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

Southern Hill Cemetery

Etowah County

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

1. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

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 and Grace Heritage Community Development.

Topics.

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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 2013.

Location. 33° 59.924′ N, 86° 0.66′ W. Marker is in Gadsden, Alabama, in Etowah County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

2. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

Sisters Missionary Servants Of The Most Blessed Trinity (approx. 0.6 miles away); Tom Sims (approx. 0.6 miles away); Gadsden Municipal Amphitheatre (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gadsden Amphitheater (approx. 0.8 miles away); Gadsden Times-News Building (approx. one mile 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). 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 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.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

3. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 20, 2021

4. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker

Southern Hill Cemetery Marker behind the fence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, May 27, 2026

5. Southern Hill Cemetery Marker behind the fence

After dusk, another gate is locked and you can't even get this close to the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,429 times since then and 124 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 20, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5. submitted on June 4, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia.