Fort Bend ISD announced Nov. 6 that the ground blessing for the Sugar Land 95 will be held Sunday, Nov. 17 at the James Reese Career and Technical Center.
The Sugar Land 95 are the historic remains of 95 people who were discovered at the center's construction site nearly two years ago. The Sugar Land 95 would have died between 1879-1912 and are believed to have been part of the convict labor leasing system practiced in Texas during this time.
The district has a contract with Missouri City Funeral Directors at Glen Park to properly rebury the Sugar Land 95 where they were discovered. A date for reburial has not been set yet. However, the burial will take place privately with a public memorial event to follow, according to a release from the district.
The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Performances and a candlelight walk will take place, according to the release.
“This has been an unprecedented journey for Fort Bend ISD, and the time has now come for us to lay the Sugar Land 95 to rest,” FBISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said in the release. “These 95 souls suffered a grave injustice during their time on Earth, but we remain committed to ensuring that their lives are not forgotten and that our students will learn about this part of our history for generations to come.”