DENTON, Texas — The City of Denton announced Tuesday that it has removed discriminatory language from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Cemetery deed.
The language contained in the 1933 deed said Black people could not be buried in the city-owned IOOF cemetery in Denton.
The cemetery is named after a fraternal organization that was formed as a social club by working men in London in the 1700s. Then in 1859, a chapter was established in Denton, and the cemetery was developed a year later, according to the Denton County Office of History and Culture.
As the county history office points out, IOOF’s famed members include Ulysses S. Grant and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Back in 2016, members of the Denton City Council adopted a resolution that declared the whites-only deed restriction was "unenforceable on any city property."
In 2021, the Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 1202, which aimed to make it easier for homeowners to remove the covenants. HB1202 did not pass in the Texas Senate, but another similar bill, Senate Bill 30 did, which provides a framework for removing discriminatory language from property deeds.
Last month, Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, the city’s first Black mayor, led the effort to pass a measure allowing city attorneys to explore ways to change the language in the deed. The measure passed in a 6 – 1 vote.
“We are committed to keeping Denton a place where everyone feels welcome and respected,” said City Manager Sara Hensley. “Removing this language is an important step in creating a community that reflects our values of equality and inclusivity.”
