PRESERVATION

Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church & Cemetery

Bois d’Arc Road, Richmond/Fulshear, Fort Bend County

A pillar of faith, education, and cultural heritage, Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and its adjacent historic cemetery stand as one of the few remaining physical links to Fulshear’s early African American community.

Located east from Fulshear on FM 1093, then south on Bois d’Arc Lane for 2.6 miles to the cemetery on the west side of the road at the junction of Red Bird Lane, this sacred site dates back to 1910, when I.G. Mayes conveyed two acres from the Mason Briscoe estate to the newly formed Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

In its early years, the church served not only as a spiritual home, but also as a school for Black children in the surrounding rural community — offering education during an era of segregation and limited opportunity. The church and schoolhouse became a center of Black life in the region, hosting worship services, community gatherings, and civic meetings that nurtured leadership and resilience in Fort Bend’s African American population.

Around 1930, the church grounds were expanded to include a cemetery behind the sanctuary. The earliest marked grave is that of Will Brown (1933), though evidence of earlier unmarked graves suggests even deeper roots. Many handmade concrete markers grace the cemetery, along with graves of veterans, making it a site of both cultural and genealogical significance.

A Texas Historical Marker (2002) at the site reads:
"Pleasant Hill Cemetery: 1910 I.G. Mayes conveyed two acres of land from the Mason Briscoe estate to the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church at this site. Around 1930, community residents and church members began using the land behind the sanctuary as a cemetery. The first marked grave, that of Will Brown, dates to 1933; there is evidence of unmarked graves that may, however, indicate earlier burials. The cemetery, which also served as the site for a school and a church, features many handmade concrete grave markers and veterans' graves. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2002."

Sadly, the church structure — dating to the early 20th century — now stands in severe disrepair, with the congregation no longer active and maintenance funding lacking. Both the building and cemetery are endangered by neglect and environmental exposure. Without immediate preservation efforts, this invaluable site faces potential loss.

Pleasant Hill MBC & Cemetery represents African American perseverance, education, and spiritual life in rural Fort Bend County. It is one of the last such church-school-cemetery complexes. Its preservation would honor not only the local families buried there but also the broader story of African American leadership and community building in Texas after emancipation.

Adding Pleasant Hill MBC & Cemetery to the 2025 Endangered Places List shines a spotlight on its significance — and the urgent need for preservation. Community partnerships, grant funding, and local advocacy will be critical to saving this irreplaceable cultural landmark.

ADDRESS: Bois d'Arc Road at Red Bird Lane, Richmond/Fulshear (Fort Bend County)
DESIGNATION: Historic Texas Cemetery (2002) | Church Building Unprotected
CONDITION: Endangered
OWNER: Private / Inactive Congregation
RESOURCE TYPE: Church, Schoolhouse Site, Cemetery
YEAR LISTED: 2025 (Proposed)

Sources: Robbie Green Photography, Oral Histories, Texas Historical Commission Marker Files