Exploring Alabama’s long lost cemeteries.

[DeBandi]

I lost my mother in 1984. I was only a teenager when she died. I visited her gravesite in Memphis this week for Mother’s Day.


It made me think of all the long lost cemeteries hidden in the hills and hollows of rural Alabama and how they won’t be visited this weekend.






Let’s take a short ride from my driveway and see what lost cemeteries we can find.







Many of these forgotten cemeteries are trapped behind gated hunting leases.

[GB]

Always enjoy your exploring threads

[DeBandi]

This cemetery dates back to the late 1800s.




It looks as though someone has recently attempted to clear and mark the graves.

I like that.....


No roads lead to this lost cemetery.

[dave6253]

[fle]

You got me subscribed

[shovelmike]

I often do the same thing here in Missouri. Interesting to see the names and a little glimpse at a life lived long ago, short epitaphs for children who were victims of the flu epidemic, a young man cut down in his prime in a trench in Europe in WWI. A quiet moment to pay respects.

[DeBandi]

How does a cemetery become abandoned?

[DeBandi]

I've stumbled upon the Byars family plot.



W. G. BYARS, was a prominent business man of Blount Springs, and was born in Blount County in 1826. Jonas Byars was one of the trustees to whom the deed was made when the court house was built in Blountsville; he also served as commissioner of Blount County about twelve years and was tax collector and justice of the peace for many years longer. W. G. Byars was reared on the old homestead farm in Blount County, and attended school in the old pioneer log school house. Jonas Byars built the first cabin at Blount Springs. Mr. Byars served one and one-half terms as commissioner of Blount County and twelve years as justice of the peace in Blount Springs. He also served as postmaster of Blount Springs under Grover Cleveland, and was one of the leading businessmen of the county. Mr. Byars and son were proprietors of Blount Springs hotel, a noted watering place.




Interesting... A prominent businessman lies in an abandoned cemetery?

I had no idea.

[DeBandi]

It's amazing how much history can be completely fogotten and neglected.



This lost cemetery has an estimated 100 graves. It is in very good condition, considering it's been abandoned for some 20 years or more.




Let's ride on down the road and see what else we can find.



We just have to get around this gate to get to the road.

[DeBandi]

I know of another forgotten cemetery just beyond this gate.











A better view of the old gate...

[DeBandi]

This is what I found on the other side of the gate.





















I would be surprised if anyone visited Elisabeth on this Mother's Day.



Happy Mother's Day, Elisabeth.




















On to the next lost cemetery.

[Rashnak]

I'm also fascinated with old graveyards. We have an old one in Port Gamble, WA where I made a video


Thanks for the pics- very nicely done.

[herengone]

The old cemetaries hold a lot of fascination for me. I have went geocaching in some around the thumb of michigan and have enjoyed what I have learned about the areas history.

[WaywardSon]

Always enjoy your reports...we seem to have similar interests.

I run across a lot of these old cemeteries in the Land Between the Lakes in Western Kentucky.

I thought this one was interesting...sisters who never met.

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Very interesting. I'm wondering if you had a squeeze bottle of water and sprayed the headstone face whether it would bring up the lettering and make the camera image easier to read.