At this site, Tranquilla J. Haden gave 1.5 acres to the Poplar Ridge community on August 19, 1887, for a cemetery later called Hayden, though the land had been used for burials since as early as 1858. The cemetery grew to 5.1 acres through gifts and purchases from Horatio and Sallie Smith, Howard and Ada Smith, Carl and Betty Worley, and Bobby Connally. During construction of Interstate 65 in 1968, remains from Collier Cemetery in Limestone County were reinterred there, and on June 4, 1985, a perpetual care organization with officers and trustees was created to ensure the cemetery continued to serve southeast Madison County.