Dear Mickey,
I have been to the true old rockford cememtery. It is not visible from the road - only a green marker the highway department placed beside the highway next to the dirt road indicates where it is at. It is located on Hwy 22 between the Hwy 231 (caution light) intersection going toward Santuck/Equality/Co Rd 9. Traveling on Hwy 22 away from 231 toward Hwy 9 it is about 1/4 mile down on your left (between the water tower and the police radio tower). It is truly hidden by woods at the crest of the hill.
Many believe that the "new" old Rockford Cemetery also located on 22 on the opposite side of the intersection traveling toward Clanton is the "old" one, but in fact it is not. It's often referred to as the town cemetery. Rockford methodist has a few next to the church, but for the most part they are buried in the "new" old one in town.
The true OLD ROCKFORD CEMETERY is horribly overgrown and neglected in really bad shape. There were tall, mature trees growing through many of the graves. Many of the markings have been destroyed - had to be by vandals. Since it is off the beaten path it isn't one of those people just happen by to look at. The sheriff's office said at one time there was a trailer up near the woods, but it is no longer there. What we did find was where someone had made a huge rock circle and was using it to burn items.
The attached is the only true marker for the cemetery - if there had been one earlier it is no longer there. The earliest years I have seen on those buried there for birth was in the late 1700's and the last burial took place in 1949.