History sits etched in stone speaking to the stories of the slaves who rest in the sacred space at College Park Memorial Cemetery.
HOUSTON — For more than 120 years, thehas sat hidden in a quiet corner off West Dallas in Houston's Fourth Ward.
"This cemetery is just as important as any other cemetery, as Arlington Cemetery outside of D.C.," said Anthony Smith, a cemetery caretaker."Dr. Terrell was a freed slave he became a doctor his wife was a nurse and he established Riverside Hospital," explained Pastor Robert Robertson as he walked past a gravesite.
"It's just nice to be able to be out here and keep it up and keep the grass cut and keep it looking decent," said Smith. But that upkeep has been easier said than done for Smith who's spent the last nine years dedicating his free time to the upkeep of this space on a donated riding lawnmower.He has been assisted by his 5-year-old son for the last few years, but since November, that hasn't been the case after his lawnmower stopped working.Leaving headstones and graves nestled in overgrown weeds and shrubs.
"Hopefully we’ll be able to get one or two more donated to the cemetery, that would be a big help because it’ll be two or three out here at one time instead of one for the 5 acres," said Smith."You know the most amazing thing about Jack Yates is that Jack Yates is the founder of the church I pastor, you know, Bethel Baptist Church that burned down in Fourth Ward," Robertson said.
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