LIFE LIST UPDATE – No. 736: Visit Hank Williams’ grave in Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery

Hank Williams Memorial in Montgomery

Butler County native Hank Williams is considered one of the most important country music artists ever, and he’s arguably one of Alabama’s most famous natives. He passed away at the age of 29 on New Year’s Day 1953, and who knows how much he would have accomplished if he hadn’t died at such a young age.

A couple of years ago I read that Williams was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery and that anyone could visit his gravesite if they so desired. I added this trip to my “life list” a year or so ago and finally scratched it off my list when I passed through Montgomery Saturday on my way to Auburn.

Oakwood Cemetery is located in downtown Montgomery at 1305 Upper Wetumpka Road. This large, historic cemetery is located just a few minutes off of the interstate, just north of Patterson Field. The cemetery, which contains a number of historical markers, is open to the public during normal daylight hours.

Hank Williams gravesite is easy to find if you know where to look. Don’t enter the cemetery’s main entrance, but continue down Upper Wetumpka Road until you see the entrance with the large, marble “Hank Williams Memorial” sign. Turn into this entrance and follow the paved road around to the right. The Williams memorial is around the corner on the left.

The Williams memorial stands out from among the surrounding gravesites because it consists of two large stone monoliths – one for Hank Williams and one for his wife, Audrey Sheppard Williams, who passed away in 1975. The gravesite also consists of a large area of green outdoor carpet with two stone benches. The stone monoliths, which appear to be made of marble, actually stand over both graves, which are set down into the center of the carpeted area.

Both monoliths were decorated with large musical notes. Across the top of the Hank Williams monolith are the words “PRAISE THE LORD – I SAW THE LIGHT,” and across the top of the Audrey Williams monolith, you’ll find the words “NOW I’M SO HAPPY. NO SORRY IN SIGHT.” The monolith at Audrey Williams’ grave had a large “AW” at the base, and the monolith at Hank Williams’ grave had a unique cowboy had marker at the base. Between both graves is a marker that reads “PLEASE DO NOT DESECRATE THIS SACRED SPOT. MANY THANKS, HANK WILLIAMS, JR.”

While there, I couldn’t help but think about the Alan Jackson song, “Midnight in Montgomery.” In this song, which was released in 1990, Jackson sings about stopping to visit Williams’ grave while on his way to Mobile for a New Year’s Eve show. As he’s standing there, Williams’ ghost appears and thanks him for visiting his grave.

In the end, how many of you have ever visited Hank Williams’ grave? What did you think about it? Do you know of any other famous Alabama graves? Let us know in the comments section below.