An effort is underway at Mount Olive Cemetery to locate an estimated 80 unmarked graves.

Students from Texas State University are taking the first steps in an attempt to locate unmarked graves at Mount Olive Cemetery.

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

A long overdue effort to locate unmarked graves at Mount Olive Cemetery in Stephenville is underway.

City manager Allen Barnes told Beneath the Surface News that the first of three studies began on Wednesday.

“We are working with Texas State University to use ground penetrating radar to locate unmarked graves at Mount Olive Cemetery,” Barnes said. “It is believed there are as many as 80 unmarked graves.

“If they are found, we plan to place a stone at each one with the word ‘unknown.’”

The city is also working with Tarleton State University on the project, including Dr. Sherri Benn, vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

“Dr. Benn is going to be an integral part of this,” Barnes said. “She and her students will be working to help the city document the project.”

Mount Olive Cemetery is an African-American burial site that began and was fueled by deep-seated racism.

I have always been fascinated with its past and have written extensively about it during the course of my career.

The last story I wrote about Mount Olive Cemetery was published in 2019.

You can read it by clicking here.