County Redraws Cemetery Boundaries to Protect Graves

The Young County Commissioners Court voted on Oct. 14 to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Graham to preserve the William P. Johnson Cemetery and adjacent land after a ground-penetrating radar survey indicated potential grave sites outside the current fence.

Under the pact, the city grants the county perpetual access to manage and maintain the site.

The county will remove the city’s parking lot west of the cemetery, import soil, and extend the fence westward with a double gate for maintenance access.

Officials also discussed shifting the drive farther west to allow equipment to pull in, and keeping the area undeveloped to avoid disturbing remains in the historic Black cemetery.

Judge Win Graham said the county has already closed the cemetery to future burials and rehabbed fencing and grading; the new agreement effectively treats the areas with suspected graves as part of the cemetery grounds.

The radar indicated possible graves north on county land, west on city land, and a potential site east on TxDOT right-ofway. County crews will coordinate with TxDOT on any east-side changes.