Honoring Brown Cemetery

***RISE EVENT POSTPONED – NEW DATE: DECEMBER 6TH
The forecast shows a 99% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms tomorrow (Saturday, October 25th). Since our event is outdoors, we’ll need to postpone for everyone’s safety and comfort.
Floris “Ms. Flo” Sorrells manages Brown Cemetery, her family’s historic resting place, almost entirely on her own. The cemetery was purchased in 1900 by her grandfather, Smith Sorrells, and has been cared for by her family ever since. Earlier this year, Ms. Flo went viral for sharing the story of her family’s cemetery and the challenges of preserving it.

Our new date is Saturday, December 6th, at the same time (12:00 PM–3:00 PM).

We invite the community to come learn about the history of Brown Cemetery and support Ms. Flo’s efforts to preserve it for future generations.

All donations will go towards essential needs, including landscaping, installing a protective gate, cemetery repairs, securing historic landmark designation and marker, and creating interpretive signage.

Date: Saturday, October 25th

Time: 12-3pm

Location: Brown Cemetery
12600 Twin Creek Drive, Manchaca, TX 78652. ( A few miles from South Austin)

What to Expect:

Cemetery Tour with Ms. Flo and historian Stephanie Lang

Panel Discussion: Ms. Flo will share her experiences of growing up on a farm in Manchaca, alongside Stephanie Lang

Live Jazz Band

Bake Sale - Cakes, brownies, cookies and more!

Kids Activities: painting, crafts, and hands-on learning

Workshops/Activations:
• How to repair a tombstone
• Cemetery preservation techniques
• Archiving your family’s history

Food Available for Purchase from a local vendor.

Ways to Give: Donate directly through Eventbrite and/or support donate at the event.

Your presence and support will help honor the legacy of Brown Cemetery while easing the burden Ms. Flo carries in caring for this important piece of history.
Thank you to the generous support of Out(sider) Preservation Initiative!

Info: Guests will gather to enjoy live jazz (TBA), delicious food, bake sale, and the opportunity to connect with one another.

Info: Stephanie L. Lang and Funmi Ogunro, producers of Rise, share why they partnered with Brown Cemetery and provide insight into their work with RiseATX.org

Info: In this conversation, Stephanie Lang engages Ms. Flo in a discussion about the history of the cemetery and its connection to Ms. Flo’s family. Ms. Flo shares personal memories of what it was like growing up on a farm in Manchaca, offering a window into the daily life and traditions of her community. Stephanie brings her perspective as a historian, connecting Ms. Flo’s stories to the broader context of freedom communities and emphasizing the importance of cemetery preservation as a way to honor heritage and safeguard history for future generations.

Info: Guests will gather to enjoy live jazz (TBA), delicious food, and the opportunity to connect with one another. The program will also highlight the history of the cemetery, where research has uncovered that enslaved people and Indigenous people are buried. Ms. Flo’s family is also laid to rest here. With many unmarked graves still present, ongoing research continues to shed light on the stories of those interred at the site.

Info: Cemetery Repair Activation & Workshop – Join Yucca Preservation for a hands-on session where attendees will learn the proper techniques for cleaning and caring for tombstones. They will also share insights into how they repair damaged stones and preserve cemetery grounds. Participants will receive a cemetery repair kit to take home, providing the tools to continue this important work in their own communities.

Family Archival Workshop – Discover how to preserve and celebrate your family’s history. This workshop will guide attendees through the basics of archiving, from organizing photographs and documents to recording oral histories. Participants will learn practical steps to safeguard their family legacies for future generations.

Info: Jazz Band to close out the event.

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