Damascus Cemetery is one of Titus County's early historic cemeteries. It was most probably founded in the 1850 in the Northwest part of the county. A Baptist Monitor article has perhaps the most factual description of the origin: “History records that Dr. and Mrs. Riddle (Dr. Isaac Rogers Riddle) has buried a child on what they thought was their land, but was actually on land belonging to Josh Stevens. Upon learning of this, Mr. Stevens deeded two acres of land for the church and cemetery on April 8, 1869. In 1889 J. W. and Florence Edmonds donated an additional one and one-half acres to the church. The Edmonds had lost a child and buried the child outside the cemetery on land belonging to them. When they sold out and moved, they gave the land to the church”.
Another historical document (source unknown) states: “On 12th August 1869 Joshua Stephens deeded one acre of land to 'The Missionary Baptist Church of Christ called Damascus' for the love of Christianity." This came about, according to stories from an “old timer,” because a family had buried their children on what the thought was church property and later found out it was Mr. Stephens land. Mr. Stephens, instead of having them move the graves, just gave an acre for the purpose of a graveyard to be used for that purpose 'Forever'! These deaths and burials may have been as early as 1857.
The cemetery is blessed with a beautiful, peaceful, and isolated setting. However it has been surrounded by the Texas Utility coal mine. A perpetual care fund assures the continued excellent maintenance of the fenced and landscaped grounds. An annual Memorial Service is held at the Damascus Missionary Baptist Church for the cemetery on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May.
Routine cemetery maintenance has no doubt resulted in some grave sites being lost, but many ways remain of marking known sites. A concentrated effort has resulted in the placement of at least 193 concrete slabs. Additionally, there was one native rock with an unreadable inscription, 3 concrete blocks, 2 concrete slabs with granite chips embedded spelling “HOBBS”, 7 native stones, a brick cairn, 3 concrete rounds, 3 petrified rocks, a concrete monument that was inscribed “Rest while friends in sorrow”, 1 brick, 2 slope-faced concrete blocks which appears to have been inscribed, five manufactured concrete markers on which the glass was broken and data missing, a broken flower pot that had the name “Annie May Denny” and rocks and concrete blocks, 2 concrete slabs approximately 2 ft. X 3 ft. that marked one grave site, and 2 red clay forms mounted in concrete that had on them: “In God we trust”.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM THE TITUS COUNTY COURTHOUSE:
Travel 0.3 mile west on West First Street to the intersection of Edwards Avenue. Turn right (north) on Edwards Avenue. Continue 3.8 miles north on Edwards Avenue -- across US 67, under Interstate 30, and across US 271 (where Edwards Avenue becomes Texas FM 1734). Continue 1.3 miles after crossing US 271 Bypass on Texas FM-1734 until Titus County Road 1135 intersects from the right (a sign marks the turn to the cemetery on the left side of the road). Turn right onto County Road 1135 and travel north for 0.4 mile. Damascus Missionary Baptist Church is on the right side of the road and the cemetery is on the left.
