Community DN Omegas clean historic Oak Park Cemetery

Defender News Service

Recently, 50-plus members of the Mu Mu Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., cleaned a large section of the historic Oak Park Cemetery located on 8400 Hirsch Road. Te cemetery is currently in dire need of maintenance. Chapter member Don Holloway said his organization was looking for a community project and contacted the Oak Park Cemetery Association, a group of descendants who have family members buried in the cemetery.

Te before and afer photos of the cemetery reveal the Omegas made an incredibly signifcant impact in the burial ground’s appearance.

“We are so pleased about the hard work the Omegas put in,” said Debra Blacklock-Sloan, an Oak Park Cemetery Association board member. “And they were very interested in the cemetery’s history.”

Teams were led by Holloway, Chazz Newman and Alton C. Guidry, basileus (president) of the organization. Cemetery preservation veterans Lloyd Prince and Charles Cook of Olivewood Cemetery were also on hand to assist the chapter.

Oak Park Cemetery was established in 1930 exclusively for “Negro Houstonians” by the Oak Park Cemetery Association and the American Trust Company, two white organizations. One reason for establishing the burial ground was to undermine the conditions of existing Black cemeteries and drive trafc to Oak Park. Another was to maintain the segregated system of burials.

Te original burial ground consisted of 40 acres. Oak Park Cemetery Association later sold several plots to a Black minister’s alliance. In 1932, 27 acres in the cemetery’s eastern section were designated as Golden Gate Cemetery.

Oak Park is the oldest-known cemetery in Houston’s Trinity Gardens area. Many well-known educators, ministers, businessmen and veterans are interred there.

“For decades African-American cemeteries have endured blatant disrespect due to commercial construction, encroachment, street paving, illegal disinterment and vandalism. African-American cemeteries are signifcant sacred places with a unique, cultural heritage and history. It is especially important to preserve, protect, maintain, and identify them,” Blacklock-Sloan shared.

“As more and more African Americans delve into learning their own history it is imperative that the fnal resting places of their early ancestors remain intact,” added Tanya Debose, another Oak Park Cemetery Association board member.

“Tis issue of erasure is so prevalent across America that national alliances have formed to help support people across America to reclaim, recover and restore African American burial sites.”

The Oak Park Cemetery Association is looking for descendants to assist them with maintenance, documenting and preserving the cemetery. Tey are also challenging other members of the “Divine Nine” to volunteer, as well. Visit https://www.facebook.com/oakparkcemetery.

See members at work.