Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm | Cemetery Gates: Open Daily 7:30am–Sunset | America 250 Planning Month — 10% Consideration →
40,000+
BURIALS ON RECORD
165
ACRES OF GROUNDS
148+
YEARS OF STEWARDSHIP
1878
YEAR ESTABLISHED
"Oakwood is never just about the past. It is about continuity. Families. Memory. Trees that outlive us all. Stories still unfolding in quiet ways every single day."
— CLINT LYNCH, GENERAL MANAGER
WELCOME TO OAKWOOD
Established in 1878 and guided by a proudly female-led board since 1898, Oakwood Cemetery is one of Waco's most historic and beloved landscapes. More than a cemetery, it is a certified arboretum — a living institution where memory, nature, and community converge beneath the shade of great oak and pecan trees.
EST. 1878 — WACO, TEXAS
OUR HISTORY
Waco's Historic Cemetery, Female-Led Since 1898
Oakwood Cemetery was established in 1878 on 160 acres in the heart of Waco. Since the formation of the Oakwood Cemetery Association in 1898, generations of women have helped guide and preserve this historic place — shaping policy, overseeing preservation, managing finances, and stewarding one of Waco's most significant landscapes.
"Since 1898, generations of women have helped guide and preserve this historic place — a uniquely female-led tradition that continues today."
— OAKWOOD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
THE OAKWOOD ARBORETUM
Around Here, We're Partial to the Trees
If you walk through Oakwood, you're not just moving through history — you're moving through something that's still in motion. The grass. The soil. The slow, steady work happening underground. And yes — the oak trees, the ones that don't seem particularly impressed by any of us and have clearly decided they're in this for the long haul.
Their roots move through the same ground that has been entrusted to generations. Quietly. Consistently. Without much need for explanation. The ground beneath your feet isn't just holding history. It's still doing something with it.
"Every atom in your body has been around a long time. Forged in stars, scattered across the universe, eventually finding its way into soil, into plants, into food… and into you. Less ownership, more of a long-term lease. And at some point — sooner or later — it all gets handed back."
— NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, AS QUOTED IN OAKWOOD'S NEWSLETTER
NOTABLE INTERRED
The Names You Know, and the Ones You Should
Oakwood Cemetery is the final resting place of governors, Rough Riders, civic leaders, suffragists, and thousands of Waco families whose lives shaped this community across generations.
GOVERNOR OF TEXAS · 1829–1897
Governor Richard Coke
Richard Coke served as the 15th Governor of Texas and later as a United States Senator. His imposing monument — a full standing figure atop a tall pedestal — is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Oakwood's historic section.
GOVERNOR OF TEXAS · 1871–1952
Governor Pat M. Neff
Pat M. Neff served as the 28th Governor of Texas and later as President of Baylor University. His distinctive monument bears the Texas state seal and the inscription "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet" — standing beneath the shade of Oakwood's great oaks.
BAYLOR GRADUATE · ROUGH RIDER · 1876–1944
Dr. Carl Lovelace
Baylor graduate, Rough Rider, physician, and civic leader — Dr. Carl Lovelace's life carried him from Waco to Cuba, South America, and back again. His monument rests quietly among the trees, an easy stone to walk past without realizing just how far his life carried him.
SUFFRAGIST · CIVIC LEADER · 1866–1953
Jane Madden Spell
Jane Madden Spell devoted decades of steady, determined work to the women's suffrage movement in Texas. Her quiet persistence helped shape the civic landscape of Waco and the broader state — a life of purpose that rests at Oakwood, waiting to be rediscovered.
ART & ARCHITECTURE
Reading the Language of Stone
Most people come to Oakwood looking for someone. A parent. A spouse. A grandparent. A familiar name etched into granite. But Oakwood has a way of quietly redirecting your attention.
Families in the Victorian era often communicated grief, faith, memory, and hope through imagery rather than explanation. Cemeteries became places rich with symbolism — almost outdoor galleries of shared cultural meaning. A lamb did not simply mean decoration. A broken column was not a random architectural element. Each carried a message. And Oakwood is full of them.
Once you begin noticing them, Oakwood stops feeling like a collection of graves and starts feeling like a conversation carried across generations. And this is only the first chapter.
The Angel
A messenger between earth and heaven — guardianship, divine presence, and the promise of resurrection.
The Memorial Figure
Memory does not simply rest beneath the ground — it continues beyond it. Eternity, permanence, and the connection between earth and the heavens.
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The Veil
Mourning, and an honest acknowledgment that grief changes how we see the world around us.
The Open Book
A life, and a faith, laid open. The story continues beyond the final page.
AVAILABLE LOTS
Dignified Options for Every Family
Oakwood Cemetery offers a range of burial and cremation options to honor your loved ones and your wishes. Our staff is available to guide families through every option with compassion and clarity.
