This topographical map shows the GPS of the Vasser-Pettus Cemetery of Madison Alabama. The location is indicated in the center of the map marked by the Cem.
Location: Section 7-3S-2W. N/2 N/2 NE NE. Approx. 3 mi. southwest of Jeff, Ala. Behind houses along Pine Grove Road where that road spans northward toward Nick Davis Road. This little cemetery is completely surrounded by modern subdivisions and has no access and is largely abandoned and cutoff from civilization, in spite of the fact that the last burial was in my life time.
At the intersection of Capshaw Road and Sam Thomas Road go north on Sam Thomas Road to Mossy Branch Drive. Turn right and follow that around until it terminates into Horse Pin Place. At Horse Pin place Rd you are faced with a task of crossing someone's private yard to get into the large field behind the houses where the cemetery is located. I chose to go to the drainage ditch marked by my yellow pointer, because it is likely public. I went into and followed the ditch between two houses until it bumped into the fence. After crossing the fence, without damaging it, I walked across the field west toward the cemetery to the edge of the woods and into the woods as indicated by the yellow highlighted path. That is about a 500 yard walk and a fence crossing which could leave the novice out, so if you do this be careful.
Notice the yellow highlighted path indicating the path I took to the cemetery. The cemetery is in the center of the triangular area which juts east out of the forest covered area. The brown area in the open field is a garden so do not trample or disturb that area, nor the grape vines. One of the two houses fronting Pine Grove Road is where the land owner probably resides. I chose to follow the yellow highlighted area across the field because it seemed to be the best walking area which would not disturb any of the neighbors who may be alarmed at a stranger crossing the field behind their house. The storms of 2011 caused large trees to fall across the tombstones knocking them down and no one bothered to cut them up. I picked up several stones and put them back on their bases and tried to clear the area as best as I could with just a pair of lopping shears, but I was out manned and without proper equipment.
I drew a triangle around the area fenced for the cemetery. The stones are right in the center and not near the edges. The white marks indicate about the pattern of the stones but not the count.
Maps from Google & MS Streets 2004, MS Bing modified for this site by Wayne Austin 8 Nov 2011.
