The Haunting of Mills Cemetery

Posted: 09.25.2024 | Updated: 09.25.2024

Located just 30 minutes northeast of Dallas sits the quaint Mills Cemetery at the corner of State Highway 66 and East Centerville Road in Garland, TX. This rural cemetery is peppered with historic grave markers that date back to the 1850s. But what really sets the Mills Cemetery apart from others in the area is the unusual Smiley Grave. 

The Smiley Family headstone features five names of a family who all died on the same day in 1927 and were buried together in a mass grave. Over the years, the story of what happened to the Smiley family has morphed into urban legend and a notorious ghost story that still haunts Mills Cemetery.

Read on to learn more about the Smiley Grave and the Dallas area’s haunted past.

What is The Legend of Smiley's Grave?

The legend of Smiley’s Grave has developed in the local lore of the area for years, but the general story goes that Oscar Smiley murdered his wife and three daughters in a fit of rage, then hanged himself after realizing what he had done. However, some say the family died after Smiley burned down his farm rather than selling it to the state so that a road could be built through it. Others claim that a tornado ripped through Garland, and the Smiley Family were among its casualties.

Legend has it that if a person lays on the Smiley Family Grave at midnight, especially on Halloween, they’re unable to stand back up. They feel like they’re being pulled back towards the ground by an unseen force. Some believe that it’s the restless spirit of Mr. Smiley clinging to the person in one last attempt to take a final victim to the grave with him.

Whatever the true story behind Smiley’s Grave might be, booking a ghost tour with Dallas Terrors will give you eerie insight into the city’s haunted past, along with tales of ghostly legends from the surrounding area. 

The History of Mills Cemetery and Smiley’s Grave

Mills Cemetery opened in October 1854, seven years after Edward C. Mills and his family arrived as the first settlers of Eastern Dallas County. Eventually, Mills buried his second wife, Elizabeth, on the land, then left it to the city as a cemetery upon his death in 1871. The cemetery's J.S. Mason and Weaver sections were added in the 20th century as the town of Garland and the cemetery grew.

As far as historical records indicate, there was no official map of the original Mills Cemetery. It wasn’t until the 1970s that an employee from a local funeral home created a hand-drawn map of the area, doing their best to count all the graves and headstones. However, it’s believed there are a number of unmarked graves that have been lost to time. A person can still be buried in the original section of the cemetery, but a release of liability must be signed since it’s unclear if there are existing unmarked graves.

As for what happened to the Smiley Family, there is a record of a tornado known as the Garland Cyclone wreaking havoc on Garland the same day of their deaths. Some records show that the Smileys were not among the nine fatalities in the disaster, while others list 17 deaths, including those of the Smileys, who likely died in their sleep when the cyclone hit around 3 a.m. on May 9, 1927. It’s even possible that the Smileys had a five-year-old son, Dorit, who survived the tornado but tragically lost his entire family in a single day.

The Haunting At Mills Cemetery

The infamous Smiley Grave is simply inscribed with the names of the family and their death dates. The headstone reads, “Smiley: Mother Belle Hall, Oct. 30, 1890; Father Chas. Oscar, Mar 17, 1890; Daughters Lilath Merle, June 20, 1914; Greeta May, Oct 27, 1915; Charlena, Feb 20, 1926; All Died May 9, 1927.” 

The fact that the entire family died on the same day has led to stories of the grave being haunted. Visitors to Mills Cemetery have heard a moaning sound sweeping through the cemetery, which is believed to be the unquiet spirit of Mr. Smiley. Others have heard footsteps on dry leaves and twigs breaking when no one else is around. Some have even witnessed a bobbing orb near the grave.

An Alternative Ghost Story

The general consensus is that Mr. Smiley’s angry ghost searches the Mills Cemetery for another victim. Still, one paranormal investigator believes that Mr. Smiley’s spirit is upset by the urban legend surrounding his family’s death. This investigator recorded an Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) of the Smiley daughters singing and Mr. Smiley replying “Yes” when asked if he was troubled by the legend that he murdered his family. 

Haunted Dallas

Much like the history of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the story of Smiley’s Grave is intriguing but complex. Is it possible that a man could murder his entire family and still be buried with them? Or is it more likely that a natural disaster cut their lives short?

The legend of Smiley’s Grave is one of many ghostly tales woven into the rich story of the Dallas area where the modern world and Old West intertwine. Booking a ghost tour with Dallas Terrors offers an up-close look into Dallas’ many haunted locations and lore that you won’t soon forget. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Texas hauntings.

Sources:

https://www.garlandmills.com/garland-mills

https://1dustytrack.blogspot.com/2011/12/smiley-texas-ghost.html?m=1

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10171689/charles-oscar-smiley

https://www.becksghosthunters.com/2013/07/smiley-haunted-mills-cemetery.html