Clair, 1906 - 1973 Ferguson, Fred, 03/01/1903 - 07/17/1983 Ferguson, Irene Bass, 10/18/1904 - 05/09/1999 Ferguson, Jim, ca. 1916 - 03/??/1933 *O* Ferguson, Lucille, 01/28/1890 - 06/09/1980. “In our hearts you live forever” Forbus, Jim, Sr., 07/15/1930 - 03/10/2008; h/o Jean Forbus Galaway, Roger, 08/20/1922 - 08/06/2001 Garrett, Bennie Lee, 12/24/1905 - 12/09/1986 Garrett, Florence Elizabeth Lamb, 12/06/1877 - 12/09/1937. "Bessie" Garrett, George Lee, 09/23/1874 - 03/30/1962 Garrett, Vance Wheeler, 12/31/1913 - 04/27/1988 Garrett, Nanette Leota (Bradford) 09/11/1921 - 12/13/2007 *O* Gilbert, Bessie Webb, 11/5/1899- 04/05/1983. Eastern Star Gilbert, Charlie Tracy, 02/19/1935 - 04/02/1979 Gilbert, Felix Elmer, 10/14/1889 - 11/17/1956 Gilbert, Patricia [A.], 07/05/1928 - 07/19/2001 *O* Gilbert, Randall G., 1925-1955 Glass, Belle Steele, 03/19/1897 - 10/22/1978 md. 11/14/1915 Glass, Jack, Sr., 02/05/1896 - 08/30/1973 Grayson, Dana L., ??/??/???? - 08/22/1969 Grayson, Raymond E., 12/08/1893 - 08/07/1967; Texas, Sgt. 165 Depot Brigade, WWI Gregory, Carlton Everette, 04/27/1929 - 08/30/1977 Gregory, Charles Franklin, 06/08/1917 - 06/28/1987 Gregory, Charlie Everette, 02/07/1902 - 12/18/1994 Gregory, Charlie Joe, 02/07/1875 - 04/07/1931 Gregory, Edward Hicks, 12/09/1870 - ??/??/1949 Gregory, Holland, 06/13/1880 - 05/19/1962 Gregory, James Wallace, 03/22/1925 - 07/04/2002 *O* Gregory, Julia Irene Hail, 10/19/1872 - 10/18/1904 Gregory, Julia Keel Garrett, 10/26/1901 - 03/06/1996 Gregory, Kate McKissack, 08/28/1890 - 06/13/1980 Gregory, Mary Warren Hail, 11/24/1870 - 12/17/1938 Gregory, Minnie B. Owens, 03/14/1894 - 03/05/1987 Gregory, Paul Wayne, 06/08/1896 - 03/22/1949 Gregory, Rhoda Josephine Mann, 10/24/1851 - 07/26/1927 Gregory, Robert Hail, 04/17/1898 - 10/20/1964 Gregory, Sallie O. Hill, 03/24/1878 - 07/21/1926 Gregory, Velma Owens, 12/22/1896 - 12/25/1967 Gregory, Willard Adelle, 08/03/1922 - 08/06/1925 Grizzard, Ruby Mae [Jones] 06/15/1895-11/22/1975 *D*; w/o Henry P. Hail, Mary A. Burleson, 03/03/1843 - 09/17/1912 Hail/Hale, Jonas J., Jr., 01/09/1840 - 01/01/1926; Civil War Veteran Harris, infant, ?? - 06/??/1929; i/o Hubert Haynes, Savannah Danielle, 02/05/2007 - 01/05/2008; d/o Joe & Tina Heinze, Donald Robert, 09/24/1952 - 03/23/2000. “In God’s care.” Sgt. U. S. Air Force Heinze, Beloved son of Robert and Pauline Heinze. Beloved Brother of Shirley Lasser and David Heinze. Beloved father of Donald, Jr., Janie, Patti and Richard. Henderson, Shelia Lynn, 03/01/1956 - 10/03/2004 *O* Henley Henley, Barbara Ann, 05/18/1954 - ??/??/????. “Mom” Henley, Clarence Edward, 11/06/1939 - ??/??/????. “Dad” Henley, Nicki Leah, 05/03/1984 - 12/29/1995. “Our Little [?]diddles” “Blessed are the children for theirs is the kindgom of heaven” Hodge, Tammie, ca. 1962 - 05/15/2004 Hullum, Terry Darden 01/20/1955 - 10/11/1999 Jones, Ida Lorena Brock 04/14/1872-02/22/1933 w/o James P. Sr. Jones, James Presley Sr. 08/06/1868-06/12/1940 h/o Ida Lorena Jones, Robert A[ndrew Sr.] [12/09/1836] - 12/09/1936; Civil War Veteran; h1/o Martha Black; h2/o Sallie Shanks Jones, Robert Andrew Jr. 10/16/1878-11/21/1945 h/o Roberta Jones, Roberta Annie 10/23/1882-11/17/1919 w/o Robert Jr. Keel, Effie Bain, 07/08/1886 - 03/21/1935 Keel, John Vardeman, 02/28/1855 - 06/22/1927 Kelley, Mrs. R. L., ca. 1866 - 11/??