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Ross Cemetery Records
Opelika, Lee County, Alabama

Lat: 32° 40' 05'N, Lon: 85° 23' 49'W
T19N R26E Section 1

Contributed by John H. Adams, Oct 15, 2008, last edited Oct 16, 2008 [johms@bellsouth.net].  Total records = 19.

To reach the cemetery from downtown Opelika, take 10th Street north, which will become Oak Bowery Rd. At the first yellow blinking signal (Northgate Dr.) turn right, go one block and turn right onto India Rd. The cemetery will be on your right along India Road between residences at 1414 and 1700, and along Oak Bowery between residences at 1605 and 1703.

The Ross Cemetery is an African American cemetery consisting of about four acres of mature forest, located in a residential area on the north side of Opelika, Lee County, AL, between India Rd. and Oak Bowery Rd.

The cemetery is named Ross because it lies on land that was once part of the Isaac Ross plantation, land that was in the Ross family from 1839 to 1905. Ownership of the cemetery is unclear, and it is not formally maintained. Some kind neighbors voluntarily tend to the area somewhat. Because it is mature forest, it is fairly easy to walk through, but sturdy clothing is recommended.

I conducted this cemetery survey October 9-14, 2008, recording tombstone inscriptions and whatever could be read by clearing debris from inscribed concrete grave caps. There are some paths that cross the cemetery, but have no relation to any graves. There is no consistent orientation of graves. There are about three dozen grave-size depressions scattered throughout the forest, a few marked with natural stones. There are about twenty unmarked concrete grave caps also scattered throughout the area. There are 20 identified graves. Five are alongside India Road.

- John H. Adams

Benfory, J. Arthur, b. 6 Aug 1893, d. 3 Aug 1958
Benfory, Wilbert, b 15 Apr 1896, d. 10 Jul 1955, "Alabama Pvt 7 Co Vet Tng Sch World War I"
Calloway, Mack, no dates, "At Rest" nothing else on concrete grave cap
Carde, Mary, d. 25 Dec 1948 nothing else on concrete cap
Gibson, Lizzie, b. 7 Dec 1864, d. 2 Mar 1915
Gibson, Zebey ee, b. 23 Nov 1891, d. 28 Feb 1915
Gleen, Leona, no dates, "Old Leona Gleen At Rest"
Gleen, Rachel, b. 11 Jun 1917 d. 13 Jun 1918, age: 1y 2d
Gunn, Jesse, b. 20 May 1896, d. 31 Mar 1961, "Alabama Pvt infantry World War I"
Harris, A. B., d. 1 Nov 1926
Harris, Ella, d. 18 Dec 1928
Hill, Mrs. Annie Laura, d. 22 Aug 1963
Hunter, Lucious Jr., b. 19 Mar 1926, d. 17 Oct 1946, "Alabama Pvt O M Corps World War II"
Lewis, Dorothy M., b. 25 Jul 1994, d. 5 Dec 1994, "Our Darling"
Moore, Joe R., b 28 Apr 1888, d. 29 Jun 1944, "Alabama Pvt 425 Res Labor Bn OMC"
Rea, Addie, b. 5 Feb 1864, d. 29 May 1936, "Our Beloved Mother"
Rea, E. B. Jr., b. 5 Jul 1924, d. 12 Jan 1925, "Our Darling"
Rea, Pomp, d. 8 Jul 1932, age: 84 yrs, "Our Dear Father"
Torbert, Henry L., b. 1 May 1910, d. 29 Sep 1956, "Alabama Pvt 699 Port Co TC World War II"

Misc:
Fastmantoul, ??, no dates, last 4 letters are unclear