Cemeteries of Murray County

Murray County is the third smallest county in Oklahoma, yet it has 41 cemeteries or burial grounds that we have recorded at last count. We have recently learned of one other small cemetery that is located near Dougherty. It is known as the "Walnut Cemetery". Its general location is between the old Rayford Quarry and 1/2 mile north of Sorghum Flats cemetery. We have searched many times for this grave site and have found nothing even though there are many people who say the graves exist. There are supposedly about 10 graves located here.
There are three African American (AA) Cemeteries in Murray County that we have found to date. They are 5 Mile Cemetery, James Cemetery and Oak Ridge Cemetery. There are also two cemeteries that are exclusively Native American (NA). The Sandy Baptist is mostly Chickasaw Indian burials. The Salem Presbyterian Church at Oak Grove is mostly Choctaw Indian burials.
Most of the cemeteries in Murray County are in good shape and well kept or at least protected. Several of these are not in good shape and are in real danger of being taken back by the earth. These cemeteries include Old Five Mile, Walnut Cemetery, Oak Ridge and Swayback. They are seriously overgrown and stones are broken and toppled. We are pleased to say that the new property owners of the Old Washita cemetery have cleaned up the graves, mowed and planted flowers around the stones.
The registry of Green Hill Cemetery in Davis is brought up to the year 2000. The registry of Oaklawn in Sulphur is online and is dated up to 1983. There is no plan as of now to bring them to the year current.
If you are aware of a cemetery in Murray County that is not listed here, please let us know. If you know of an interment that is not listed in a particular cemetery, please let us know. There are many, many unknown burials in all these pioneer cemeteries and all additions are welcomed.
Dennis Muncrief

DRAKE NEBO CEMETERY

While sitting on the belt buckle of the tornado belt, Murray county has been fortunate not to have more tragedies like the one shown above. This family of five was killed by a tornado on June 1, 1917

APACHE PRISONER-OF-WAR CEMETERIES

Here beneath Oklahoma skies far from their native haunts in Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico is the resting place for more than 300 Apaches of the Chiricahua, Warm Springs, and Nedni tribes. During and after the Geronimo campaign of 1886 these people—hostile, friendlies, and scouts alike—were sent as prisoners-of-war to Florida, then to Alabama.

In 1894 they were brought to Fort Sill where they remained for the next 19 years. Living in 12 villages, with many of their leading men serving as soldiers and U.S. scouts, they built their own houses, fenced the entire military reserve, dug water wells which still dot the landscape, raised 10,000 cattle, and grew bountiful crops. Granted freedom by Act of Congress in 1913, 183 returned to New Mexico while 82 settled on farms near here.

This burial ground is a memorial both to their historic past and to their industry and perseverance on their long road to a new way of life.

Fort Sill, Oklahoma