Oakwood Cemetery

   Oakwood Cemetery was originally a 1,600-square foot plot that was deeded to the city of Huntsville in 1847 by the founder of Huntsville, Pleasant Gray. It existed as early as 1846 and its oldest section predates the founding of the city. It is comprised of six sections: the Old Cemetery, which is 3.3 acres; the African American cemetery—or “Negro Cemetery” where a lot of slaves and former slaves were buried; the New Cemetery, which was expanded in both 1887 and 1910 and is 5.4 acres; the Addickes Addition, which was added on in 1925 and is where Sam Houston’s beloved Steamboat House was originally located before being moved to the Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s compound; the Mayes Addition, which is the newest section of the cemetery and is the only section with plots open for new burials; and the Wildwood Sanctuary, which is a bird sanctuary donated by the Powell family where several members of the family are buried and also the location of the bronze Comforting Christ statue, also known as “Black Jesus”.

 

  A number of prominent individuals are buried there, most notably General Sam Houston, who was put to rest there in 1863 after dying at the age of 70 from pneumonia. Other prominent figures buried there include Henderson King Yoakum, a man who was a lawyer, a law teacher at Austin College, a friend to Sam Houston, and the first to write a comprehensive history of Texas; John W. Thomason, Jr., a writer, author, illustrator, and a military officer in both World War I and II; and George Fitzhugh, one of America’s first sociologists and who was also a well-known slavery apologist. Joshua Houston, who was slave to Sam and Margaret Houston until he was freed in 1862, is also buried there. Prior to his death, he was a leading citizen ofHuntsville, one of the first black city aldermen and land owners, and a leader in the endeavor to educate members of the black community.Many graves in the cemetery bear the death dates of 1853 and 1867 due to yellow fever epidemics that broke out in Huntsville during both of those years.