A historic Arlington landmark is finally getting the recognition—and the records—it deserves, thanks to a unique partnership between the City of Arlington and local firm mma Land Development Consultants.
Established in the late 1800s, Arlington Cemetery, located at 801 S. Mary Street, is one of the oldest burial grounds in the area.
The oldest legible grave marker belongs to one-year-old Mattie Luna Cooper (1874-75), daughter of early Arlington settlers J.D. and Luna A. Cooper. Among the most notable individuals buried here are Indy race car driver Jim McElreath and actor Morgan Woodward, known for his roles in Dallas, Gunsmoke, Star Trek, and The X-Files. The cemetery is also the final resting place for numerous early settlers and nearly 200 veterans spanning from the Civil War to World War II. In addition, many local leaders are buried here, including seven former postmasters and eleven former mayors: M.J. Brinson, George M. Finger, Emmett E. Rankin, William C. Weeks, Thomas B. Collins, T.G. Bailey, W.H. Davis, Preston F. McKee, William H. Rose, Will G. Hiett and Harold E. Patterson. Despite its rich history, until recently, no formal records of burials existed.
“The city ended up with the property as an abandoned cemetery—no one was taking care of it. We didn’t know how many plots were there or how many were available,” said Sarah Stubblefield with the City of Arlington.
mma recently completed a six-month project surveying Arlington Cemetery, a burial ground with long-missing documentation. The goal: to identify available burial plots, document existing gravesites, and provide the city with its first accurate, navigable record of the cemetery’s layout.
“This wasn’t a typical land survey,” said Jacob Sumpter, president of mma. “It was a complex, meticulous project that required capturing more than a century’s worth of history and organizing it in a way the city can actually use.”
A key legal hurdle had previously prevented cities from selling plots in abandoned cemeteries. That changed with the recent passage of H.B. 2371, championed by Arlington leaders and state lawmakers. The bill cleared the path for new interments after several prominent residents expressed a desire to be buried in Arlington Cemetery.
Through ground-penetrating surveys and field documentation, mma helped identify roughly 2,100 empty plots—about 1,500 of which are now available for purchase. mma provided a topographical perspective and took photos of nearly 1,600 headstones. This work was essential in preparing the city to offer new burial plots for the first time since taking control of the cemetery in 1995.
The finished product includes a digital plat map, detailing grave markers, plot sizes, roadways, tree locations, and underground infrastructure. It also lays the groundwork for an online interactive map, allowing residents to explore the cemetery’s rich history and search for burial locations.
mma’s contribution went beyond technical mapping. As a firm based in Arlington, with a long-standing relationship with the city, the project had personal significance.
“Our firm is local. I drive by the cemetery every day,” said Sumpter. “Helping preserve the city’s history and cataloging these stories was incredibly meaningful.”
“For the first time, we have accurate records, and we can now go out into community to ask residents for documentation of plots they own so we don’t accidentally sell something that belongs to someone else. We will be starting that process in June,” said Stubblefield.
For mma, it was a rare and rewarding challenge—one that brought new clarity, care, and connection to one of Arlington’s oldest landmarks.
