Each year, thousands of tourists and fans of the late Hank Williams, Sr., drive on Montgomery’s Upper Wetumpka Road. They are looking for the stone sign pointing the way to Hank’s gravesite and memorial in Oakwood Cemetery Annex.
Now, the famous sign has been destroyed. A motorist hit it, shattering it into innumerable pieces.
The wording on the sign quoted from Hank’s most famous Christian song, “Praise the Lord, I saw the light.” It had an etching of ole Hank posed in a heavenly cloud.
Now, none of that is visible or salvageable. There’s going to have to be a brand-new sign sculpted.
Rumors that the dramatic and unusual memorial to Hank Sr. and wife Audrey had also been damaged turned out not to be true. This incident appears to be confined to a car running off the road and accidentally hitting the sign. No activity was reported at the grave and memorial, which is on the back side of the cemetery annex.
1819 News is attempting to reach the Oakwood Cemetery authority and Hank’s son, Hank Williams, Jr., to see if any plans have been discussed for a replacement sign.
Hank Williams, Sr. died on January 1,1953 in the back seat of his Cadillac while enroute to a New Year’s Day concert in Canton, Ohio. His influential country music hits included:
Your Cheatin’ Heart
You Win Again
Hey, Good Lookin’
Jambalaya
Kowaliga (Kaw-liga)
I Can’t Help It if I’m Still in Love With You
Lovesick Blues
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
Cold Cold Heart
I’ll Never Out of this World Alive
Lost Highway
Settin’ the Wookd on Fire
My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It
Mind Your Own Business
Honky Tonkin’
Move It On Over
On New Year’s Day of each year, the anniversary of Hank’s death, mourners and fans gather at the Montgomery gravesite and hold a memorial that then continues in downtown Montgomery at the Hank Williams Museum.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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