Bethany Cemetery

Bethany Cemetery was founded in 1892 when William M. Tears, John M. Holland, Henderson Rollins, and Allen Bradley purchased property from C.W. Jones to establish a burial ground for the African American community in Austin. The cemetery was created in response to segregation at Austin's existing cemeteries. The five founding officers of the Bethany Cemetery Company included men of significant historical importance: William H. Holland was instrumental in founding Prairie View University and the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Institute for Colored Youth, while William M. Tears became one of Austin's first African American policemen and later founded Tears Mortuary in 1901. Though the cemetery faced hardship beginning in 1928 when the city opened Evergreen Cemetery and some families relocated their loved ones, Bethany Cemetery remains an important historical site. Today, the Bethany Cemetery Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, continues its mission to preserve and protect the cemetery's historic heritage through preservation efforts and community engagement.