WARNING - This cemetery is a traditionally Africian-American burial ground.
There is another Hopewell cemetery located in Freestone County near Teague that
is a traditionally Anglo-American burial ground.
Status: Active
Special thanks to Wilbur Thirkield (Bill) Bonner-Titus for this information:
Church: Hope Well Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1874 in a log
cabin on land given by Ned and Chloe Titus. J.A. and F.E. Hill later donated an
acre of land to the Northern Texas Methodist Episcopal Conference for Hope Well
Methodist Church on January 29, 1881. On July 28, 1968, Hope Well Methodist
Church merged with Jones Chapel United Methodist Church in
Fairfield.
Community: African American established Brown's Creek Community after
Emacipation. The Brown's Creek or Titus Farm Community was aroung Big Brown
Creek, where the Hope Well Methodist Episcopal Church, Hope Well Cemetery, Titus
Farm School, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Heroines of Jericho, and F.A. and A.M.
Masons were established.
Background: Henry and Susan Titus on July 7, 1888, gave the land for the
cemetery, where their son, Arthur, was buried. The cemetery has been in use ever
since.
Cemetery Association: Hope Well Memorial Cemetery Association
Annual Memorial: Hope Well Cemetery Fund Committee plans to have its annual
memorial observation on Saturday, June 23 2007.
Location: Hope Well is an active African American cemetery that is located on
the northern shores of Fairfield State Lake, adjacent to the southern side of
Big Brown Mining Plant.
Directions: To find it, one should go east on Main Street of Fairfield until the
street turns to FM Road 488, after approximately 2 miles, FM 488 will divide
with FM 2570 to the right and 488 to the left. Take 2570 and remain on it for
approximately ten or eleven miles when one will be at the Big Brown Mining
Plant. Turn right on the first road that opens to the right. Proceed to the
guard house and request a key to the cemetery. Follow the road to the left,
around the plant on the shore of the lake. One will find a locked gate and a
chain link fence around the cemetery.
Oldest Marked Grave: Arthur Titus July 7, 1888
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Thanks to Wilbur Thirkield Bonner-Titus for submitting this. This is a report
from the Hope Well Memorial Cemetery Association:]
"Center Juneteenth Celebration Report
The staff and members of the A. M. Hunter Titus Charitable Cultural Center,
Inc., hereafter in this report referred to as the Center, appreciates the
support that it received during its first coumty-wide Juneteenth celebration
which was held in Freestone County, Texas, during the week of June 17 - 23,
2007.
The Center decided to sponsor an annual celebration because it endorses the idea
of African Americans being thankfull for its emancipation, its freedom from
slavery in all of its manifestations. It also emphasizes education and
achievment and believes that the levels of achievment that have been reached
should be heralded and celebrated. Organizations and individuals were invited
to participate by sponsoring celebrations at their own home sites.
Dung the week, individuals and families held their celebrations and informed the
Center of these activities The Center sponsored a grave marker installation for
Mrs. Doris (Dotsie) Dailey celebration on June 23, 2007.
The installation ceremony was held in conjunction with the Hope Well Cemetery's
memorial day celebration, in the arbor of the cemetery, Fairfield, Texas, 11
a.m., with Elawrence Gabriel presiding.
The schedule of activities including devotions of congregational singing and the
23rd Psalms led by Mistress of Ceremonies Sherry A. Brackens, prayer by Mack A.
Hunter, a testimonial session during which persons shared memories and reasons
for their being thankful, reading of the history by Ramona Terry Tanksley and
Delilah Terry, financial reports, a sermon by Reverend Darrell Houston, Sr.,
Pastor of Jones Chapel United Methodist Church, Fairfield, Texas, and the
installation exercise with Wilbur Thirkield Titus, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Center presiding.
He reported the progress that has been made on surveying the cemetery, the
results of which will be posted on Texas Archives on the internet and included
in His book SEE HOW WE HAVE COME: A Profile of Courage and Achievment which he
is writing. He made assignments that will facilitate the completion of the early
survey.
