On Saturday, the Conroe Community Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery, was honored with a Texas Historical Marker. Over 200 people, including descendants, historians, civic leaders and local residents, attended the Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony. The historic cemetery has graves dating back to the 1890s for emancipated slaves, educators, railroad workers, sawmill workers and the only confirmed Buffalo Soldier buried in Montgomery County.

Meridith Kohut documented the moments of connection among descendants — some who met that day for the first time, groups like Buffalo Soldiers and docents of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Iota Zeta Chapter who were there in support, and the meticulously cared-for graves that represent a wide range of influential community members from Montgomery County’s history.

1James Charles Pitts III speaks at the Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony to recognize the historical significance of the Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. He is the grandson of James Charles Pitts Sr., an early African American educator, who is buried in the cemetery. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
(Left) Peggy J. Matson Taylor, the Great-Granddaughter of Laura McNeese Henderson, wipes away tears during an emotional Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony to recognize the historical significance of the Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. Ms. Matson-Taylor’s grandmother led a pivotal life, and is buried in the cemetery. She was born into slavery, but was able to own land and pass on the American Dream of land ownership to her descendants. (Right) Conroe Community Cemetery Restoration Project branded mementos were presented to descendants of people buried at the Conroe Community Cemetery, during the dedication of a new Texas Historical Marker on February 15, 2025. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
(Top left) Flowers laid on Laura McNeese Henderson’s grave in Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. Ms. McNeese-Henderson (1854-1941) led a pivotal life. She was born into slavery, but was able to buy 40 acres of land in 1898, and pass on the American Dream of land ownership to her descendants upon her death. (Bottom right) Buffalo Soldiers were among over 200 people, including descendants, historians, civic leaders and local residents who attended the Texas Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony to recognize the historical significance of the Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. The historic African-American cemetery has graves dating back to the 1890s for emancipated slaves, educators, railroad workers, saw mill workers, and the only confirmed Buffalo Soldier buried in Montgomery County. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
Descendants of Laura McNeese Henderson hug each other after a Texas Historical Marker dedication at Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. Ms. McNeese-Henderson (1854-1941) led a pivotal, long, life before being buried in the cemetery. She was born into slavery, but was able to buy 40 acres of land in 1898, and pass on the American Dream of land ownership to her descendants upon her death. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
Trooper Billy Ray Smith and other Buffalo Soldiers share stories about the life of Sgt Luther James Dorsey, the only known Buffalo Soldier buried in Montgomery County, at his grave at the Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. Sgt Dorsey (1858-1873) enlisted when he was 21 years old. He joined Company E, 10th Calvary, US Army, known as the Buffalo Soldiers. He fought in confrontations with Native Americans and cattle thieves near the Pecos River. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
(Left) The burial grave of James Charles Pitts, Sr. (1876-1966) at the Conroe Community Cemetery on February 15, 2025. Mr. Pitts was a college graduate and the first principal of the first black school in Jefferson County, Texas. It opened in 1904 with 152 students and grew to 620 students by 1941. In 1942, the State of Texas recognized him as the leading educator of African-American students. He retired in 1960 as principal after 54 years of teaching. (Center) Flowers left for Dora Griffin Armstrong (1853-1918) on her burial grave at Conroe Community Cemetery on February 15, 2025. She was a landowner and worked as a wash woman in her home. She was married four times and had several children. Her elegant monument is a testament to her resourcefulness and the love of her family, according to historians that researched her life as part of the Conroe Community Cemetery Restoration Project. (Right) Seashells and glass were found adorning the grave of Lucy Green, a baby who lived less than a month in July of 1897. Glass objects were sometimes melted on the graves, and shells were often used in the burial rituals brought from Africa, by enslaved people. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
(Left) Keysha McCord, of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, teaches visitors about the life of Mittie J. Turner Campbell, (1875-1933)next to her burial grave at Conroe Community Cemetery on February 15, 2025. She was the founder and principal of the first African-American public school in Conroe. (Right) Descendants of Laura McNeese Henderson meet for the first time at her grave Conroe Community Cemetery, on February 15, 2025. The shared hugs and phone numbers after realizing they are related. Laura McNeese Henderson (1854-1941) led a pivotal life. She was born into slavery, but was able to buy 40 acres of land in 1898, and pass on the American Dream of land ownership to her descendants upon her death. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)
Barbara Dibble Shuler, Meriel Pitts Hawkins and James Charles Pitts III, descendants of people buried at the Conroe Community Cemetery, view the new Texas Historical Marker, after it was unveiled during its dedication ceremony on February 15, 2025. (Meridith Kohut for Houston Landing)

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Lexi Parra is a photo editor for Houston Landing. Before moving to Houston, she worked as an independent photojournalist in Caracas, Venezuela and New York, NY, and her work has been published in The New...