Descendants of the Wren family were on hand Saturday for the unveiling of a Texas Historical Commission marker for the post-Civil War Wren Cemetery on Spring Creek Road.
About 60 people – Wren family descendants, Kendall County Historical Commission members, and area historians – gathered to witness the unveiling of the plaque and pay respects to the Wren family ancestry.
Stan Hardin, whose great-grandmother Sophie Wren Hardin is buried there, was on hand and had the honor of unveiling the plaque and reading its inscription.
Hardin, who lives in the Houston area, has been to the site several times over the years, most recently in 2012 or 2013.
“My father and I talk all the time, and this was something that was absolutely planned, for me to be there,” he said. “Am I appreciative? Absolutely.”
He said Alex Wren, who originally bought the property and reserved several acres specifically for the cemetery, is his great-great-grandfather. “My great-grandmother's mother and father are buried there. I imagine there are other (relatives) there as well,” he said.
Dedicated to African Americans, the cemetery opens a back story to pre-Civil War and pre-Kendall County landowners who had migrated to Texas from southern states, bringing with them plantation practices, and slaves, among the pioneers and early settlers of Kendall County.
Gloria Thompson-Myles, secretary for the Wren Cemetery Preservation Association and great-great-granddaughter of Alex Wren, spoke at the dedication.
“Today, we gather here to honor and dedicate this sacred ground, a cemetery that stands as a testament to the resilience, strength, and dignity of our ancestors, who were former slaves,” Thompson- Myles said. “As we stand on this hallowed ground, we acknowledge the painful history that brought us here, but we also affirm the power of remembrance and the importance of honoring those who came before us.”
Stan Hardin, great-greatgrandson of Alex Wren, property owner and founder of the Wren Cemetery, reads the words inscribed on the Texas Historical Commission marker unveiled Oct. 28. Courtesy photo
For far too long, she said, the stories and sacrifices of these individuals “were buried beneath the weight of oppression and discrimination. But today, we reclaim their legacy, giving voice to the silent heroes who helped shape our nation's history.”
In dedicating this cemetery, Thompson-Myles said “they not only pay homage to those buried there, but we also commit ourselves to preserving their memory.
“Let this sacred place be a sanctuary of reflection and education, a space where future generations can come to understand the struggles faced by their forebears and the ongoing fight for equality and justice,” she said.
Thompson-Myles thanked the Kendall County Historical Commission, the Texas Historical Commission, VFW Post 688, cemetery association members, and others for making the day happen.
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