Historic Cemeteries (Bruner Cemetery & Earl Cemetery)

Bruner Cemetery-Seminole

Earl Cemetery-Mannsville

We received multiple submissions for historic cemeteries. Many of these cemeteries are no longer maintained by municipal entities and rely on local residents or family members to maintain.  Some are being encroached by new development. Along with the two that are highlighted here, there are many more across the state that are deteriorating and in need of preservation and restoration.

Earl Cemetery was one of, if not the first, cemetery in the Johnston County area. The oldest marker preservationists have found is 1882, and they fear there are many lost graves. Recently, someone burned the cemetery and drove through the center of it, crushing many markers to rubble. There are pieces of the monuments strewn throughout the area, and many markers are moved from their original spot.

Bruner Cemetery is the final resting place of many Black Seminoles who arrived in Oklahoma from Florida on April 13, 1839, signing in at Ft. Gibson. The cemetery site has been divided into two sections, with one being maintained and the other not being maintained.

Why It’s Endangered: For historic cemeteries, they rely on family members, members of the local community or cemetery association to maintain them. As more people who know these cemeteries pass on, they are losing some of the care and attention necessary to keep them maintained and easy to access. Additionally, vandalism always presents a threat.

Photo submitted by Alyvia Turner

Photo submitted by Ann Gaines Ali