The information in this article is based on the book “The Moody Area-Its History and People 1852-1981,” written in 1981 by Estelle Mabray Rice, a long time resident of Moody.

The Moody Cemetery dates back to 1887 after the residents of Perry, Texas located about 2 miles north of Moody  after the new Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad passed by Perry and instead would run right through land setup as a new town, to be named Moody. The whole Perry village, “lock, stock, and barrel” moved from Perry to Moody. The only thing is their cemetery remained in Perry and visits would be difficult because of no paved roads. What roads that existed were bad and transportation was poor. So a committee was formed to find a new site, collect funds to pay for the land and other expenses including the writing of a constitution and by-laws.

The original cemetery was composed of 2 acres of land, bought in 1887 at a cost of $514.20. The land was surveyed, fenced and divided into burial plots. Each plot was 20 x 30 feet and had space for 12 graves. The first lot was bought by a Mr. Naler for a donation of $20.

The first funeral held in the new cemetery was that of Flora Welch, in 1889, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Welch. Hackberry trees were planted around the cemetery  in 1890.

In April 1929, a Woman’s Federation, composed of 134 Christian women, was formed. Their civic project for 1930 was clearing and repairing the Moody Cemetery. Each spring the Federation sponsored a clean-up day. In 1932, the organization was renamed as the Moody Cemetery Association. The trustees were S. M. Witt, I. J. Teague, J. C. Miller and J. A. Mote.

In 1939 the Association proposed that  each lot  owner pay $7.50 per year for up-keep on their property. Before long enough money was collected that older men was hired but at a reduced wage to allow them at a slower pace.

In 1950 a fence was built to replace the one that was built in 1890. W. O. Johnson, president of the Association suggested that  one could be constructed consisting of Austin stone for $5,000, including materials and labor. The members were staggered by that number. Letters were sent out requesting funds to defray as much of the cost as possible. Mrs. Mary Maxwell, a former Moody citizen, offered to build one entrance if the Association build the other. The cost of one entrance was $1500. Before long, the funds were in hand and the contractor, W. O. Johnson, completed the project was completed and dedicated in February, 1953. David Hagard had a copper box made to hold mementos and sealed  and placed in the cornerstone at the entrance.

On June 1965, two more acres were purchased for what was named The Moody Cemetery Memorial Park, now referred to as the Memorial Section. The 2-acre section was divided into graves 4 x 10 feet each and a map drawn, which can viewed at the First National Bank. The OPEN BIBLE MEMORIAL was was dedicated on Sunday evening at 6:00 pm on August 6, 1967. People from all the churches attended. It was dedicated to the memory of Miss Rob McCauley, a long-time Cemetery Association President and volunteer.

Today the upkeep of the cemetery is carried out entirely by volunteers, who give of their time and sometimes money out of their pockets without compensation. Periodically, work days are set aside for  such things as brush clearing and tree trimming. Look to our website for announcements for those days and other information.

Without the hours of volunteer help, our cemetery could not be kept in the condition that our loved ones deserve in their place of final rest.