Heritage
Wortham Bend Cemetery is a Historic Texas Cemetery. A plaque to this dedication is located in the center of the cemetery by the pavillion.
It reads as follows:
"Historic Texas Cemetery ◾ Texas Historical Commission ◾ Wortham Bend Cemetery
Tennessee native William Green Duke Wortham came to Texas around 1854. His wife, Charlotte Coke, whom he wed in 1841, was sister to Texas Governor Richard Coke. The couple settled in this area, and the community that developed here was named for Wortham.
This site was in use as a cemetery as early as 1864, when Sarah Bird was interred here. Several graves are marked only with rocks and may pre-date 1864. Another early grave is that of J. B. M. Howard (d. 1865), whose tombstone indicates he was killed by 'The Quantrel Men', referring to the Civil War vigilante W.C. Quantrill. James W. and William N. Wortham, descendents of the original settlers, formally donated the land to the community for use as a burial ground in 1874.
Over the years, various individuals cared for the burial ground. Carrie Crump Hanna oversaw the maintenance for approximately 40 years, and her daughter Mary Hanna Bryant later did much to protect and expand the cemetery. Family members, as well as the cemetery association, continue to care for the burial ground and the more than 300 graves.
Historic Texas Cemetery - 2004"
Other documentation about the cemetery was found in the cemetery records, which includes the following:
Carrie Crump Hanna added the cyclone fence around the original land. Later, Mary Hanna Bryant added more land to the cemetery. Joan Bryant Donaldson added the brick entrance to the cemetery, built the pavillion, fenced the new land addition from Mary Hanna Bryant, built a new monument for J. B. M. Howard's grave, and graveled the road through the cemetery.
Many funeral homes and the general public have commonly misnamed the cemetery. Often obituaries, funeral homes, and the general public will call the cemetery "Oak Grove Cemetery". This is in part due to the location being on Oak Grove Loop and also being located behind Oak Grove Baptist Church. The church is not a part of the cemetery, nor responsible for the cemetery. This responsibility resides with the Wortham Bend Cemetery Association.
Research has found an Oak Grove Cemetery, McLennan County, Texas established in 1889. This cemetery is located on the opposite side of the county and is not the same cemetery. During research, several interments were listed in public media as interred in one cemetery, but actually in the other. Please note if you do not find and interment, refer to the other cemetery.