About Us

ABOUT OLIVEWOOD

About Descendants of Olivewood

Nestled along White Oak Bayou in Houston’s historic First Ward lies Olivewood Cemetery, the city’s first incorporated African American cemetery, established in 1875 just ten years after Emancipation. For decades, nature and neglect overtook the grounds, burying headstones beneath dense vegetation. Today, through the work of descendants, volunteers, and community partners, Olivewood is being reclaimed and preserved as a sacred site of memory.

Restoration & Preservation

Education & Connection

Honoring Legacy

Cultural Landmark

Our Mission

Descendants of Olivewood, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, operation, and maintenance of Olivewood Cemetery for present and future generations. We view Olivewood not only as a burial ground but as a historic, educational, cultural, and charitable landmark, a place where family, memory, and community endure.

CONTACT US

ABOUT OLIVEWOOD

About Descendants of Olivewood

Nestled along White Oak Bayou in Houston’s historic First Ward lies Olivewood Cemetery, the city’s first incorporated African American cemetery, established in 1875 just ten years after Emancipation. For decades, nature and neglect overtook the grounds, burying headstones beneath dense vegetation. Today, through the work of descendants, volunteers, and community partners, Olivewood is being reclaimed and preserved as a sacred site of memory.

Restoration & Preservation

Education & Connection

Honoring Legacy

Cultural Landmark

Our Mission

Descendants of Olivewood, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, operation, and maintenance of Olivewood Cemetery for present and future generations. We view Olivewood not only as a burial ground but as a historic, educational, cultural, and charitable landmark, a place where family, memory, and community endure.

CONTACT US

Since 1875

SUPPORT

History of Olivewood

Founded in 1875 by members of Houston’s early African American community, Olivewood became the final resting place for thousands of freedmen, community leaders, and their families.

Among the notable burials are:

Reverend Elias Dibble, the first Black ordained Methodist minister in the U.S. and founder of Trinity Methodist Church

Wade Hampton Logan, early pastor of Trinity and presiding elder for the Methodist Church’s regional districts

James D. Ryan, philanthropist and educator, Dean of Education in Houston

Dr. Charles B. Johnson, known as “The Singing Dentist” and author of Houston is a Grand Old Town (1927)

Alongside them rest shopkeepers, seamstresses, laborers, educators, preachers, mothers, fathers, soldiers, and children. Together, they form a profound record of Houston’s African American heritage.

Since 1875

SUPPORT

History of Olivewood

Founded in 1875 by members of Houston’s early African American community, Olivewood became the final resting place for thousands of freedmen, community leaders, and their families.

Among the notable burials are:

Reverend Elias Dibble, the first Black ordained Methodist minister in the U.S. and founder of Trinity Methodist Church

Wade Hampton Logan, early pastor of Trinity and presiding elder for the Methodist Church’s regional districts

James D. Ryan, philanthropist and educator, Dean of Education in Houston

Dr. Charles B. Johnson, known as “The Singing Dentist” and author of Houston is a Grand Old Town (1927)

Alongside them rest shopkeepers, seamstresses, laborers, educators, preachers, mothers, fathers, soldiers, and children. Together, they form a profound record of Houston’s African American heritage.

♰ When we preserve Olivewood, we honor the lives that built our future ♰ When we preserve Olivewood, we honor the lives that built our future ♰

Engagement

Education and Outreach

Olivewood is more than a cemetery; it is an open-air archive and classroom. Descendants of Olivewood hosts:

Walking tours and educational programs exploring African American burial traditions, symbolism, and Houston history

Collaborations with researchers and genealogists to document family histories and preserve records

Community presentations for schools, churches, libraries, and civic groups

Engagement

Education and Outreach

Olivewood is more than a cemetery; it is an open-air archive and classroom. Descendants of Olivewood hosts:

Walking tours and educational programs exploring African American burial traditions, symbolism, and Houston history

Collaborations with researchers and genealogists to document family histories and preserve records

Community presentations for schools, churches, libraries, and civic groups

Visiting Olivewood

Olivewood Cemetery is open by appointment only during daylight hours. To schedule a visit or group tour, please contact us through our Contact page.


Regular volunteer workdays occur on the first and third Saturday of each month, and visitors are welcome to join these efforts.

A Community at Rest

“The first generation knows;

The second generation remembers;

The third generation forgets.”


Olivewood’s legacy reminds us that memory must be preserved to endure. Through restoration and storytelling, Descendants of Olivewood works to ensure that no name, no family, and no history is forgotten.

Our Database

Explore Our Database

At the heart of Olivewood is the record of more than 4,000 burials. Our searchable database allows families, researchers, and community members to learn more about the men, women, and children interred here. With every name and story preserved, we continue the work of connecting descendants to their history and honoring those who came before us.

CONTACT US

Our Database

Explore Our Database

At the heart of Olivewood is the record of more than 4,000 burials. Our searchable database allows families, researchers, and community members to learn more about the men, women, and children interred here. With every name and story preserved, we continue the work of connecting descendants to their history and honoring those who came before us.

CEMETERY RECORDS

GET IN TOUCH

Stay Connected with Us

We invite you to explore our website, learn more about Olivewood’s history, and join us in this important work. Follow us on social media for updates, browse our database to discover family stories, or sign up to volunteer at the next clean-up day. Together, we can ensure that Olivewood remains a place of remembrance, reflection, and community.

CONTACT US