/1953 *O* Kelly, Vera [Myrtle] Tisdale, 11/06/1902 - 08/03/1957; “She was the sunshine of our home” Knotts, Amelia Louise McGilvary, 05/28/1922 - 06/08/2006; md. 08/19/1948; w/o Homer Knotts *O* Knotts, Homer V., 12/18/1917 - 06/05/1991; md. 08/19/1948 Knotts, John Paul, 11/30/1981 - 12/03/1981; s/o John K. & Patricia Knotts, Louise McGilvary, 05/28/1922 - 06/08/2006. Lamb, Willie Williams, ??/??/1902 - ??/??/1921 Lee, Juanita, 03/19/1920 - 03/28/1992 Lee, Thomas Floyd, 11/10/1916 - 01/02/1976 Lee, Rubye (Clark) 10/24/1910 - 01/17/2007 Lewis, John Owen, 04/25/1895 - 07/08/1973 Lewis, Ollie D., 04/14/1897 - 01/29/1980 Livingston, Homer Kenneth, 11/07/1930 - 02/24/2005 *O* Livingston, Homer Melvin, 11/22/1884 - 07/19/1953 Logan, Jacob Daniel, 2007 - 2007. McCann, Andrew Morris, 08/30/1914 - 04/05/1989. Mason *O* McCann, Mary Elizabeth Chandler, 10/04/1917; 02/19/2004. Eastern Star *O* McCary McConnico - Evans - Sims McConnico, Billy, 10/18/1914 - 04/03/1983 McConnico, C. K., 1912-1999 McConnico, Frank Leslie, 07/26/1891 - 04/15/1957. “In our hearts you live forever.” McConnico, Jeffrey Ellis, 1952-1952. “Asleep in Jesus” McConnico, Josephine C., 10/26/1921 - 12/12/1987 McConnico, Velma Ellis, 1878-1955. “Mother” McDaniel, Mattie G., 12/17/1902 - 04/21/2000 McDaniel, Vivian E., 12/17/1897 - 07/14/1969 McDonald, Elsie J., 08/22/1935 - ??/??/???? ; md. 12/08/1950 McDonald, Kenneth Martin, 03/25/1927 - 07/10/2001; md. 12/08/1950. Pvt US Army WWII *O* McGilvary, Angus K[ent], 04/26/1915 - ??/??/???? VFW McGilvary, Ella Dobbs, 02/09/1899 - ??/??/???? McGilvary, Jimye Nell [Whatley], 12/29/1925 - 09/29/1982; Eastern Star McGilvary, John Helm 01/16/1889 - 06/26/1975; Mason McGilvary, Lura [B.] Kent 07/05/1894 - 11/27/1974; DAR McGilvary, Robert William 07/23/1897 - 04/04/1964. “Rest in peace” McKissack, Ashburry Fietus, 06/28/1838 - 10/31/1908; Civil War Veteran McKissack, George Artermus, 08/06/1844 - 06/28/1916; Civil War Veteran McKissack, Mary Elan 08/31/1904-11/10/1919 *D* Martens, Gregory A., 10/30/1958 - 10/8/1986 Mason, James Glen, 1952-02/14/2007 *O* Milligan “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want” Milligan, Alfred D[avidson], 08/23/1918 - 06/16/1995 Milligan, Betty [Fleming McGilvary] 12/2/1893 - 11/10/1982 w/o Wayne Milligan, Betty J[ane], 09/16/1919 - 01/06/1983 Milligan, [Mary Kathryn Fleming] "Katie" 03/29/1928 - 08/07/1986 Milligan, Wayne, 06/24/1886 - 09/25/1951 h/o Betty McGilvary Milner, Cora Elizabeth (Bess), 09/19/1897 - 03/07/1976 Milner, John Gilbert, 07/14/1897 - 05/05/1979 Minze, Glenn Dale, 12/05/1947 - 01/29/2007; h/o Sherrie *O* Minze, Rubie Mae (Johnson) 09/30/1918 - 11/03/2002 *O* Mobley, Glen Vernon, 07/27/1924 - 04/02/2002 Moles, Ealon, 06/12/1905 - 08/27/1953 Moles, David G., 12/05/1897 - 10/27/1953. “Bless be the tie that binds” Moore, Billy Joe, 02/10/1931 - 06/26/2002; md. 09/07/1957 Moore, Carol Lee, 01/07/1968 - 01/08/1968 Moore, Lynita Meador, 01/09/1935 - ??/??/????; md. 09/07/1957 Moore, O'Dell (Barnes), 06/12/1917 - 09/22/2007; w/o Clarence M. "Pete" Oliver, Dora (Gibson), 06/06/1892 - 12/29/1984 *O* Owens, W. E. 03/16/1892-10/10/1923 *D* Palms, Bettie, ca. 1904 - 10/01/2003 Peden, Doris, 02/12/1921 - 09/16/2005; w/o Bill Peden *O* Pillans, Mary Lou, 08/31/1912 - 11/21/1955. “Asleep in Jesus” Pillans, Mildred Catherine, 08/22/1909 - 07/23/1980. “In loving memory” Pillans, William Gordon, 01/30/1945 - 04/07/2008; h/o Delores Pillans, William Pruitt, 11/10/1911 - 01/21/1970. “In loving memory” Pillans, Mozelle Elizabeth (Burleson) 10/23/1913-12/27/2000 *O* Pillans, Willie Darden 04/09/1907-06/01/1997 *O* Roberts, Florence F., 02/26/1895 - 07/??