The African-American Cemetery in Bay City, Texas, is located off of Golden Avenue, east of Cedarvale Cemetery. The cemetery falls under two names: (1) Cedarvale Eastside, also referred to as the "Old Section", is located between Cedarvale Road and Cedarvale Cemetery (the Caucasian cemetery), and (2) Eastview Cemetery which lies between Cedarvale Road and Cottonwood Creek.

In the late 1800's, Negroes had begun to leave the rural areas of Matagorda County, moving to Bay City to live. However, when they died, their bodies were taken back to the rural areas for burial.  Fortunately, there were some Negro people who had the foresight to seek property in Bay City for the burial of their families and friends. Extensive research by this writer revealed the origin of the African-American cemetery in Bay City.

On February 15, 1907, J. C. Carrington surveyed 1.8 acres of land out of a certain 133.99 acre tract that belonged to D. P. Moore. Ephriam Taylor, Mike Smith I, and Isaac Wiggins, Trustees,  and their successors in office, were granted, sold, and conveyed the certain 1.8 acres out of the Bowman & Williams League for the intention of laying out a cemetery for Negroes. Evidently, Taylor, Wiggins and Smith were the Trustees for the Negro Organization.  Records have not been found to indicate who the other officers of the group were. 

The 1.8 acres lies east of a small tract sold by Moore to Matagorda as a burying ground. The land was purchased for $180, and the deed filed for record on May 24, 1909, and recorded May 26, 1909, at the Matagorda County Court House.

The officers of the Bay City Cemetery Committee for 1945-46 were Jim Wilson, President; Oscar Young, acting Secretary; Ben Mills, Treasurer; and Green Farris, Collie Williams, and Mike Smith, Trustees. The group met on August 19, 1945, at the Mother Zion Baptist Church to discuss the purchase of additional land for the cemetery and the naming of the group and the property. Ruth Brown moved that the Cemetery be called Eastview. John Ruffins seconded, and the motion carried and was accepted. Oscar Young was elected permanent Secretary. Present at the meeting were Wilson, Young, Smith, Williams, Mills, Ruffins, Brown, Sam Hawkins, and Amanda Caesar.

Important events in the early history of Eastview include:

September 4, 1945: Details outlined for the purchase of five acres at $200 per acre, with note payments of $215 per quarter.

January 8, 1946: To meet note installments, churches were to be asked to make donations and the trustees were to collect dues of 10 cents per month from each member. The Colored Cemetery Association, Eastview Cemetery Association purchased 5.424 acres out of the Bowman & Williams League, Abstract 9, from E. E. Weller and wife, Ella May Weller, for $1,084.80.     

January 31, 1946: Election of Pink Woodard, W. W. Smith, and Isaiah Morgan as Trustees and Ruth Brown and Amanda Caesar as assistants to the Trustees and a Decoration Committee established.

November 25, 1946: At this meeting, property up-keep payments and donations were received from the following: Mother Zion Church, Enterprise Church, A. G. Hilliard I, Jessie Dale, Jessie Wiggins, Matthew Johnson, B. W. Ward, Large Roberts, Mrs. Cornelius Wilcox, Gabe Sims, Hannah Peters, and Nolan Stevens.

February 4, 1947 : Dues raised from 10 cents to 25 cents effective March 1, 1947 .

February 28, 1949: Purchased a tract of land for $1,084.80; roads blocked off in the cemetery and shelled.

February 19, 1952: Price of lots raised from $25 to $60; graves from $10 to $20. Four women appointed to the Decoration Committee and a caretaker employed for $30 per month.

January 11, 1953: Rev. C. T. Times elected Vice-President; Jim Cunningham, Secretary; Mike Smith, Treasurer; and Edmore Glennon replaced Smith as Trustee. Decoration Committee members: Ruth Brown, Chair; Rebecca Richmond, Letha Lane, Margarette Times, Pearl Woods, Willie Watkins, Dorothy Franklin, and Estella Spiller.

June 13, 1960: The new addition leased to Frank Hawkins for a 3-year "oil lease" for $2,250.

The scarcity of early records presents a problem, but this has served the purpose of trying to present early historical facts as they relate to the African Americans in Bay City and their quest for a cemetery.

James Morgan succeeded Jim Wilson as President of the Association. Individuals who served as Secretary during Morgan's tenure were: Fletcher Morgan, Jr., Margaret Thompson, Roxie O'Neal, and Emma Pea. A. D. Davis was the Treasurer.

During Morgan's tenure, property up-keep dues were raised from $3 to $5; single grave prices from $25 to $75; and lot prices from $60 to $100. A constitution and by-laws were executed and on February 24, 1983, the Matagorda County Drainage District No. 1 was given a 50-foot easement, beginning at the center line of Cottonwood Creek and extending to the property of the Colored Cemetery Association.

Lettie Green served as the third president of the Association for a very short time, after the death of Morgan. Emma Pea was the  Recording and Financial Secretary and A. D. Davis, Treasurer.

On July 21, 1984, Rose Castilow was elected Vice-President; Thelma Smith, Recording Secretary; Nona McKinney, Second Vice-President and Program Chair; Emma Pea, Financial Secretary; A. D. Davis, Treasurer.

Green resigned as President on August 5, 1984, and Rose Castilow became President. During Castilow's tenure, the constitution and by-laws were updated by Ida Bouldin, Susie Price, Thelma Smith, and Castilow. A Perpetual Care Trust Fund was established on December 3, 1984. Property up-keep dues were raised from $5 to $10 for 1 grave space, $15 for two spaces, and $25 for three to six spaces, beginning January, 1985. K. D. Green turned over his caretaker duties to Wells Clark on January 7, 1985. The Association received its Tax Exempt Status, April 9, 1986.