A History of Lucas Hill Cemetery at The Waters

Visitors to The Waters may be surprised to see a small cemetery overlooking Jake Lake, near the community entrance. This rather unexpected feature, located on Avenue of The Waters, is called Lucas Hill Cemetery. It is the final resting place for members of the Burch, Temple, Murdoch and Lucas families, some of Pike Road’s earliest settlers who established plantations and farmsteads along the Mount Meigs Terrace in present-day Montgomery County, with burials dating back to the 1830s.

Although this cemetery seems to be untouched by time, it was actually relocated to The Waters in 2005. The original location, just two miles down the road on U.S. 80, had fallen into ruin due to years of neglect. Its relocation was approved by the Alabama Historical Commission and several remaining family members. The relocation and restoration were done under the careful supervision of a team of archaeologists from The University of Alabama.

Today, the final resting place for members of the Burch, Temple, Murdoch and Lucas families is surrounded by gorgeous oak trees, shaded in moss and carefully tended by The Waters’ groundkeepers.

It is amazing to think of the storied past that our community’s land must hold. Next time you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to pay a special visit to Lucas Hill Cemetery. We don’t know much about those that are buried here, but we would like to think they would appreciate their final resting place, the beauty that surrounds it, and the wonderful memories being made today.

Click here to view more images of Lucas Hill Cemetery.