DIGGING FOR DIGNITY: Honoring the 140th Anniversary of New Trinity Cemetery. Celebrating 1886–2026. By Pastor Kyev Tatum



DIGGING FOR DIGNITY: Honoring the 140th Anniversary of New Trinity Cemetery. Celebrating 1886–2026. By Pastor Kyev Tatum, New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth & Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas


TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS On Saturday, December 13, 2025, Tarrant County will witness two profound moments of remembrance, reflection, and historical restoration. At 11:00 a.m., American Legion Post 655 will host Wreaths Across America at New Trinity Cemetery in Haltom City to honor our nation’s fallen heroes. Then, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., the Tarrant County Coalition for Peace & Justice (TCCPJ) will host the Grand Opening of the Fred Rouse Memorial Park, a long-awaited tribute to the only known Black man lynched in Fort Worth.


On this day of collective memory and moral reckoning, we are proud to announce the launch of the Digging for Dignity Project, commemorating the 140th anniversary of New Trinity Cemetery—one of the oldest and most significant Black heritage sites in Texas.



A Sacred Landscape Born from Necessity and Love


For 140 years, New Trinity Cemetery has stood as a quiet monument to Black resilience, faith, and community survival. Its story begins in 1886 with the death of Rev. Greene Fretwell, a formerly enslaved man whose ministry anchored early Black religious life in Tarrant County. At that time, there was no Black cemetery in this part of the county. His widow, Mother Frances Fretwell, refused to allow her husband—or any Black person—to be buried without dignity.


Through donations collected from a devoted community, the trustees of Trinity Chapel Methodist Church purchased two acres in 1889, establishing both a worship space and a burial ground. Services were first held under a humble brush arbor, later replaced by a frame church. By the 1920s, burials expanded to adjacent land, now known as New Trinity Cemetery, and in 1931, additional property was designated as People’s Burial Park. Today, these three historic sites collectively form New Trinity Cemetery, a unified landscape of memory, sacrifice, and meaning.



A Resting Place for Heroes and History Makers


New Trinity holds the remains of more than 500 Black military pioneers, including men and women who served from the Civil War to the War on Terror. Buffalo Soldiers, World War I and II troops, Korean and Vietnam War veterans, and modern-day servicemembers rest here—many in modest or unmarked graves. Their courage, often overlooked in life, continues to safeguard our freedoms in death.


Among these heroes are members of the 805th Pioneer Infantry Regiment, a Black unit in World War I that served in construction, labor, and support roles behind the front lines in France. Several other Black pioneer infantry units—such as the 802nd, 808th, and 809th—also served during WWI, confronting both the perils of war abroad and systemic racism at home. Their service exemplifies perseverance, skill, and hope for civil rights. As part of the Digging for Dignity Project Commemoration, these soldiers will now be formally honored for their contributions.


The cemetery’s soil also bears witness to the tragic history of racial violence. Mr. Fred Rouse, the only known Black man lynched in Fort Worth, is interred here. His story, though incomplete, reminds us that justice is ongoing, local, and personal.



Also resting at New Trinity is Dr. Riley Andrew Ransom Sr., Fort Worth’s first Black physician, whose 40-year career transformed public health across North Texas. He did not die wealthy, but his legacy is priceless—establishing the earliest hospital serving Black residents, operating a pharmacy, mentoring generations, and bringing hope and healing during segregation. His presence elevates the cemetery as a monument to Black excellence, service, and perseverance.


Pastors, educators, midwives, farmers, business leaders, civic pioneers, mothers, fathers, and freedom fighters also rest in these sacred grounds. Every headstone—every unmarked grave—tells a story of courage, endurance, and humanity.



A Day of Remembrance, Reflection, and Renewal


This year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony at New Trinity Cemetery is more than symbolic. Volunteers will lay wreaths and recite the names of each veteran aloud, ensuring that no life given in service is forgotten. Two hours later, the Grand Opening of Fred Rouse Memorial Park will unite the community in acknowledgment of past injustices and in dedication to a more truthful, compassionate future.


These two events—honor and justice—are chapters in a shared narrative, intertwined with the history of New Trinity Cemetery itself.



Launching the Digging for Dignity Project


The Digging for Dignity Project is a community-wide effort to preserve, restore, and celebrate New Trinity Cemetery as it reaches 140 years. The project includes:

  • The Fence of Honor – a permanent tribute inspired by Florence Marie Rawls, Congressional Gold Medal recipient and member of the legendary 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

  • Texas Historical Recognition – pursuing designation as a Historic Texas Freedmen’s Cemetery through the Texas Historical Commission.

  • Mapping and Restoration – identifying, restoring, and documenting gravesites to ensure every ancestor, named or unnamed, is honored.

  • Education and Storytelling – creating tours, cultural programs, interpretive markers, and public events to illuminate the lives of veterans, civil rights pioneers, and community builders.

  • Community Partnerships – uniting churches, civic organizations, veteran groups, schools, historians, and public institutions to protect and preserve this legacy for future generations.




Why This Work Matters


“Digging for Dignity Project” is not merely about preserving a cemetery.

It is about restoring humanity.

It is about teaching truth.

It is about honoring ancestors who built the foundations of our communities, often without recognition or reward.


Their stories deserve light.

Their names deserve to be spoken.

Their resting place deserves respect.



A Call to the Community


As we approach 140 years of New Trinity Cemetery in 2026, we invite families, churches, veterans, civic leaders, educators, and all who cherish history to join this movement.


Let us preserve this sacred place.

Let us protect its stories.

Let us proclaim the dignity held in its soil.


The history of New Trinity Cemetery is not merely the story of a burial ground.

It is the history of a people.

It is the heartbeat of Tarrant County.

And it is a beacon for our future—calling us to remember, honor, and build a more just world.






Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., 
Pastor and Mediator 
New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church
Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas
2864 Mississippi Avenue 
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817-966-7625, kptatum1@gmail.com
https://youtu.be/T7PeAaZkkwI
Website: www.newmountrose.com


Surprisingly, Texas has more African-Americans than any other state in the United States of America: https://blackdemographics.com/population/black-state-population/ #BlackTexans

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