Frequently asked questions
TOURS & VISITS
Discover Oakwood's History & Arboretum
Oakwood's 160 acres hold more than 148 years of Waco history. Visitors can explore the cemetery, discover its historic sections and monuments, and learn about the remarkable people whose lives are part of Oakwood's story.
The Arboretum
Oakwood’s historic grounds feature a remarkable collection of trees. Additional tree-tour information will be available in the future.
Self-Guided Tour Map
A self-guided tour map is not currently available. Additional visitor resources may be added in the future.
FROM THE NEWSLETTER
Stories from Oakwood
Each issue of the Oakwood newsletter brings the cemetery to life — exploring the remarkable people at rest here, the language carved into the stones, and the ideas that make this place unlike any other in Waco.
STAY CONNECTED
Subscribe to the Oakwood Newsletter
Each issue brings Oakwood to life — stories of remarkable lives, the language of stone, the trees, and the ongoing work of preserving one of Waco's most historic landscapes.
VISITORS EXPERIENCE
What Families Are Saying
"Walking through Oakwood is unlike anything else in Waco. The trees, the monuments, the history — it feels like a living museum. The staff were incredibly helpful in locating my great-grandparents' graves."
PATRICIA H.
Google Review
"Oakwood helped us through one of the hardest moments of our lives with such grace and professionalism. The grounds are beautiful, and knowing our father rests beneath those great oak trees brings us real comfort."
JAMES & CAROL M
Google Review
SUPPORT OAKWOOD
Help Preserve Oakwood's Legacy
Oakwood Cemetery is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving one of Waco's most historic and beloved landscapes. Your support helps restore historic monuments, advance the arboretum, and ensure this community treasure endures for the next 150 years.
Current Preservation Campaigns
Oakwood Arboretum Development
Advancing the formal arboretum program — tree identification, canopy care, and educational programming.
Burial Records Digitization
Digitizing all burial records from 1878 to present for public online access and genealogical research.
Historic Monument Restoration
Restoring and stabilizing historic monuments, obelisks, and sculptural works throughout Oakwood's oldest sections.
LEADERSHIP
Since the formation of the Oakwood Cemetery Association in 1898, generations of women have helped guide and preserve this historic place. Long before leadership opportunities for women were common in many civic organizations, the women of Oakwood were shaping policy, overseeing preservation, managing finances, and stewarding one of Waco's most historic landscapes.
As we enter the 2026–2027 year, we extend our sincere appreciation to outgoing Chair Mary "Mosie" Holley for her thoughtful leadership — advancing long-range planning, arboretum development, preservation projects, and operational improvements across both Oakwood and Rosemound. Mosie remains involved as Immediate Past Chair, providing continuity and institutional knowledge in the year ahead.
"One of the great privileges of this work is realizing that Oakwood is never just about the past. It is about continuity."
— CLINT LYNCH, GENERAL MANAGER
2026–2027 Executive Committee
EW
Ellen White
CHAIR
LH
Lisa Hull
TREASURER
SD
Susan Dossett
VICE CHAIR
SM
Shanna Mattson
TREASURER-ELECT
PE
Patricia "Trish" Ervin
SECRETARY
MH
Mary "Mosie" Holley
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Board Members
-
Sarah Aynesworth
-
Ann Harder
-
Kathy Douthit
-
Shannon Gamble
-
Risher Gilbert
-
Jane Hart
-
RoseMary Mayes Rafuse
-
Brooke Taylor
AMERICA 250 · LEGACY & FREEDOM PLANNING MONTH
250 Years of Freedom.
A Legacy for the Future.
This year, our nation marks an extraordinary milestone — 250 years since the birth of the United States of America. Historic cemeteries like Oakwood are, in many ways, the keepers of those stories. Every monument and every name carved in stone reminds us that legacy is not measured simply in years, but in relationships, service, and the care we extend to those who come after us.
As we commemorate America's 250th anniversary, we invite families to reflect on the legacies they are creating today and the memories they hope to preserve for tomorrow.
TEAM
Our Staff
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Come Visit Oakwood
CEMETERY GATE HOURS
Daily, 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed on major holidays.
ADDRESS FOR VISIT
2124 S. 5th Street, Waco, Texas 76706
ADDRESS FOR MAIL
P.O. Box 6202, Waco, Texas 76706
CONTACT
(254) 754-1631 · info@oakwoodwaco.com
GROUND CLEAN-UP
Cemetery cleanup takes place twice each year: on the first Monday in January after New Year's Day and on the first Monday in July after July 4th.
GET IN TOUCH
We're Here to Help
Whether you are planning ahead, researching family history, scheduling a tour, or need immediate assistance, our compassionate staff is ready to guide you every step of the way.
PHONE
(254) 754-1631
ADDRESS
2124 S. 5th Street, Waco, TX 76706
OFFICE HOURS
Mon–Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.