08/08/2026
►A reminder, as posted at the entrance and on social media, Union Springs Cemetery Association requires that a board member or representative be notified BEFORE digging is performed on cemetery grounds. This applies to interments (burial) of any kind -- full casket burial, or cremains (ashes). The cemetery was established as a place of human "burial"; scattering of ashes is not permitted. It is the duty of a family or funeral professional to make inquiry. It is not possible for the association to monitor every daily action, but instead must trust that each individual will adhere to the rules.
The cemetery association is required to collect and permanently record the vital information, as well as specific location, of EVERY interment (regardless of type), ◄
Union Springs Cemetery began as a "grave yard" with its first known burial around 1870, when “this area was a wilderness”. As an extension of the grounds of the Union Springs (Missionary Baptist) Church, there was no formal care, oversight or planning for the future. However, despite being densely covered in stumpage and undergrowth, the graveyard continued to grow and was the cemetery of choice for many families in the area.
In 1939, ownership of the graveyard known as Union Springs Cemetery was conveyed from the church to the newly formed Union Springs Cemetery Association. The property in its entirety -- including all acreage and improvements -- became governed by the Policies, Rules and Regulations of the Union Springs Cemetery Association. (Posted at the entrance, Facebook, distributed to funeral homes, and members upon burial and/or mailout. It is public information!)
The forming of Union Springs Cemetery Association (USCA), in 1938 by a group of progressive community members, was specifically directed at the care, preservation and beautification of the sacred grounds of those who had gone on before. It is through this forward thinking association that plans for the future were established. By-Laws were written. Policies were implemented. The pillared fence was constructed (by the WPA*). Sections were plotted. Roadways and drainage were established. Long-range planning commenced. The annual Homecoming was established to promote annual cemetery working (by families), as well as collect donations to support growing maintenance and necessary improvements along the way.
In the past 156 years, Union Springs Cemetery has grown from one grave in the middle of a 7 acre thicket to near 3,000 graves on just under 15 acres. It is through the foresight and direction of the founding members of USCA, almost 90 years ago, that the grounds have continued in some state of constant care and improvement. One may say, without that direction for care and growth, the cemetery would not have become the place of peaceful rest for so many.
What an honor to be able to say the vision of those founders still holds true - even after many generations, and increasing changes in how a loved one's passing is settled. It is the position of USCA that without the continued implementation of policy and intense oversight of the grounds, it would not be long before a cluttered thicket of debris and overgrowth would reappear.
Policies - rules, if you will - were placed upon these grounds for a reason. It should go without saying, all policies apply to everyone wishing to inter their loved one at Union Springs Cemetery. There are no exceptions. While some policies have evolved to meet the changing times, the core mission of the founders remains intact. It is for this reason that the policies/rules are publicly posted, shared so freely on social media and distributed as possible. Whatever may have been acceptable – back in the day – has not been acceptable for many years now. In fact, some things are no longer legal.
If your family member(s) chose these sacred grounds for their final place of rest, it is not because it was free, or inexpensive. It was because the area was peaceful, the grounds were well cared for, and (they) felt it would remain in this state - into the future - because of the structure of the governing body, Union Springs Cemetery Association. (From direct statements heard time and again through the years.)
It is the mission of the current association to continue being good stewards of these hallowed grounds, in both preservation and future development.
*WPA - Works Projects Administration (1939 - 1943), a Great Depression era, New Deal federal program to provide employment
