Unnamed cemetery restored east of Thrall

  • Peggy Bailey, left, visits with Teresa Shipley, right, as they spend time in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The area is near County Road 473, east of Thrall. For years, this unnamed cemetery was neglected, but buried there are descendants of Shipley, including her great-great-great grandfather, Jose Garcia, born in the mid-1800s, laid to rest here in the early 1900s.
    Peggy Bailey, left, visits with Teresa Shipley, right, as they spend time in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The area is near County Road 473, east of Thrall. For years, this unnamed cemetery was neglected, but buried there are descendants of Shipley, including her great-great-great grandfather, Jose Garcia, born in the mid-1800s, laid to rest here in the early 1900s.
  • Mike Hopf, left, one of eight area trustees overseeing the site, visits with Eric Arellano in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
    Mike Hopf, left, one of eight area trustees overseeing the site, visits with Eric Arellano in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
  • A gravesite marker is mostly intact in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
    A gravesite marker is mostly intact in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
  • Peggy Bailey, a Sun City resident and member of the Williamson County Cemetery Restoration Volunteers, inspects gravesites in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
    Peggy Bailey, a Sun City resident and member of the Williamson County Cemetery Restoration Volunteers, inspects gravesites in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
  • Delores Moreno pauses from her cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent to the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The cross at right is the burial site for Jose Garcia, her great-great-great grandfather, born in the mid-1800s, living until the early-1900s.
    Delores Moreno pauses from her cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent to the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The cross at right is the burial site for Jose Garcia, her great-great-great grandfather, born in the mid-1800s, living until the early-1900s.
  • Teresa Shipley, left, and her aunt, Julia Garcia, right, discuss cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The cross at right is the burial site of Jose Garcia.
    Teresa Shipley, left, and her aunt, Julia Garcia, right, discuss cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The cross at right is the burial site of Jose Garcia.
  • Teresa Shipley, doing cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025, looks at a barely legible grave marker found in the dirt.
    Teresa Shipley, doing cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025, looks at a barely legible grave marker found in the dirt.
  • Artificial flowers rest on top of a dilapidated grave marker in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The area is near County Road 473 east of Thrall.
    Artificial flowers rest on top of a dilapidated grave marker in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The area is near County Road 473 east of Thrall.
  • Victoria Arellano, left, her aunt Teresa Shipley, center, and Delores Moreno, Teresa’s first cousin, back right, gather leaves in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Lawrence Chapel Cemetery is seen behind them.
    Victoria Arellano, left, her aunt Teresa Shipley, center, and Delores Moreno, Teresa’s first cousin, back right, gather leaves in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Lawrence Chapel Cemetery is seen behind them.
  • Thomas Arellano, front, his father Eric Arellano, back left, and family member Delores Moreno, back right, help with cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
    Thomas Arellano, front, his father Eric Arellano, back left, and family member Delores Moreno, back right, help with cleanup work in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
  • A burial site is seen in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
    A burial site is seen in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

    Williamson County Cemetery Restoration Volunteers spent time in an unnamed cemetery adjacent the Lawrence Chapel Cemetery on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The area is near County Road 473, east of Thrall.   

    For years, this unnamed cemetery was neglected, but buried there are descendants of Teresa Shipley, one of the people at the cleanup, including her great-great-great grandfather, Jose Garcia, born in the mid-1800s, laid to rest here in the early 1900s.  Members of Shipley’s family from around Texas were doing cleanup work here today.  Many of the burial sites are in a state of disrepair, markers broken, etc.   

    The Lawrence Chapel Cemetery dates back to 1838. 

    Photos by Andy Sharp

    Photos
    Thrall