Marker mystery solved, tombstone for life-partners moved to Texas AIDS Memorial Garden

In Houston, Texas (KTRK), a tombstone discovered at a construction site last year sparked a moving story of remembrance and community unity. The tombstone, originally belonging to two men who were life partners in the late 1980s and died battling AIDS, has found a new home in the Texas AIDS Memorial Garden in Third Ward.

Kenneth French and James Brickey, the two men commemorated on the tombstone, were buried separately, despite their shared marker. Thanks to the efforts of various community members, including a member of the LGBTQ+ community who found the tombstone, Councilmember Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, the founders of the AIDS Memorial Garden, and Friends of Columbia Tap Trail, the 500-pound marker has been relocated to the memorial garden along the Columbia Tap Trail.

Dating back to 1986, the tombstone now stands among other memorials honoring individuals from southeast Texas who lost their lives to AIDS during the epidemic’s height. R. Michael Lee, founder of the Texas AIDS Memorial Garden, emphasized the significance of each memorial, representing the poignant stories of those affected by the epidemic.

The journey of relocating the tombstone involved the collaboration of various community members and the assistance of Heavenly Memorials and Monuments, who used heavy machinery to transport the marker to its new resting place. The community’s dedication to preserving and honoring the memory of those lost to AIDS is evident, with a rededication ceremony planned for the garden next Tuesday.