Sunshine Cemetery

Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Cemeteries of TX

Transcribed 09/06/1998, by Charlie Ward

The SUNSHINE CEMETERY is located in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, at the corner of Wooldridge Road and Rodd Field Road. It is a small cemetery, and entirely fenced. There is one gate on the Wooldridge Road side. Most of the tombstones are gone, and this report reflects what was seen on Sep  6, 1998.

The Texas Historical Commission placed this plaque in 1985

 “From the late 1800’s until the early 1940’s, the Sunshine Community encompassed this part of what is now Corpus Christi. The small farming and ranching settlement, also known as Encinal, boasted a school, Union church, and post office. The Sunshine school was in operation from 1887 until 1942, when it was consolidated with the Aberdeen School. Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, and other denominations alternated Sunday services at the Union church.

 The post office and the cemetery at this site are the only physical remnants of the Sunshine Community. The oldest marked grave in the cemetery, that of Ethel Eva Capeheart, is dated 1903.

 Tombstones in the Sunshine Cemetery reflect the family names of some of the early settlers who came to the area. John James Parry (d. 1920) a native of Wales, came to Texas in 1872. A farmer and rancher, Parry also preached Baptist services at the Union Church. His wife, Mary Elizabeth (1854-1935), and five of their ten children are buried in the Parry family plot. The Haney family Section includes the burial site of James Silas Haney (1871-1939). His wife, Ella Smith (1882-1962) and seven of their ten children. Other members of the Sunshine Community and their descendants also are buried here.”

Name Birth Death Comments Section

CAPEHEART, Ethel Eva

May 7, 1892

Dec  27, 1903

b Carbon, TX d.Sunshine, Tex

Front Row

CAPEHEART, Nancy Jane

Jan  15, 1861

Dec  2, 1939

b.Washington, Mo dIngleside, Tex

Front Row

PEARSE, Cora

Dec  28, 1885

Sep  22, 1913

A tender mother and a faithful friend.

Front Row

JAMES, Ashley Renee'

Feb  14, 1986

Sep  28, 1997

Our precious daughter and beloved sister

Front Row

BURDETTE, William O.

Dec  28, 1909

 -

Front Row

BURDETTE, Bessie F.

Jul 30, 1912

Dec  15, 1995

 -

Front Row

SHETTER, JR., David J.

Jun  18, 1939

Jun  18, 1939

Son of D.J. and Novelle E. Shetter

Front Row

ESTES, Aaron James

Jan  5, 1995

Jan  5, 1995

Infant son of Jon and Kaylynda Estes

Front Row

Broken Marker

 - - -

Rear Row

Broken Stone

 - - -

Rear Row

WARE, Thomas H.

Jul 28, 1913

Aug  23, 1995

Footstone: In Memory of Thomas Howard Ware (1913-1995) He is honored by this Sunshine Community for his love, devotion and care of our cemetery. His efforts continue to allow generations to visit this peaceful place of remembrance.

Rear Row

WARE, Mabel C.

Aug  9, 1913

None Given

 -

Rear Row

WARE, Henry D.

Jul 18, 1907

Feb  6, 1972

 -

Rear Row

WARE, T. J.

Sep  23, 1873

Jun  18, 1954

Father

Rear Row

WARE, Walter Ray

Mar  11, 1917

May 25, 1918

Age 14 mo. Asleep in Jesus

Rear Row

WARE, Tura

Jan  10, 1876

Jan  12, 1956

Mother

Rear Row

WARE, James W.

May 6, 1942

Sep  21, 1993

In Loving Memory

Rear Row

HOWELL, WM Thomas

 -

Nov  20, 1916

Age 11 mo. Asleep in Jesus

Rear Row

TAYLOR, Derefus S.

1894

1978

Father

Rear Row

TAYLOR, Myrtle B.

1898

1934

Mother

Rear Row

PARRY, M_ (Benja?)min

190?

1916

(This is a small wooden plack covered by glass) Very old & difficult to read

Rear Row

THOMPSON, Georgia E. PARRY

Jun  15, 1925

Jul 18, 1985

Loved by everyone

Rear Row

PARRY, Jesse L.

