Springhill Historic Memorial Garden Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in DeSoto County, Mississippi, established in 1836. It served as the public burial ground for residents of the town of Jefferson, now known as Hernando, until separate cemeteries were established by churches and other groups. Today, efforts are underway to preserve the cemetery's 19th-century monuments, conduct historic and archaeological investigations, and enhance the site with native vegetation and Victorian ornamentals, making it a valuable historic and recreational asset for the community.
Owned and operated by the Friends of Springhill, a group of over 300 volunteers, including members of civic garden clubs, students, and faculty from Northwest Mississippi Community College, Springhill Historic Memorial Garden Cemetery holds great significance as the final resting place of early city and county officials, merchants, tradesmen, and their families. While there are currently around 100 grave markers, it is believed that there are between 500 and 1000 burials on the site, with many unmarked graves that were likely adorned with personal effects or simple wooden markers. The cemetery also pays tribute to prominent Freed men and women with erected monuments after Emancipation.
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