"The first generation knows; the second generation remembers; and the third generation has forgotten." Our heritage is our pass, our legacy is our future and the present is our responsibility. Don't be the generation to forget.

Holly Springs Cemetery is an African American Cemetery located behind Holly Springs Baptist Church. The church and cemetery is an offspring of Pole Bridge Missionary Baptist Church and Cemetery which is located a few miles down the road. The name for Holly Springs Baptist Church and cemetery originated from a holly bush located on the property. Malinda Hall was the first person buried at the cemetery.

Some the church members of Pole Bridge Missionary Baptist Church; including our grandfather; Ned Prewitt wanted to form a new church. Ned owned 440 acres of land in Tuscaloosa County. The former members of Pole Bridge church purchased property from Ned and shortly after Holly Springs Baptist Church and cemetery was established. Ned was a deacon and active member of the church until his death. He is buried; along with other family members, are buried in the cemetery. Holly Springs Cemetery is an active cemetery with about 300 to 400+ graves. Ned has an elaborate headstone which stands nearly six feet high.

The church was destroyed several times by storms and has undergone many changes since built. The church and cemetery is also known by some as; Holly Springs Baptist Church Cemetery and Holly Springs Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Holly Springs Cemetery is not a perpetual care cemetery or endowment care cemetery. The cemetery is maintained by the church volunteer cemetery committee that takes care of the grounds. However; family members primarily assume the responsibility for the preservation of their loved ones' cemetery plots. Many of the old headstones in the cemetery are broken, sunken in the ground, darkened with age and unreadable. There are some unmarked graves with only a bouquet of flowers, wooden crosses and temporary funeral home markers throughout the cemetery. In spite of some old unkempt graves; there is a lot of history of the past in the cemetery.

Holly Springs Cemetery is an important link to past and an everlasting reminder of the contributions and sacrifices made by the souls interred at the cemetery. It is a memorial to those who have gone before us; former slaves, pastors, business owners, to those who served our Country that shaped towns, cities, and made them into the place where they lived.

This cemetery was photographed and documented via visible markers/off-site research by Find A Grave members as of September 2009.

Another African American Cemetery not far from Holly Spring and Pole Bridge is Ebenezer Cemetery

Updated and written April 6, 2009 by Jackie and JD Prewitt. © do not use any content on this page, images or links without prior permission.