Though writing seems to be a solitary act that can be done only by one person, in fact this book would never have come into being but for the large community that has supported it for years. Before I acknowledge individuals and organizations, I want to acknowledge first the earth, so imperiled at this time. May this book be worthy of the natural and human resources that have gone into publication. May it be of benefit to all.
Doug Adams, Ph.D., and President Joan Carter, Ph.D. of C.A.R.E., the Center for the Arts, Religion, and Education at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, have long believed in the work of the Keepers of Love and have sponsored this ongoing work. I am especially grateful to Professor Doug Adams for his constancy and his vision.
The burial grounds in these pages, though confined to Texas, are emblematic of larger histories that have been locked up, denied, trivialized, lost, paved over, or kept secret throughout the United States.
My thanks to the Ancestors of Love Cemetery and their descendants, R.D. Johnson, Sandra Johnson James, Willie Mae Brown, James Brown, Clauddie Mae Webb, Joyce Marie Schufford, Rev. Marion Henderson, and all their relatives who came from far and near, as well as those who couldn’t. Special thanks to Nuthel Britton, the Keeper of Love, and her family, including Wanda Gale and Christopher, who despite the obstacles, refused to give up reclaiming Love Cemetery.
Doris Vittatoe became my close friend and partner in our ongoing effort to preserve Love Cemetery and to leave a legacy for future generations. My gratitude to Doris for her patience, her forthrightness, and her courage. Reda Rackely introduced me to the wisdom of the Ancestors in the Dagara tradition of Burkina Faso in West Africa. Reda’s generosity and belief in this work was essential to this writing. Sobonfu Somé shared the brilliance of the Dagara tradition too. Wendy Grace brought her experience as a healer to bear and supported me all along. Her generosity was unsurpassed.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 210 in Marshall, Texas, provided the hard labor needed to clear Love Cemetery to the ground. It would have been impossible to reclaim the burial ground without them. Scouts such as Jeronimo Holguin, David Guvernator, Ulysis Bedolla, Tony and Adam Harman, Gavin and Graham McKinley, Luke Girlinghouse, Ehrin and Luke Emerson, Cody Lay, J.R. Griffith, Chris Williams, and all who came to help, including their parents, deserve special thanks. My cousin Philip Verhalen, their troop master, and his assistant scout master, Doug Gardiner, were enormous pillars of support. Philip’s patience and calm, coupled with Doug’s commitment and constancy, made our work a success. Boundless gratitude to Philip, Doug, and Troop 210.
Walter “Coach” Edwards, Annye Fisher, and Julia Williams helped time and again, even though their own relatives were buried elsewhere. Gail and Greg Beil gave unflagging assistance of all kinds and provided hospitality for years, and deserve thanks far beyond what I write here. Gail generously shared her research for The Banquet of My Years, her forthcoming biography of James Farmer, Jr. and James Farmer Sr., his father.
Fr. Denzil Vithanage, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marshall, has been a great supporter of our work. My friend, artist Joe Goodwin of New York, deserves thanks for telling me to go to the spiritual leaders in Marshall first for guidance about getting the unmarked burial ground honored. Special thanks to our early members Fr. Steve Sellers, Fr. Ron Diegel, Rev. Bob Johnson, and Rev. James Webb.
The volunteers at the Harrison County Historical Society Library deserve special thanks, including Edna Sorber, Ruth Briggs, and James Oliphant. Gratitude as well to Garrett Boersma, president of the Harrison County Historical Museum, for his help.
Dwight Shellman, founding director of the Caddo Lake Institute helped me understand the importance Caddo Lake as a Ramsar site, a rare wetland of international significance. Gratitude to Richard Lowerre, the director of the Caddo Lake Institute, Roy Darville, Ph.D., biologist and limnologist at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. Tom Walker shared his photographs and knowledge of its birds. All contributed to my learning about the Big Cypress Creek watershed and the place of Caddo Lake within it.
Spencer Wood, Ph.D., Kansas State University, was generous with his research on black farming, especially Sabine Farms, in Marshall. Reporters from the Associated Press, like Allen Breed, contributed with background on their investigation of theft of black land. Scott Beasley, the dean of the School of Forestry at Stephen F. Austin College, in Nagodoches, Texas, added greatly to my understanding of contemporary forestry and the issues before it. Gerron Hite of the Texas State Historical Commission and Jim Bruseth, their chief archaeologist, were instrumental in placing Love Cemetery in the broader historical context. Carol Harrell and Gary Endsley helped with Caddo history. Historians Steve Hahn, Randolph Campbell, Adam Hochschild, Stewart Burns, and Manning Marable were reliable, generous sources. Any errors are mine. Gratitude also to Susan Glisson, Gerard Pigeon, and Kevin O’Malley.
