Phillips Cemetery

Dripping Springs, Texas

DONATE TODAY!
Phillips Cemetery
Warriors Remembrance & Research Foundation

Phillips Cemetery, located in Dripping Springs, Hays County, Texas, is one of the area’s earliest and most significant historic burial grounds, reflecting the growth of the community from its frontier settlement roots in the late 19th century. The cemetery traces its origins to 1880, when early settlers Nancy and John Phillips deeded land at this site to the Methodist Episcopal Church, establishing both a place of worship and burial for the surrounding rural community.

A small Methodist church was constructed and dedicated on March 13, 1880, and, as was customary at the time, members of the community were buried near the church they helped build. The earliest documented burial, that of B. G. Sorrell, occurred on the same day the church was dedicated, marking the beginning of Phillips Cemetery’s long role as a place of remembrance. Among those interred are numerous early settlers of the Dripping Springs area, as well as sixteen Civil War veterans, whose graves reflect the deep historical ties between the cemetery and the broader story of Texas settlement and service.

In 1901, land was acquired along the Old San Marcos Road (now Ranch Road 12) for the construction of a new church building. The original church structure was sold and relocated, leaving the original site to be used exclusively as a Methodist cemetery. For many years, families cared for individual graves, while the community collectively took responsibility for maintaining the grounds.

During the early 1920s, local blacksmith Williams S. Garnett played an important role in the community by ordering caskets and assisting with funeral arrangements, further illustrating the close-knit nature of the area during that period. In 1940, the Methodist Church formally donated the cemetery property to the community. A cemetery association was later organized in 1962 and officially chartered in 1968 to ensure the continued preservation and care of the historic graveyard.

Over time, several additional land donations expanded the cemetery to approximately 3.5 acres. In recognition of its historical and cultural importance, the Texas Historical Commission designated Phillips Cemetery as a State Historic Site in 1991, installing a historical marker near the main entrance.

Continuing to serve the community in modern times, a columbarium was added in 2011, located in the southwest corner of the cemetery near the gazebo, providing a dignified final resting place for cremated remains. Today, Phillips Cemetery stands as a lasting testament to the faith, perseverance, and shared history of the Dripping Springs community.

Rick Barnett

210-802-1917

WRRF Liaison

VETERANS