On March 16, the Kohrville Community Association held a ceremony in honor of Willis Wood Cemetery in north Houston being recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as a Historic Texas Cemetery. A commission plaque dedicated to the cemetery—founded in 1873 by African American farmer Willis Wood—was unveiled at the ceremony.

Willis Wood Cemetery is an important part of local American history, said Joanne Green, the president of the Kohrville Community Association, via a March 19 email.

“The ancestors came out of an era of injustice,” Green said. “[Through] it all they still persevered and built a life for their families. Some of the families to date are still benefiting today [from] what the ancestors put in place back in 1873.”

Wood moved from Mississippi—with five other emancipated families—to Piney Point in central Houston around 1867, according to a March 16 event program and the historical commission plaque. In 1873, after working to save up money, Wood and his brother, Jacob, purchased land in north Houston for farming. Wood donated 1 acre of land for a family cemetery, which is known as Willis Wood Cemetery today.

Wood died in 1926 and was buried in Amos Cemetery East, which lies about 3 miles from Willis Wood Cemetery. Jacob Wood is buried at Willis Wood Cemetery.


Burials can still take place at the cemetery, Green said. The cemetery is maintained by the Kohrville Community Amos Cemetery Association, according to the event program.