Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–5pm | Cemetery Gates: Open Daily 7:30am–Sunset | Family Legacy Planning — 10% Consideration →
40,000+
BURIALS ON RECORD
165
ACRES OF GROUNDS
148+
YEARS OF STEWARDSHIP
1878
YEAR ESTABLISHED
"Oakwood is never just about the past. It is about continuity. Families. Memory. Trees that outlive us all. Stories still unfolding in quiet ways every single day."
— CLINT LYNCH, GENERAL MANAGER
WELCOME TO OAKWOOD
Established in 1878 and guided by a proudly female-led board since 1898, Oakwood Cemetery is one of Waco's most historic and beloved landscapes. More than a cemetery, it is a certified arboretum — a living institution where memory, nature, and community converge beneath the shade of great oak and pecan trees.
AVAILABLE LOTS
Dignified Options for Every Family
Oakwood Cemetery offers a range of burial and cremation options to honor your loved ones and your wishes. Our staff is available to guide families through every option with compassion and clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
TOURS & VISITS
Discover Oakwood's History & Arboretum
Oakwood's 165 acres hold more than 148 years of Waco history. Visitors can explore the cemetery, discover its historic sections and monuments, and learn about the remarkable people whose lives are part of Oakwood's story.
The Arboretum
Oakwood’s historic grounds feature a remarkable collection of trees. Additional tree-tour information will be available in the future.
FROM THE NEWSLETTER
Stories from Oakwood
Each issue of the Oakwood newsletter brings the cemetery to life — exploring the remarkable people at rest here, the language carved into the stones, and the ideas that make this place unlike any other in Waco.
A Thought Worth Sitting With
Heartwood
The oak in your yard is alive, of course. But not simply so. Its leaves are busy. Its roots are reaching. Sapwood is carrying water upward. Phloem moves the sugars produced by photosynthesis. Just under the bark, the cambium—that narrow, industrious ribbon of growing cells—is adding new wood. There’s a lot going on near the surface.
Waco History
The Song Catcher and the Silver Dagger
In the days since Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, her music has been everywhere. Radio stations have played it. Television shows have revisited it. Friends and admirers have shared favorite songs, stories, performances, and, of course, Dolly quotations—an activity that could keep the nation occupied for some time.
STAY CONNECTED
Subscribe to the Oakwood Newsletter
Each issue brings Oakwood to life — stories of remarkable lives, the language of stone, the trees, and the ongoing work of preserving one of Waco's most historic landscapes.
VISITORS EXPERIENCE
What Families Are Saying
"Walking through Oakwood is unlike anything else in Waco. The trees, the monuments, the history — it feels like a living museum. The staff were incredibly helpful in locating my great-grandparents' graves."
PATRICIA H.
Google Review
"Oakwood helped us through one of the hardest moments of our lives with such grace and professionalism. The grounds are beautiful, and knowing our father rests beneath those great oak trees brings us real comfort."
JAMES & CAROL M
Google Review
SUPPORT OAKWOOD
Help Preserve Oakwood's Legacy
Oakwood Cemetery is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving one of Waco's most historic and beloved landscapes. Your support helps restore historic monuments, advance the arboretum, and ensure this community treasure endures for the next 150 years.
Current Preservation Campaigns
Oakwood Arboretum Development
Advancing the formal arboretum program — tree identification, canopy care, and educational programming.
Burial Records Digitization
Digitizing all burial records from 1878 to present for public online access and genealogical research.
Historic Monument Restoration
Restoring and stabilizing historic monuments, obelisks, and sculptural works throughout Oakwood's oldest sections.
Guided by Women Since 1898
Since the formation of the Oakwood Cemetery Association in 1898, generations of women have helped guide and preserve this historic place. Long before leadership opportunities for women were common in many civic organizations, the women of Oakwood were shaping policy, overseeing preservation, managing finances, and stewarding one of Waco's most historic landscapes.
As we enter the 2026–2027 year, we extend our sincere appreciation to outgoing Chair Mary "Mosie" Holley for her thoughtful leadership — advancing long-range planning, arboretum development, preservation projects, and operational improvements across both Oakwood and Rosemound. Mosie remains involved as Immediate Past Chair, providing continuity and institutional knowledge in the year ahead.
"One of the great privileges of this work is realizing that Oakwood is never just about the past. It is about continuity."
— CLINT LYNCH, GENERAL MANAGER
2026–2027 Board of Directors
Sarah Aynesworth
Claudia Brill
Susan Dossett, Vice Chair
Kathy Douthit
Patricia "Trish" Ervin, Secretary
Shannon Gamble
Risher Gilbert
Ann Harder
Mary "Mosie" Holley, Immediate Past Chair
Lisa Hull , Treasurer
Jane Hart
Shanna Mattson, Treasurer Elect
RoseMary Mayes Rafuse
Ellen White, Chair
Every Family Has a Story
Some family stories begin around a Sunday dinner table. Others live in a cherished recipe, a fishing trip, an old photograph, or a story everyone has heard a hundred times and still wants to hear again.
At Oakwood, we believe those stories deserve a place to be remembered.
Pre-planning gives you time to consider your options, choose the cemetery property that feels right for your family, and make those decisions on your own terms—before they have to be made during a time of loss.
TEAM
Our Staff
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Come Visit Oakwood
CEMETERY GATE HOURS
Daily, 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed on major holidays.
ADDRESS FOR VISIT
2124 S. 5th Street, Waco, Texas 76706
ADDRESS FOR MAIL
P.O. Box 6202, Waco, Texas 76706
CONTACT
(254) 754-1631 · info@oakwoodwaco.com
GROUND CLEAN-UP
Cemetery cleanup takes place twice each year: on the first Monday in January after New Year's Day and on the first Monday in July after July 4th.
GET IN TOUCH
We're Here to Help
Whether you are planning ahead, researching family history, scheduling a tour, or need immediate assistance, our compassionate staff is ready to guide you every step of the way.
PHONE
(254) 754-1631
ADDRESS
2124 S. 5th Street, Waco, TX 76706
OFFICE HOURS
Mon–Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.