/1976 *O* Robinson, Bob C., 06/21/1924 - 06/02/2001 Robinson, Marye Elnor (Clark), 07/15/1914 - 03/07/2006; w/o John Deward *O* Rogers, Opal Jewel Sawyer 03/10/1916 - 06/??/2005 *O* Roun, Dorothy Maurine, 08/18/1914 - 09/12/2000 Roun, William Braxton, 11/09/1913 - 01/27/1967; md. 08/03/1949. “At Rest” Rouse, Frank L., 12/10/1906 - 04/04/1985 Rouse, Frank Lewis, Jr., “Frankie,” 10/14/1940 - ??/??/????; md. 03/24/1962. Ps. 23, “In Loving Memory” Rouse, Gladys Erlene (Anderson), 11/04/1913 - 02/19/2005; md. 12/27/1929; w/o Frank *O* Rouse, Linda Louise Ray “Bebe,” 04/10/1945 - 01/24/2001; md. 03/24/1962 Rucas, Phyllis Darlene, 09/01/1929 - 04/19/2001. “Mother” Sherrard, George Emery, 12/08/1845 - 05/23/1899; Confederate Veteran Shanks, Emily Milissa 04/03/1855-09/04/1921 *D* Sims, Mattie Lou, 1910 - 1994 Sims, John Elmo, 1911 - 1989 Slade, Vera [B. Blackston] 12/24/1896 - 07/26/1986 *O*; w/o Cossie S. Slade, Willis Gordon 05/26/1920-10/11/1971 h/o Mona Smith, LaUna (DuBose) Coonrod, 01/25/1940 - 06/18/2007; w/o William *O* Smotherman, Naniruth Garrett, 06/05/1915 - 05/07/2001 Sprott, Lucille (Clark), 02/04/1923 - 03/01/2008; w/o Troy Oliver Sprott, Troy Oliver, 10/17/1921 - 10/31/1994; h/o Lucille Clark*O* Steele [Steele 1-3] Steele, Betty Pauline, 02/24/1933 - 06/12/2002 Steele, Helen (Miller), 09/08/1940 - 02/27/2005; w/o Joel Steele *O* Steele, Richard W., 09/30/1917 - 03/21/2006; h/o Johnnie Steele. WWII *O* Steele, Robert James, 04/12/1917 - 04/20/1999 Sullivan, Susan (Longorio), 03/14/1978 - 09/28/2007 Thompson, William Cleburn, 05/12/1899 - 11/15/1980 *O* Tisdale, Andrew, 01/12/1879 - 01/22/1958 Tisdale, Edward Neil, 06/04/1913 - 08/30/2002 *O* Tisdale, Esther, 07/07/1884 - 05/03/1957 Tisdale, Martha A[deline Jones] 05/15/1872 - 08/24/1951 w/o Wm. Hogan Tisdale, William Hogan 03/16/1869 - 12/07/1957 h/o Martha A. Treen, Watt Edward 01/02/1961 - 12/29/1989 Tucker, Elbert Fowler 02/02/1919 - 06/05/1995; md. 08/01/1947; Maj. U. S. Air Force, WWII; Korea Tucker, Robert K. 11/06/1951 - 10/15/1989. Major USMC USAF; Fighter Pilot; Top Gun Tucker, Rosa Kate Steele 06/30/1926 - 09/09/2001 Turner, Josephine Glass, 01/01/1919 - 06/02/2004; md. 12/12/1945 *O* Turner, Vernon W., 10/05/1919 - 01/09/1988; md. 12/12/1945 Vinet, "Clessie" Ruth Middleton, ca. 1922 - 11/02/2000 *O* Ward, Marie (Anderson), 11/01/1932 - 09/12/2000 *O* Williams, George Washington, 11/24/1843 - 02/17/1927 Williams, Mollie Horne, ??/??/1871 - 08/05/1924 Williams, Nancy Adeline Lee, 05/24/1845 - 05/09/1901 Wrever, Mattie G. (McDaniel), 12/17/1902 - 04/21/2000 *O* ==================================================== NOTES: ==================================================== KNOWN UNMARKED GRAVES: ==================================================== ABBREVIATIONS: s/o = son of; d/o = daughter of; w/o = wife of; h/o = husband of y = year; mo or m = month; d = day(s); TX = Texas; Cav = Cavalry CO = Company; Reg = Regiment; WWI = World War I; WWII = World War II; CSA = Confederate States of America *D* = Death Record on this website *O* = Obituary on this website *P* = Photo of tombstone on this website *S* = SSDI on this website