Athens Cemetery Association

As a designated Texas Historical Cemetery, there are many former Athens citizens and leaders of our community buried within its boundaries.

The Athens Cemetery had its start when one acre of land was donated by Pleasant Tannehill as a burial spot for members of the Masonic Lodge. Athens Lodge No. 165 was charted by the Grand Lodge of Texas on January 24, 1856 and has been in continuous operation since that time. It is the oldest fraternal organization in Athens today. 

There are many prominent Mason's buried within the Cemetery. One of them, Albert Bacon Watkins, was a member of Athens Lodge No. 165 and ultimately elected as Grand Master of Masons in Texas. Watkins was born at Kemp, Kaufman County, Texas on August 4, 1857. His father was R. 0. Watkins and his mother was Amanda (nee Polk) Watkins, who was a lineal descendent of President James K. Polk. R. O. Watkins was the first Presbyterian Minister ordained in the Republic of Texas. Albert B. Watkins was educated in the schools of his native County and at Trinity University where he received his A. B. degreein 1877. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas at Kaufman in 1879. He moved to Athens in 1881. He was a member of the well-known law firm of Richardson & Watkins.

He joined Athens Lodge No. 165 in 1882. In 1884, he was married to Miss Laura Murchison, a member of the prominent Murchison family in Athens.

He served this Judicial District as Judge from 1892 to 1894. "Judge Watkins was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a faithful, efficient teacher in the Sunday School.

His manner was courteous, and gracious to all who approached him. In his private life, he was of exemplary habits, free from the little blemished that stain the characters of many otherwise worthy men." This description is taken from a Resolution of Respect  authored by his Fraternity brothers who knew him best and appears in the Minutes of Athens Lodge No. 165. 

Albert Bacon Watkins is the only member of Athens Lodge No. 165 to ever have been elected Grand Master of Mason in Texas. He assumed that post in December of marked Past Grand Master Watkins' grave with a marker showing that he served the Grand Lodge of Texas as Grand Master. Not far from Bro. Watkins' grave lies Dr. Thomas Matthews, who was also an elected Grand Master of Masons in Texas. He served in 1882. He was a member of Athens Lodge No. 165 at the time of his death, butwas a member of Pine Lodge No. 203 in Ben Wheeler, Texas when he served as Grand Master. 

Albert Bacon Watkins died at home on Wednesday, February 21, 1923 and was laid to rest in Athens Cemetery on Thursday, February 22, 1923. Judge Watkins had suffered a paralytic stroke at the age of 65.

In an extraordinary session, the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A. M. was convened in Athens by then Grand Master of Masons in Texas the Hon. Mike H. Thomas for the purpose of performing the burial rites at the graveside of Past Grand Master Watkins, Rev. A. J. Crawford and Rev. R. W. Benge conducted the memorial service for Judge Watkins. 

Grand Master of Masons, Albert Bacon Watkins, remained an active member of the Lodge up until the time of his death, serving on many important Grand Lodge committees. In 1913, Judge Watkins conducted the cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Courthouse in downtown Athens. Judge Watkins is buried in the Pioneer section of the historical Athens Cemetery. 

Not many cemeteries in Texas have two Grand Masters of Texas Masons buried within their borders. This is just of the many reasons we have to be proud of our cemetery.