Shelby Chapel Church and Cemetery - Texas Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

The oldest marked grave is that of an infant. The Infant Horn died Feb 1897 and more than likely is the child of Jeff D. and S. Ella Horn. The second oldest marked grave is that of Mary Ellen (Shelby) Hawkins who died Jun 1899, wife of Raymond Robert Hawkins. She was the daughter of James Madison Shelby (more than likely where name of cemetery came from) and his wife Amanda Ann Henderson. The third oldest marked grave is that of another infant, Infant Rogers died in Dec 1899 and is the son of Henry E. and Mary E. Rogers. (Source)

Marker Number: 12056 Marker Text: James Madison Shelby (1814-1889), a native of North Carolina, moved with his large family from Alabama to Texas in the 1870s. They first lived in Smith County, then moved to southeastern Henderson County. There they established a Presbyterian church named Morrison Chapel for the minister who preached there. Services were held in the home of James and Amanda Ann Henderson Shelby until a small building was erected. Church members buried their loved ones in an adjoining cemetery. James Madison Shelby was interred in Morrison Chapel Cemetery upon his death. The extended Shelby family relocated again in 1891, this time to an area three miles northeast of the center of Athens. Amanda Ann Henderson Shelby lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Jeff Decal and Susan Ella Shelby Horn. Mrs. Shelby gave the Horns seven acres of land, reserving two acres for a Presbyterian church and cemetery. Religious services were held in the Horn home until Thomas Dunklin, another Shelby son-in-law, received the contract to construct a church building called Shelby Chapel in 1895. Amanda A. Shelby died in 1896 and was interred with her husband. The first burial in Shelby Chapel Cemetery was that of J. D. and Susan Horn's infant son in 1897. Shelby Chapel and the Athens Cumberland Presbyterian Church were united between 1901 and 1905. The church remained Presbyterian until 1964 when it became a non-denominational community church. Many armed forces veterans are interred here, including Confederate soldiers. Members of Shelby Chapel and their descendants continue to be interred in the cemetery, which remains as a chronicle of area settlers. (1999)

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