Historic African American Cemetery Resources DreamWeek San Antonio Event

Saturday, January 20, 2024
11:00 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Northern Hills Elementary School Cafeteria,
13901 Higgins Road, San Antonio, TX 78217
Format: In person panel (recorded for later viewing) and site visit

From 2015 to the present, extensive efforts have been made to document and protect three
rare, and endangered, century old African American cemeteries located within the boundaries of
City Council District 10, represented by Councilman Marc Whyte:
Griffin Family Cemetery
Hockley-Clay Family Cemetery
Winters-Jackson-Anthony Cemetery

District 10 Councilman and staff collaborated with descendants of the cemeteries and
landscape architect and architect, Everett Fly, in building a coalition of neighbors, adjacent
property owners, businesses, city departments, and interested citizens for the purpose of
physically protecting and restoring original elements and boundaries. Each of the cemetery
properties was donated from land owned by formerly enslaved, and free, African Americans.
Archaeological tools and techniques have been employed to verify evidence of burials.
Historical and genealogical research has documented civic and cultural contributions of the
extended families across the Bexar County region.

In 2022 the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) officially designated the
Hockley-Clay Cemetery as a local “Cultural Heritage District.” OHP also acknowledged the
significance, genealogical and geographic relationships between the Griffin Family Cemetery
and the Winters-Jackson-Anthony Cemetery, also in District 10.

A virtual round table forum will be held to report on the collaborative process used to document
the cemeteries as significant cultural landscapes and position the properties for additional
historic designation.

The panel will include the following:
Clint McKenzie,
Project Archaeologist/Project Archivist,
UTSA Center for Archaeological Research

Claudia R. Guerra | (she/her/ella)
Cultural Historian
City of San Antonio, Office of Historic Preservation

The moderator of the panel:
Everett L. Fly
Landscape Architect/Architect
2014 National Humanities Medalist

And the Griffin, Hockley-Clay and Winters family descendants

The discussion will highlight significant historic African American resources in Bexar County and
issues facing endangered and underrepresented properties. Topics will include heirs property,
community education of the significance of black settlements and cemeteries, a status report on
the ‘Cultural Heritage Designation,” and the proposed national “African American Burial Grounds
Network Act”.

The public will be permitted to access the Hockley-Clay Cemetery site from 11:30pm – 1:30 pm.
The cemetery site is not ADA accessible. It is recommended that visitors wear sturdy, closed
toe, walking/hiking shoes.