Search Jackson County Obituaries
Jackson County obituary records are available through local newspapers, funeral homes, and the Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center. The county seat of Scottsboro has been home to The Daily Sentinel newspaper which publishes death notices for the area. Funeral homes like Rudder Funeral Home maintain online obituary archives. The Jackson County Public Library keeps cemetery records that can help with research. Some early will books were lost in a fire, but records from the mid-1850s onward remain intact. Whether you need a recent death notice or older records for family research, Jackson County has several paths to find the information you need.
Jackson County Quick Facts
Jackson County Probate Court
The Jackson County Probate Court handles estate matters, wills, and probate records. These records often list family members and can fill in gaps when you cannot find an obituary. The court also maintains marriage records and land records going back many years.
Jackson County has marriage records from 1851, probate records from 1850, and land records from 1835. Court records go back to 1920 and divorce records to 1895. Note that early will books were destroyed in a fire. Will Book K from the mid-1850s is the earliest surviving volume.
| Address | 102 E Laurel St, Scottsboro, AL 35768 |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 128, Scottsboro, AL 35768 |
| Phone | (256) 574-9290 |
| Fax | (256) 574-9318 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Website | jacksoncountyal.gov/243/Probate-Office |
Under Alabama Code Section 43-8-1, probate records are public. Anyone can request copies of wills and estate files. These records may list heirs and family members that help with genealogy work.
Jackson County Newspapers
The Daily Sentinel is the main newspaper serving Jackson County. Based in Scottsboro, it publishes obituaries for residents throughout the county. Current obituaries appear in the paper and online.
For historical obituaries, GenealogyBuffs.com has a Jackson County collection. The USGenWeb Archives Project also has transcribed death notices from older newspapers. These free resources cover earlier time periods.
To find obituaries published in The Daily Sentinel:
- Check the newspaper's website for recent notices
- Search Legacy.com for Jackson County
- Visit the Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center for older records
- Check GenealogyBuffs.com for their collection
Libraries with newspaper access can help you search subscription databases like Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank for historical Jackson County obituaries.
Jackson County Funeral Homes
Funeral homes in Jackson County post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled services, check their site first. Many keep archives going back several years.
Major funeral homes serving Jackson County include:
- Moore Funeral Home and Cremation Service - Bryant, AL
- Rudder Funeral Home - Bridgeport, Scottsboro, and Stevenson
- Scottsboro Funeral Home - Scottsboro
- Pinehaven Memorial Gardens - Hollywood and Scottsboro
Rudder Funeral Home serves multiple towns in Jackson County and maintains an online obituary archive. Check their website for recent death notices or call to ask about older records.
Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center
The Scottsboro Jackson Heritage Center is a key resource for local history and genealogy research. Located in downtown Scottsboro, the center has materials that can help you find obituary information.
| Address | 208 South Houston Street, Scottsboro, AL 35768 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (256) 259-2122 |
| heritage@scottsboro.org |
The Jackson County Public Library also maintains cemetery records. These records can help you find burial dates and locations, which makes it easier to search newspaper archives for the obituary.
How to Search Jackson County Obituaries
For recent obituaries, start with Legacy.com and search for Jackson County or Scottsboro, Alabama. Most obituaries from the past few years will appear in the results.
For older obituaries, try these resources:
- GenealogyBuffs.com - Jackson County obituary collection
- USGenWeb Archives Project - transcribed records
- FamilySearch - Probate estate files from 1850-1915
- Find a Grave - burial records and some obituary text
The Jackson County Health Department has birth and death records that can help confirm dates. Once you have a death date, searching newspaper archives becomes much easier.
Under Alabama Code Section 22-9A-21, death certificates are restricted for 25 years. After 25 years, anyone can request a copy from the Alabama Department of Public Health for $15.
Cities in Jackson County
Jackson County includes Scottsboro, Bridgeport, Stevenson, Hollywood, Bryant, and several smaller communities. Residents of these cities use Jackson County resources for obituary research.
The towns are small enough that one funeral home often serves multiple communities. Check funeral homes in Scottsboro if you cannot find a specific funeral home for a smaller town.
Nearby Counties
Some obituaries may appear in newspapers from neighboring counties. These counties border Jackson County.
Start Your Search
Use the search tool below to find obituary records in Jackson County, Alabama.