Public invited to ceremony honoring Revolutionary War lineage

A grave marker dedication ceremony recognizing a descendant of a Daughters of the American Revolution patriot is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Fitzhugh Cemetery in Lucas.

The ceremony will honor Edith Sparks Simmons, who is buried alongside her husband, James Simmons, at the cemetery, also known as Forest Grove Cemetery. Simmons is the daughter of Revolutionary War Patriot William Sparks, who served at age 17 and later settled in Texas when it was still part of Mexico.

The event is open to the public, and a large attendance is anticipated, including state officers from the DAR and members of the Plano chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, who will present the colors in period uniforms.

Linda Hamlin Dillard, recording secretary for the John F. Greer Chapter of the DAR, said the discovery of Simmons’ gravesite came during genealogical research connected to her daughter-in-law, MaKenzie West.

“When I started doing the research on MaKenzie’s family, we were all surprised when I found Edith Sparks Simmons, buried in Fitzhugh Cemetery,” Dillard said.

West, a teacher and coach at Farmersville High School, is Simmons’ fourth great-granddaughter and has been a member of the John F. Greer Chapter for more than two years. Her 9-year-old son is a member of the Children of the American Revolution, a youth organization affiliated with the DAR.

Dillard said the process to place the marker required extensive documentation and approval from the national DAR historian general’s office.

“To mark the grave of a daughter of a Revolutionary War Patriot, an application is submitted … with proper documents to prove the lineage of the daughter to the patriot,” she said.

The application was submitted in June 2025 and approved shortly thereafter. A bronze marker will be placed at the gravesite to commemorate the family’s lineage and connection to the American Revolution.

Dillard noted the significance of the ceremony aligns with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and reflects the DAR’s mission of historic preservation, education and patriotism.

Simmons’ father, William Sparks, is buried in Nacogdoches at Old North Baptist Church Cemetery.

The ceremony will include family members, DAR representatives and community participants. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

More information can be found at DAR.org.

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