Report submitted
by the Lee County
Cemetery Preservation Commission

A recent myth came to light about a supposed witch in Lee County, and this article intends to dispel that notion and shed light on the real problems that exist there.
The cemetery is located off Lee Road 252, also known as Mountain Springs Road. Trespassing, broken grave markers, and excessive acts of vandalism have happened at County Line.
This cemetery was recently visited in the dark of night by four men and one woman, each carrying a flashlight, who may have been duped into believing that this was “Witch’s Road.” These rumors originate from misinformation that a grave shed in the cemetery covers a witch’s grave.
There is not and has never been a witch at County Line Cemetery. Following is the history and facts pertaining to the cemetery.
More than 180 years ago, there was a group of men who constituted County Line Church on Oct. 5, 1838. There were four resolutions listed as follows for the church:
“1st, Resolved. That this Church look upon the divisions of the Baptist denomination with mortification and deep concern, and lament that such unhappy divisions do exist. 2d, Resolved. That the spread of the Gospel is a Bible doctrine taught by Christ and practiced by the Apostles. 3d, Resolved. That the diligent use of the names with which God has blessed us in the spread of the Gospel, in the performance of charitable end benevolent acts, in advancing the Kingdom of Christ on the Earth, and in bettering the condition of men in the discharge of Christian duty, and cannot be immoral in itself or repugnant to the Bible, and therefore cannot be a sufficient cause for breach of fellowship among brethren of the same heavenly parentage. 4th, Resolved. That this church recommend to all the members to lay down all feeling on the subject and not to indulge iniquity in their hearts, but rather that we cultivate Christian love, peace, and harmony; also, that we allow every brother or sister, as the case may be, to act according to the dictates of their own conscience, in giving or not giving in support of the Gospel at home or in a foreign land.”
Seven years later on Dec. 3, 1845, County Line Baptist Church’s deed was recorded. Following is the first sentence on the deed:
“To all whom it may concern know ye that I Reuben Aldridge of the State of Alabama and County of Russell, having a desire for the prosperity of the Redeemer’s Cause on Earth’” then the document gives the land and describes it.
The Redeemer’s Cause of Earth was a Christian description from 1845 to worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Numerous entries in the church minutes tell of efforts to shape a congregation’s behavior in Christian faith with firm morals and good behavior.
Furthering the myth is the outright lie that the grave shed at County Line was over a witch’s grave. The original grave shed, which was burned by vandals, was over the grave of a child.
This sad story attracted the attention of one of Lee County’s finest. A boy scout proposed a project to earn his Eagle Award by rebuilding the shed, which took nearly a to complete.
The finished shed was put in place in summer 2019, only to be damaged by vandals around New Year’s.
Members of the Lee County Cemetery Preservation Commission, volunteers, and friends have been researching families who lived in this community for a book to be published soon. They have copies of the church membership roll and minutes.
When this book is finished, the remaining proceeds will go to covering the cost of repairs. Many Lee County Christian pioneers are at rest there. From these pioneers are many descendants in the Lee County area.
More volunteers have pieced back together the destroyed ledgers while others made the repairs. There remains much more to be done toward repairs of prior vandal destruction. Even two stacked rock graves, a custom to honor important members of the community, were also destroyed.
Interest in “witches” is a dark side of society. However, there is nothing whatsoever in the history of Lee County that we have found that gives any validity to such nonsense in any cemetery.
Destroying the property of others and vandalizing graves are crimes. Don’t do it!
The Lee County Sheriff’s deputies will arrest and likely prosecute or convict those who are caught trespassing or desecrating the cemetery. Commission members will request Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes to seek restitution against those who are guilty of these offenses.
To any trespasser or vandal who may read this article, commission members suggest that they rethink the consequences of such deplorable actions. Stop this criminal behavior and let those who came before us rest in peace.