Gadsden in Etowah County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Southern Hill Cemetery

Etowah County

By Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

1. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Established in 1826 as "The Colored Cemetery," this site is the first and largest African-American cemetery in Gadsden. In 1918, the Mosaic Templars of America, a fraternal organization who provided African Americans with death and burial insurance, established a smaller cemetery here. Southern Hill, also known as "6th Street Cemetery," is the final resting place for many veterans who served in the Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII and Korean War. Many slaves, early settlers, children, landowners, sharecroppers, educators, preachers, steel mill laborers, and business men and women are also buried here. The Alabama Historical Commission listed this cemetery in the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register on June 6, 2013.

Lineage of Owners

1826-1876    John W. Slack
1876-1906    Etowah County Commission
1906-1918    T.J. and Lily Woodliff
1918 - 1935    A.W. Woodliff
1918    Mosaic Templars of America
2013-present    Grace Heritage Community Development

Erected 2016 by State Representatives Ford, Nordgren, and Butler; Chari Bostick, Team Leaders

By Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

2. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

and Grace Heritage Community Development.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites.

Location. 33° 59.924′ N, 86° 0.66′ W. Marker is in Gadsden, Alabama, in Etowah County. Marker can be reached from South Sixth Street 0.2 miles south of Oak Street. Enclosed behind fencing at very end of S 6th St at NW corner of the James D. Martin Wildlife Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 976 S 6th St, Gadsden AL 35901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sisters Missionary Servants Of The Most Blessed Trinity (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gadsden Municipal Amphitheatre (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gadsden Amphitheater (approx. 0.8 miles away); The North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church (approx. one mile away); Paul Harvey Loyalty Day (approx. one mile away); Gadsden, Alabama (approx. one mile away); Congregation Beth Israel (approx. 1.1 miles away); Colonel Hood House (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gadsden.

Regarding Southern Hill Cemetery. Southern Hill Cemetery was once part of the Forest Hill community, a predominantly black section of Gadsden. The cemetery was abandoned in the 1940s when the City of Gadsden declared eminent domain

By Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

3. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

over the area. Vines and tall grass have grown over many of the headstones. It sits behind Williamsburg Apartments and many grave stones are broken and have been vandalized. A tall fence has been erected to help prevent vandalism.

By Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

4. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 46 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 20, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.