Appreciation to my family in Dallas, especially my mother, Ruth Verhalen Langdon. My aunt, Sue Verhalen Padgett, introduced me to the other side of the story. My uncle Robert Verhalen, aunt Dorothy Verhalen, and my brother Scott Walters helped generously too. Thanks also to Margaret Juko. My gratitude to my Ursuline teachers in Dallas—they planted the seeds of dissonance that ripened into this book.
My cousins in East Texas happily made my work there possible. Philip’s mother, my cousin Agnes, provided generous hospitality that knew no bounds. Her husband, Jack, was an inspiration to me. His older brother, Steve, like Jack, was unfailing in his help. Thanks also to Philip’s wife Carolyn Verhalen for her immense hospitality, and to Frances Verhalen, Joanie Campbell, Martha Roberts, Betty and Gene Verhalen. My cousin David, Fr. Verhalen, a Holy Cross father at Notre Dame, and his colleague Fr. Steve Gibson, of the Holy Cross video ministry, provided enthusiastic support and help.
My appreciation to photographer Jeffrey Braverman who provided the initial photo editing needed. Artist Ruta Bertolis helped with maps. Anthony Fendler, a photograph technologist, helped with some of my digital stills. David Simpson and Ryan Thompson did videography in East Texas. Will Avery contributed sound and backup video too. Alan Pogue, human rights photographer, contributed photos still to be published. Photographer Dan Lent, and Kathleena Gorga, lent their skills as well. My son, Ben Galland, contributed travel, videography, sound recording, and film editing. My daughter, Madelon Galland, traveled to East Texas too, and assisted with recording sound, production, and still photography. Being supported by the professional talents of my adult children was an extraordinary gift.
I am grateful to Lucinda Ewing for her generous spirit and quiet hospitality in New Mexico. Thanks also to Marx Cazenave for his generosity and commitment to this work. Gratitude to Eric Cazenave also. Catlyn and Fred Fendler, Ann Grace McCoy, Joan Kiley, Bonnie O’Neill, Bess Carrick, Genevieve Vaughan, Gwendolyn Grace, Carol Edgar, Meggan Watterson, Rev. Sandy Gess, Betty Simmons, Christy Michaels, Bob Knechtel, and Bill Wilson—all have been generous beyond measure. Helen LaKelly Hunt provided abundant New Mexico hospitality and support and I am grateful for her generosity. Janet McKenzie’s support and her painting, “The Keepers of Love,” transformed this work and took it deeper. Kathy Barry, Mary Evelyn Tucker, Karen Buckley, Mary Ford, Sarah Crowell, Jane Hirshfield, Lama Palden, Jennifer Welwood, Maria Housden, Susan Shannon, Rev. Melinda McClain, and Rev. Ann Jefferson all have my deep appreciation, as does Pastor Veronica Goines of St. Andrew’s, Marin City, California.
Dallas attorney and friend, Vincent Perini, generously helped with Texas Cemetery law. Attorney Franklin Jones Jr. of Marshall provided legal assistance pro-bono and supported this work. Ike Lasiter, fellow Texas and San Francisco attorney who specializes Non-Violent Communication (NVC) contributed. Rodney Gilstrap, attorney and judge in Marshall, helped too, and I am grateful to them all.
Leslie Keenan, freelance editor, helped me cut away the burden of too much history. Leslie’s skillful help came at a critical time. Ed Lempinen, a former editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, Slate, and Newsday in New York, helped greatly in editing the overall manuscript. Ed immediately understood what I was trying to do and helped me find ways to hone the narrative. His dedication and intelligence benefited Love Cemetery greatly. Alexia Paul, freelance editor, helped me find ways to tell parts of the story more efficiently. I am grateful for her skills as well. Kate Danaher provided invaluable assistance throughout. Layla Smith gave excellent help with transcription, copy-editing, and art. Carla Pollard and David Verhalen helped with transcription as well.
