Located on East Monticello Street near Brookhaven High School is the city cemetery known as Rose Hill. Amanda Boswell, a local resident, is given credit for naming it. She was the wife of John J. Boswell who was the mayor of Brookhaven at one time. She and her husband are both buried in Rose Hill.

The first grave was said to be that of a horse trader, Mike Walker, who died while visiting Brookhaven in 1861. Milton Jacob Whitworth donated an acre of land so the salesman could be buried. There may be some truth to this story, but there are three graves marked in this cemetery dating before 1861. They are the graves of two small children, Walter Warren and Phillip Schwall and one of a 20 year old, Lou Towns Adams. They have burial dates of 1859 and 1860. Mike Walker's grave is not marked and the location is unknown.

There is a section in the cemetery for people whose family could not afford to pay for their burial. This is known as the "paupers field". '

The original Rose Hill covered one acre of land 210 feet by 210 feet. Eight additional acres were added sometime between 1890 and 1936. Today there are approximately 16 acres in use.

In 1901 the city board appointed Chris Albertz, as the first Cemetery Sexton. He was paid $20 a month to dig graves and see that the city cemeteries were kept in the best condition. He was allowed to charge $2.50 for the burial of a child and $3.50 for the burial of an adult. He not only took care of Rose Hill, but the Catholic and Jewish cemeteries as well. He lived in the old latticed well house in the cemetery acting as a night watchman. Mr. Albertz remained the sexton until he died in 1910. The next known sexton was James A. Vardeman. Others have been N. W. Myers, Walter E. Boren, and Sidney Kincade.

In the early days there was no fence surrounding this cemetery. Livestock that roamed the streets of town invaded the peace and quiet of the "City of the Dead" destroying the monuments family members had placed there.

It wasn't until 1911 that iron fencing was installed. Brick columns and a gateway were added. Plants and flowers were also planted. In 1924 more fencing was added and more plants.