Escambia County Obituary Records
Obituary records for Escambia County are available through The Brewton Standard and The Atmore Advance newspapers, local funeral homes, and the Probate Court in Brewton. This county in south Alabama borders Florida and has two main population centers. The Probate Court maintains estate and will records from 1869 that can help with genealogy research. The county is home to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and tribal resources may help with Native American genealogy. Local funeral homes in Brewton and Atmore keep obituary archives on their websites.
Escambia County Quick Facts
Escambia County Probate Court
The Escambia County Probate Court handles wills, estates, and probate matters. These records can help when you cannot find an obituary because they often list family members and heirs. The court has offices in both Brewton and Atmore.
Judge Robert D. Agerton serves as the Probate Judge for Escambia County. The county is in the 21st Judicial Circuit.
| Brewton Office | 314 Belleville Ave, Rm 557, Brewton, AL 36426 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 557, Brewton, AL 36427 |
| Phone (Brewton) | (251) 867-0301 |
| Phone (Atmore) | (251) 368-5371 |
| Fax | (251) 867-0284 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Website | escambiacountyal.gov |
Records available include marriage records from 1897, probate records from 1869, and land records from 1869. You can search some records online at ingprobate.com/Escambia_Probate/.
FamilySearch has digitized Alabama probate records from 1809 to 1985 and estate files from 1830 to 1976 that include Escambia County records. These are free to search online.
Escambia County Newspapers
Two main newspapers serve Escambia County. The Brewton Standard covers Brewton and the northern part of the county. The Atmore Advance covers Atmore and the southern part.
Both papers publish obituaries for local residents. Current obituaries appear on their websites and on Legacy.com. To submit an obituary, contact the funeral home handling services. They work with the newspapers to publish death notices.
For historical obituaries, check newspaper archive services like Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has microfilm of old Escambia County newspapers that you can search in their Montgomery research room.
Since Escambia County borders Florida, some residents may have obituaries in Florida newspapers, particularly those in Pensacola. Check the Pensacola News Journal if you cannot find an obituary in Alabama sources.
Escambia County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Escambia County post obituaries online and keep archives going back years. Both Brewton and Atmore have funeral homes serving local families.
Major funeral homes in Escambia County include:
- Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, Atmore
- Atmore Memorial Chapel
- Williams Memorial Funeral Home, Brewton
- Riley Funeral Home, Brewton
If you know which funeral home handled services, start your search there. Most funeral homes can search their records if you call them. Have the full name and approximate date of death ready.
Some families in Escambia County use funeral homes in Pensacola, Florida or Mobile, Alabama. If you cannot find an obituary locally, check funeral homes in those larger cities.
How to Search Escambia County Obituaries
Legacy.com is the best starting point for recent obituaries. Search by name and filter by Alabama or Escambia County to narrow results. Most recent obituaries appear there within a day or two.
For older obituaries and genealogy research:
- FamilySearch has free Alabama probate records from 1809 to 1985
- FamilySearch has Alabama estate files from 1830 to 1976
- Find a Grave has burial records for Escambia County cemeteries
- USGenWeb Archives has transcribed obituaries and death notices
The Escambia County Historical Society at PO Box 276, Brewton, AL 36427 has local records and volunteers who help with research. Phone: (251) 809-1528. Email: escambiacohistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After that time, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Poarch Creek Indian Records
Escambia County is home to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. If you are researching Native American genealogy in this area, there are special resources to consider.
Tribal records may include birth, death, and burial information not found in county records. Contact the Poarch Creek Tribal Council for information about accessing tribal records. The tribe maintains its own cemetery and historical records.
The Dawes Rolls and other federal Native American records may help with genealogy research for this area. FamilySearch and Ancestry have digitized versions of these records available online.
Nearby Counties
Obituaries for Escambia County residents sometimes appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Escambia County.
Escambia County also borders Florida. Check Escambia County, Florida and Santa Rosa County, Florida newspapers for obituaries that may appear in Florida sources.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Escambia County, Alabama.