Geneva County Obituary Records
Obituary records for Geneva County are available through local newspapers like the Geneva County Reaper and Samson Ledger, funeral homes, and the Probate Court in the city of Geneva. Located in southeast Alabama near the Florida border, Geneva County has several small towns including Hartford, Samson, and Slocomb. The Probate Court maintains estate and will records from 1898 that can help with genealogy research. Funeral homes across the county post obituaries on their websites and keep archives going back years.
Geneva County Quick Facts
Geneva County Probate Court
The Geneva County Probate Court handles wills, estates, and probate filings. These records can help when you cannot find an obituary because they list heirs and family members. The court is on Commerce Street in downtown Geneva.
Geneva County shares the 33rd Judicial Circuit with Dale County. Chief Probate Clerk Gina Holmes can help with record requests.
| Address | 200 N. Commerce St., Geneva, AL 36340 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 430, Geneva, AL 36340 |
| Phone (Clerk) | (334) 684-5642 |
| Phone (Court) | (334) 684-5646 |
| gina.holmes@genevacountyal.gov | |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | genevacountyal.gov/probate/ |
Records available include marriage records from 1898, military discharge records from 1890, and court records from 1923. Divorce records are available through the Circuit Clerk at (334) 684-5620. You can search some records online at ingprobate.com/geneva_probate/.
FamilySearch has digitized Geneva County wills from 1883 to 1943, administrator's records from 1898 to 1929, and final settlement records from 1900 to 1929. These are free to search online.
Geneva County Newspapers
Several newspapers serve Geneva County. The Geneva County Reaper covers the county seat and surrounding areas. The Samson Ledger serves the Samson community in the northern part of the county.
Current obituaries appear on newspaper websites and on Legacy.com. Search Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/geneva-county. To submit an obituary, contact the funeral home handling services.
For historical obituaries, Genealogy Trails has transcribed obituaries at genealogytrails.com/ala/geneva/obits.html. These free transcriptions can help you find older death notices that are not available on newspaper websites.
The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery has microfilm of old Geneva County newspapers. You can search these in their research room.
Geneva County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes throughout Geneva County post obituaries online. Geneva, Hartford, Samson, and Slocomb all have funeral homes serving local families.
Major funeral homes in Geneva County include:
- Sorrells Funeral Home, Geneva
- Perry Funeral Home, Geneva
- McClendon Funeral Home, Samson
- Funeral homes serving Hartford and Slocomb
Call funeral homes directly if you need older obituaries. Have the full name and approximate date of death ready. Many keep paper records going back years.
Since Geneva County is near Dothan, some families use funeral homes in that larger city. Check Houston County funeral homes if you cannot find an obituary locally.
How to Search Geneva County Obituaries
For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com at legacy.com/us/obituaries/local/alabama/geneva-county. Search by name and filter by location.
For older obituaries and genealogy research:
- Genealogy Trails at genealogytrails.com/ala/geneva/obits.html
- FamilySearch free probate records including wills from 1883 to 1943
- Find a Grave for burial records in Geneva County cemeteries
- USGenWeb Archives for transcribed records
The Geneva Public Library has genealogy resources and may have obituary indexes or clipping files not available online.
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.
Historical Records in Geneva County
Geneva County was created in 1868 from parts of Coffee, Dale, and Henry counties. Most records date from the late 1800s. Some earlier records may be found in those parent counties.
FamilySearch has several Geneva County record sets:
- Wills from 1883 to 1943
- Administrator's records from 1898 to 1929
- Final settlement records from 1900 to 1929
- Alabama estate files from 1830 to 1976
These records can help find family connections when obituaries are not available. Probate records list heirs and often give dates and relationships that help with genealogy research.
Nearby Counties
Obituaries for Geneva County residents sometimes appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties share borders with Geneva County.
Geneva County also borders Florida. Check Holmes County and Jackson County, Florida newspapers if you cannot find an obituary in Alabama sources.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Geneva County, Alabama.