East Project Networking Committee

Help Us Raise $25,000 to Restore Dignity at Eastlawn Cemetery

Over 200 Veterans. Thousands of Forgotten Souls. One Community Taking Action.

     Since 1956, Eastlawn Cemetery has served as the final resting place for generations of Black families in Wichita Falls. It is the only cemetery where African Americans could be buried during segregation—and today, it bears the scars of injustice, neglect, and abandonment.

     Among the graves is that of James Edward Bolden, a Private First Class in the U.S. Army during World War II. Born in 1933, his headstone had sunk so deeply into the earth that even his date of death was hidden from view. He is not alone. Entire rows of graves—especially in the overcrowded “Baby Land” section—are nearly unrecognizable due to years of overgrowth and mismanagement.

     This isn’t just about a place. This is about people. Mothers. Fathers. Children. Veterans. Trailblazers. No more forgotten. The East Project Community Team has taken matters into their own hands—mowing grass, trimming around sunken headstones, and restoring paths so families can find peace as they visit loved ones.

Now we need your help.

Our Goal: $25,000

To purchase essential lawn equipment and supplies to maintain and restore Eastlawn Cemetery year-round.

Your donation will help us:

•    Buy commercial-grade mowers, trimmers, and landscaping tools

•    Provide fuel and maintenance for equipment

•    Restore visibility to sunken or unmarked graves

•    Begin long-term plans to pave cemetery roads

•    Move toward our dream of taking ownership and ensuring Eastlawn is preserved with care, dignity, and respect

Why It Matters

Black cemeteries across the U.S. have been erased or neglected—victims of systemic injustice and unequal treatment. Eastlawn is a symbol of that struggle, but also a beacon of what community love and action can achieve.  Our effort aligns with the broader mission:

“A Healthy Community, A Healthy Church”.  And part of healing is remembering.

Our Long-Term Vision:

•    Continued community-led groundskeeping

•    Placing headstones or markers on unmarked graves

•    Hosting memorial events that honor and uplift

•    Building a place where families find peace, not pain

Will you stand with us to preserve the legacy of our ancestors?