My agent, Joy Harris, shepherded this book into life with her rare abilities. I am especially thankful that she found a home for it at HarperOne, initially with Renee Sedliar. My editor Eric Brandt took over, brought a keen intelligence and quiet touch to our work together. His editorial suggestions helped shift the narrative in subtle but powerful ways. His calm presence made him a pleasure to work with. His assistant, Kris Ashley, managed the process and interplay of the elements in this book with warmth, care, and skill. I am especially grateful to Eric and to Kris. Alison Throckmorton, the assistant production editor, performed miracles with grace and intelligence to get this book into print. Special thanks also to Helena Brantley, the director of publicity, who believed in this book early on. My gratitude to the entire staff at HarperOne, including Terri Leonard, Claudia Boutote, Laina Adler, and Sam Barry.
The following people have helped support Love Cemetery in numerous ways also. I make no distinction between the kinds of support given, financial, professional, or other. Each was essential and I am grateful: Rachael Adler, Ella Alford, Marion and Alan Hunt Badiner, Joan Baker, Kathleen Barry and Bob Burnett, Mary and Stuart Bartholomaus, Jane Bay, Sera Beak, Melissa Blake, Janine Bonepath, Peggy Brown, Kathleen Burgy, Katy Butler, Hattie Byland, Joy Carol, Pamella Cavana, Paul and Jan Chaffee, Johnnie Chase, Stephanie Clohesy, Louise Todd Cope, Meinrad Craighead, Sally and Joe Cunneen, Kath Delaney, Lynn and Gerard Dempsey, Elizabeth de Veer, Tara Doyle, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Carol Edgar, Eugenia Anderson Ellis, Hope Farr, Rachel Fitzgerald, Sarah and William Galbraith, Holley Galland, Barbara Getrost, Georgia Goldberg Gwendolyn Grace, Lori Grace, Jacqueline Greedy, Vivian Hahn, Paul Hawken, Emila Heller, Cynthia and Bill Hersey, Barbara Holifield, Carol and David House, Rev. Ann Jefferson, Heather Jelks, Diane Jenette, D’Ann Johnson, Erik Johnson, Franklin Jones Jr., Margarita Jones, Phyllis M. Jones, Dahlia Kamesar, Sophia Keller, Elizabeth Kelley, Carolyn Kellog, Sue Monk Kidd, Nancy Kittle, Robert Knechtel, Anne Lamott, David Ledeboer, Marylou Hillberg Lennox, Barry Lopez, Sumi Loudon, George Lucas, Christina Lundberg, Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer, Dominique Mazeaud, Claire McAuliffe, Janet McKenzie, Christy Michaels, Letitia and Milan Momirov, Mary Moore, Barbara Mumford, Susan Murcott, Yeshi Neuman, Ann Fursman Nix, Brenda Novick, Geoff and Leslie Oelsner, Elizabeth Owen, Dick Pervier, Robert and Joanne Phelps, Antonia Pizzari, Richard Platt, Noel Poncelet, Lisa Rafel, Maja Ramsey, Amelie Ratliff, Emma Farr Rawlings, Maryann Ready, Nina Reznik, Allyson and Ralph Rickard, Cynthia Ries, Geshe Champa Lodro Rinpoche, Carolyn Rivers, Jane Roper, Lydia and Robert Ruyle, Leonard Schlain, David and Jan Semling, Elayna Shakur, Hope Shaw, Betty Simmons, Anna Chavarria Shore, Lani Silver, Diane Solomon, Sophia Institute, Linea Stewart, Audrey Swanson, Linda Tillery, Judith Tripp, Sara Verhalen, Sally Roesch Wagner, Solace Wales, Mary Wallace, Johnny Wallace, Lailja Leila Ware, Cookie Washington, Marion Weber, Anita Weissberg, Noni Welch, Rebecca Westerfield, Akaya Winwood, Irvin and Marilyn Yalom, and Anna Yang.
The following foundations have generously supported this work: the Summerlee Foundation, the Shaman’s Fund, the Tara Fund at the Tides Foundation, the Angeles Arrien Foundation/Cross Cultural Education & Research, the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, the Rachel and Ben Vaughan Foundation, and the James Dougherty Foundation.
My husband, Corey Fischer, has been my loving companion through all my books but for the first, yet it is this book in particular that I gladly and rightly dedicate to him. This work has had the benefit of his reading and editing as well as his mature artistry and skill as a writer himself. He pored over this book; he knows everyone in it. He challenged me and made this story the better for its difficulty. His narrative and structural skills from making theater all his life have benefited me greatly.
My three grown children, Matthew, Madelon, and Ben Galland, have enriched my life and work beyond telling. My gratitude to Kelly Galland and Angelica Galland, for the children they’ve brought into our lives: River, Sebastian, Phoebe Rose, Skylar, and Elijah. May this offering help restore the world for all children.