Here, under the shade of a towering oak, stands a simple aluminum plaque that tells a story of a community. It recounts a saga of a store, a cemetery, and a resilient human spirit. This is the Fields Store Cemetery Plaque, a testament to the enduring legacy of settlers in Waller County.
The plaque declares that the cemetery was established during the Reconstruction period, on land generously granted by D. H. Fields, a local merchant. It was a time of healing and rebuilding, and in a spirit of unity, a Confederate veteran, J. W. Day, also provided land for this place of final rest.
The plaque further notes the cemetery’s significance as the burial site for early settlers and their descendants. Generations of families have found their eternal repose within its boundaries, including those who fought in America’s Wars. Veterans of five wars, from the Civil War to the Vietnam War, rest here, their sacrifices forever memorialized.
Fields Store Cemetery was a hub for the community. Not only did it serve as a burial ground, but it was also used as a place of worship, where services were held in a building that later housed a school for the settlers’ children.
The story of the Fields Store Cemetery is a story of collaboration and community spirit. When the need arose for additional land, the church, the Masonic Lodge, and the families came together to ensure a place where they could say goodbye.
The Fields Store Cemetery Plaque tells a story of the past, but also serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of community. It stands as a testament to the people who built this place, their struggles and triumphs, and their enduring spirit. It invites us to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have gone before us and to value the strength of a community that has carried on through the years.