One story at a time
Four generations of women are pictured together when Deborah Burkett was a child, including her mother Emoline Langston Lovett( from left), grandmother Willie Dixon Langston holding Deborah and great grandmother Julie Smith Long Langston.
Deborah Burkett, coordinator of the annual Flag Day celebration in Hazel Tilton Park, acts as emcee during the 2024 Flag Day event.
Story and Photos by Michelle Dillon Cherokee County Living
Deborah Burkett’ s legacy could very well be that she preserved the legacies of others – their life stories, their struggles and their accomplishments.
Burkett has written books to preserve the life stories of people and the past. Her work with the Cherokee County Historical Commission has included teaching workshops on how to properly clean gravestones, organizing the annual Flag Day celebration in Jacksonville and conducting research for historical markers.
When asked whether any historical marker was her favorite, Burkett said they were all unique and different.
“ The 150th anniversary of Jacksonville marker at Hazel Tilton park, that was very special because of the history of Jacksonville,” she said.“ The Mixon Cemetery marker is so special because that is where all of my ancestors are buried.”
She also mentioned working with the African-American community to a marker for the Ragsdale Cemetery outside Jacksonville.
“ We’ re currently in the middle of the process,” she said.“ We’ re waiting for Austin and the Texas
Historical Commission to send us the words to go on the marker so we can proof it. That’ s the system. We do all the research, submit everything to Austin and they write it.”
Considering the educational nature of her research and writing, it may come as no surprise that her initial occupation was as a school teacher.
Burkett is a Sam Houston State University graduate who first taught elementary school in North Forest Independent School District in Houston.
In the 1970s and early 80s she taught junior high and high school in Alaska. She said she had
Spring 2025 | Jacksonville Progress 23