On November 13th, we had the opportunity to visit a small cemetery in Avawam, Perry County, Kentucky, by the name of Jack Combs Cemetery. Located near Hazard, just a short drive down Big Creek, past Minyard Branch, and near the site of a former strip mining operation.
Part of our visit brought us to this hillside burying ground, and despite its rural setting it is well-maintained and relatively active with several burials within the decade, however, over the years more than a few of the burials are marked with small plastic and metal markers provided by funeral homes and not the traditional granite or marble markers set by families.
During our visit into Perry County, we noticed a trend of small family cemeteries with a strong density, meaning that while cemeteries had few burials we frequently encountered other cemeteries in a small area. According to FindAGrave, there are at least four cemeteries within a mile of the Jack Combs Cemetery with many of those cemeteries bearing the same surname as those found within this cemetery.
While visiting, we encountered locals who shared stories of the area and even some of the stories of those interred at Jack Combs Cemetery, including rumors of a murder, as well as learning that the both the cemetery and the road on which the cemetery is found is names for man who is buried there. Beside Jack Comb’s carved fieldstone marker are three other fieldstone markers that bear no discernable information as to who rests beneath them.
