Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research Alabama death notices.
Alabama obituary records can be a great resource for finding data to help with your family history research and other projects, such as genealogy records. There are resources online for looking up this type of information, and you can also conduct searches in person. The best method is usually to combine both approaches and utilize all the resources available. This is especially true if you want to conduct searches for cemeteries, marriage certificates or other forms of vital records hunts.
Like most states, it is easier to track down Alabama obituary records or other records if you have the county that the information may be in. There is at least one online database for Alabama that has statewide death records. It only dates back to 1908 and is fee based but, very often, the more detailed or older the records are, the more likely it is that you will have to pay for them.
Having a specific county also helps get better dates for deaths, in some cases. This will help with your online and offline search. Keep in mind though, that many newspapers did not print obituaries on a daily basis. If you are looking for data that you are not finding easily, consider using the week or even month following the date to find the obituary.
If you can use other types of searches you will also find other good data. For example, in Madison County if you use the probate search you can gain access to data as far back as 1809. Also, keep in mind there is a separate index for Alabama coal mine deaths that spans 1898-1938.
If you intend to visit libraries or other physical locations to conduct an offline search, consider using the internet ahead of time to gather the data you need to do so. In other words, get addresses, phone numbers and other contact information to make the in person work that much easier. If at all possible, also try to establish contact with someone who may be able to help you in person, such as an employee.
Libraries are, generally, the best resource for finding obituaries. Once you have an idea of which county you will be visiting libraries in, you will want to contact them to find out how they store their records. Often times, a county will house all their newspapers and microfilm in the main branch of the library. Other times, they may divide the data up between different branches. Find out before traveling where you may be able to locate the data you need.
If you can’t travel at all to get the information, see if you can get a library staff member, volunteer or genealogy volunteer to help retrieve the Alabama obituary records you need.
Finding Alabama obituaries is easier than you think once you know where to look. The Internet has made archiving and accessing older listings from a century ago simple, but it has taken a while for some of these directories to come online. One of the best ones, for listings in and around Florence, is the Florence Times. Not only can you scan their online archives, they have even set up a separate site that goes all the way back to 1890! This is one of the most comprehensive listings in the country and a great place to start looking for Alabama obituary records.
Along with local state papers, the Birmingham Public Library has an online system that anyone can access from anywhere in the world and you don't have to be a card carrying member of the state library system, either. Of course, these listings are going to mostly be about Birmingham area death listings, but you will also be able to find listings for the rest of the state, as well. Alabama obituaries are significantly easier to find thanks to these massive and well maintained databases and at the time of this writing, these databases are completely free to use.
Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research Alabama death notices.
The Ozark Dale County Library provides an obituary database for Alabama death notices that is easy to use and shows the record precisely as it was originally printed; a scanned image of the text and (if applicable) associated image. Stored in alphabetical order, you need only click the first letter of the last name and scroll to the proper individual.
Below is a list of Alabama newspaper obituaries to aid in genealogical research.
Obituaries from the Birmingham Express can be accessed through Al.com, a site featuring news from Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile. Simply click on the "Obits and Death Notices" subheading under the Classifieds and choose the Birmingham option on the following page. You may view death notices or view and sign virtual guest books.
The Birmingham Times, founded in 1964, is the largest black weekly newspaper in the Southeast. Obituaries can be found easily by clicking on that section, which appears at the top of the Times' homepage. Once there, you will see a list of current death notices and obituaries available for viewing.
Since 1830, the Calhoun Times has been providing reliable local news coverage for the Calhoun, Georgia area. To find death notices and obituaries from the paper's homepage, select the "News" option at the top toolbar. It will list several options, among which is "Death Notices." Here you can view full obituaries by double-clicking on the name.
Obituaries for the Huntsville area can be accessed through the Al.com website, which offers news from three major Alabama newspapers. From the Al.com homepage, obituaries are found under "Classifieds." Select that option and then the "Huntsville" page. Provided are a list of death notices, virtual guest books, and memorials.
The Montgomery Advertiser provides comprehensive local and national news coverage. For death notices, click on the "Obits" link at the top of the Advertiser's homepage. Obituaries are listed by funeral home or church and feature biographical and service information. A tool allows searches by name, city, date, and text for older notices.
Obituaries in Mobile's Press Register are accessible through Al.com, a source for "Everything Alabama." Under the "Classifieds" on the Al.com homepage, select "Obits" for Mobile. Current obituaries are organized according to date. Select the appropriate date to view notices. Archived notices may be available for a small fee on the main Al.com Obits page.
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