The Chairman of the Board emphasized the importance of the people of the United
States, especially Africans, being grateful for emancipation, without which we
would not have life as we know it.
A directory was begun. This directory will contain the names and contact
information of persons who have relatives and/or friends buried in Hope Well
Cemetery. This directory will be added to the files of the Center. It will be
invaluable in the Center's work of assisting cemeteries.
Recommendations
With the improvement of the Hope Well Cemetery in mind, the Center made the
following recommendations:
1. Place a sign at the intersection of 2570 and the road that leads to the
cemetery to make it easier to find the cemetery,
2. Place restraining walls on the sides of the ramp, the narrow road that
crosses the water leading to the gate of the cemetery to prevent a horrible
accident that is just waiting to happen,
3. Place the name of the cemetery over the cemetery's gate.
4. Organization the campus of the cemetery so that there will be designated
parking, an divide the space allotted to burying into plots that can be sold.
The income could be used to support the cemetery.
5. Move the date of the memorial to May to avoid the heat, if the present format
is to be continued.
The Center committed itself to assist with any or all of these projects if it is
invited.
The chairman explained that the reason for the exercise was to help a 91 years
old veteran of WWII, Andrew Dailey, who was overseas when his mother died,
realize his dream of honoring his mother by placing a grave marker with suitable
ceremony at her grave site.
Virgil Keeton, Jr. read a poem, "The Perfect Creation," by Ron Anthony, and
dedicated it to the memory of Mrs. Dailey. A copy was given to the veteran,
Andrew Dailey. Betty J. Hunter sand Malotte's "The Lord's Prayer, and Reverend
Houston spoke words of dedication. Photographs of the marker and other scenes of
interested were made.
Sack lunches, accompanied by socialization, were served.
These are the persons who registered: Ashley Betts, Billy Mack Betts, Dallas,
TX; Charles and Tracey Betts, Waco; Sherry Brackens; Minnie J. Canady; Andrew
Dailey, Bakersfield, CA; Katie Mae Dickens, Quannah, TX; Mary Lou Dickens,
Quannah, TX; Sharon Dixon, Wortham, TX; Elawrence Gabriel; Nell Gabriel; Martha
Govan; Anna J. Henderson; Arne Henderson; Darrell Houston, Sylvia Houston;
Katina Gatson, Paulette Gatson, Betty J. Hunter, Sylmar, CA; Mack A. Hunter,
Sylmas, CA; Fannie Jo and Eva Lois Jordan, DaJewell Keeton; Willie C. Keeton,
Dallas, TX; Virgil Keeton, Jr.; Christine Manning, James Milford McIlveen;
Loreta Phillips, Dallas, TX; Louie T. Phllips, Dallas, TX; Christi Pendergrass,
Teague, TX; Jewellene Richard; Carlton R. Rischer, Streetman, TX; Ramona
Tanksley, Lantana, TX; Delilah Terry, Dallas, TX; Jeremiah Titus, Jr.; Johnnie
Harold Titus; Wilbur T. (Bill) Titus; Floyd and Florida Turner, Dallas, TX;
Those who attended reported having a delightful time.
The Center plans to sponsor a celebration that will be more comprenhive and
festive in 2008. Watch for announcements.
Reading from left to right on the front row are Andrew Dailey, Minnie Jo Canady,
Wilbur T. (Bill) Bonner-Titus, Florida Turner, Anna J. Henderson, Unrecognized,
Elawrence Gabriel, and Sylvia Houston. Back Row, lleft to right are Charles
Betts, Tracey Betts, Jewelene Richard, UNKwn, Fannia Jo Jordan, Billy Mack
Betts, Milford McIlveen, Loreta Phillips, Jeremiah Titus, Jr.,Louie Phillips,
Nell Gabriel, Sherry Brackens, and Reverend Darrell Houston."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE - A survey of the cemetery is being attempted at this time.