Cherokee County Obituary Lookup
Cherokee County obituary records can be found through The Cherokee County Herald newspaper, local funeral homes, and the Cherokee County Public Library in Centre. Judge Tim Burgess oversees the probate court which has an online portal for record searches. Note that courthouse fires in 1882 and 1895 destroyed some historical records, so records only go back to 1882. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has marriage records from 1928 to 1952, deed records from 1892 to 1901, probate minutes from 1882 to 1929, will records from 1948 to 1952, and military discharge records from 1919 to 1959.
Cherokee County Quick Facts
Cherokee County Probate Court
The Cherokee County Probate Court handles estate matters including wills and probate files. Judge Tim Burgess oversees the court. Due to courthouse fires in 1882 and 1895, most records only date back to 1882. Marriage, probate, land, and military discharge records are available from that year forward.
The probate office offers an online portal where you can search for records without visiting in person.
| Address | 260 Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 101, Centre, AL 35960 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 927-3668 |
| Fax | (256) 927-9218 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Website | cherokeecounty-al.gov/probate-office |
| Online Portal | Cherokee County Records Portal |
Under Alabama Code Section 36-12-40, probate records are public records. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files.
Cherokee County Newspapers
The Cherokee County Herald is the main newspaper serving Centre and Cherokee County. It publishes obituaries for the local area.
For older obituaries, USGenWeb Archives has transcribed death notices from historical Cherokee County newspapers. FamilySearch has an Alabama Obituaries collection that includes some Cherokee County records.
The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm copies of many old Alabama newspapers. They can help if you need to find obituaries from the late 1800s or early 1900s.
GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com may have digitized copies of older Cherokee County papers. These require subscriptions but many libraries offer free access.
Cherokee County Obituary Resources
The Cherokee County Public Library in Centre can help researchers find local obituary records. They may have clipping files or other resources not available online.
The Alabama Department of Archives and History has important Cherokee County records including marriage records from 1928 to 1952, probate minutes from 1882 to 1929, and will records from 1948 to 1952.
Cherokee County Funeral Homes
Local funeral homes in the Centre area post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled services, check their site first as many keep archives going back several years.
Cherokee County borders Georgia. Some residents may have used funeral homes in Rome or other nearby Georgia cities. Check both Alabama and Georgia resources if you cannot find an obituary.
Dignity Memorial operates locations across the region. Their searchable archive at dignitymemorial.com covers all their funeral homes.
Legacy.com collects obituaries from newspapers and funeral homes across Alabama. Search their site for Cherokee County death notices.
Cherokee County Historical Records
Due to courthouse fires in 1882 and 1895, early Cherokee County records were destroyed. However, several sources have surviving records:
The Alabama Department of Archives and History has:
- Marriage Records from 1928 to 1952
- Deed records from 1892 to 1901
- Probate minutes from 1882 to 1929
- Will records from 1948 to 1952
- Military discharge records from 1919 to 1959
FamilySearch has Alabama Probate Records from 1809 to 1985 and Estate Files from 1830 to 1976 that include Cherokee County materials that survived or were reconstructed.
USGenWeb Archives maintains transcribed obituaries for Cherokee County. This free volunteer-run site has records that genealogists have contributed.
How to Search Cherokee County Obituaries
For recent obituaries in Cherokee County, start with The Cherokee County Herald and Legacy.com. Most obituaries from the past few years will be found through these sources.
For older obituaries, check FamilySearch and USGenWeb Archives first since they are free. The online probate records portal can help you search for estate files that might include death information.
Find a Grave has burial records for Cherokee County cemeteries. This free site can help you find the date of death and burial location, then you can search newspaper archives more effectively.
Due to the courthouse fires, records before 1882 are limited. The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery may have additional resources for pre-1882 research.
Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After that period, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15.
Cities in Cherokee County
Cherokee County includes Centre (the county seat), Cedar Bluff, Gaylesville, Leesburg, and other communities. Centre is the largest town and location of the courthouse.
None of the cities in Cherokee County meet the 50,000 population threshold for a separate city page. For obituary searches in any Cherokee County city, use the county-level resources on this page.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. Gadsden newspapers from Etowah County sometimes carry Cherokee County obituaries.
Cherokee County is part of the 9th Judicial Circuit along with DeKalb County. Some court records might overlap between these counties. The county also borders Floyd County and Chattooga County in Georgia.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Cherokee County, Alabama.