Jan  2, 1882

Nov  14, 1950

 -

Rear Row

PARRY, Frederic L.

Dec  1, 1883

Sep  15, 1942

 -

Rear Row

PARRY, John James

1849

1920

Father

Rear Row

PARRY, Mary Elizabeth

1854

1935

Mother

Rear Row

PARRY, Newton D.

Apr  7, 1886

Oct  27, 1918

Again we have to meet thee when the day of life is fled And in heaven with joy to greet thee Where no farewell tears are shed To know him was to love him

Rear Row

PARRY

 Unreadable Marker -

Rear Row

PARRY, Theodora I.

Aug  19, 1888

Apr  28, 1916

 -

Rear Row

FONDREN, Cordelia C.

1853

1927

A tender mother and a faithful friend

Rear Row

FONDREN, William N.

Jul 12, 1853

Jun  13, 1939

 -

Rear Row

PAYNE, Maggie Mae

Jan  2, 1876

Jun  9, 1957

 -

Rear Row

FONDREN, David Gunter

1879

Jan  26, 1957

 -

Rear Row

FONDREN, William Hiriam

1892

Feb  11, 1960

 -

Rear Row

FONDREN, Oliver Simpson

1881

Mar  11, 1960

 -

Rear Row

HANEY, Margery Olive

Dec  5, 1919

Dec  7, 1919

Infant

Middle Area

HANEY, Ernestine

Sep  23, 1913

Apr  22, 1932

 -

Middle Area

HANEY, Ella A.

Jan  5, 1882

Feb  28, 1962

Mother

Middle Area

HANEY, James Silas

Jul 24, 1871

Feb  10, 1939

Father

Middle Area

HANEY, David J.

Apr  12, 1921

Mar  8, 1962

 -

Middle Area

FONDREN, Kathryn

Jan  27, 1901

Dec  14, 1941

 -

Middle Area

FONDREN, Charles

Mar  9, 1888

Jun  12, 1973

 -

Middle Area

HANEY, Conrad L.

Oct  4, 1915

Jun  11, 1945

 -

Middle Area

HANEY, James Laurence

Jul 24, 1911

May 25, 1958

 -

Middle Area

HEFLIN, Ninabell Jun  HANEY

Oct  30, 1917

Dec  22, 1965

 -

Middle Area

SPRAGUE, Tressie E.

Feb  16, 1909

Aug  3, 1970

 -

Middle Area

WESTBROOK, George T.

Oct  25, 1896

Dec  4, 1951

Texas Pvt 132 Field Arty 36 Div World War I

Middle Area

Stone Marker

- - -

Middle Area

FRANKLIN, Henry

 -

Oct  15, 1938

PVT 2 Texas Inf. N.C.

Middle Area

PULLIAN, Mrs.

 - - -

Middle Area

DIAZ, Octavio

 - - -

Middle Area

Stone Cross

 - - -

Middle Area

DIAZ, Ursula

 - - -

Middle Area

DAVILA, Nicolasa

Apr  8, 1897

Jul 8, 1942

In loving memory your son Epifanio Davila and family

Middle Area

DAVILA, Florentina Y.

Feb  6, 1891

Nov  10, 1949

Recuerdo de su esposo e hijos (There is also a picture of the deceased)

Middle Area

DAVILA, Jose

Ago (Aug ?) 27, 1895

Jun  14, 1952

Recuerdo de sus hijos (There is also a picture of the deceased)

Middle Area

GARCIA, Rosalio

Sep  4, 1876

Apr  15, 1953

Recuerdo de su esposa e hijos

Middle Area

DAVILA, Pedro

Jan  19, 1922

Jul 20, 1959

Texas PFC CO C 380 ENGR Combat BN World War II (There is also a picture)

Middle Area

DIAZ, Gabriel V.

 - -

Fallesio el 19 de Dec 13 a la edad de 72 anos

Middle Area

HERRERA, Lorenzo S.

1888

Oct  8, 1962

 -

Middle Area

HERRERA, Lorenzo M.

Jul 3, 1945

Jun  6, 1988

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 In Loving Memory From Your Family

Middle Area