Burial methods and customs of New Orleans and other South Louisiana towns have fascinated visitors and residents for decades.  Because of the wet and marshy land of the area, above ground burial is a necessity.

Many of the family tombs are designed in such a manner as to accommodate the remains of several generations.  A unique storage vault located beneath the tomb is used to store the remains of past burials, thus allowing a single tomb to be used for many burials.

As a result of these unique architectural designs, the cemeteries of New Orleans resemble small cities, hence the phrase, “Cities of the Dead.”

A couple of the favorite cemeteries of this artist are Holt Cemetery for Indigent burials and St. Roch Cemetery and Shrine both located in New Orleans and both badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  

Holt Cemetery for Indigent Burials:  Holt was originally established to replace the defunct Locust Grove Cemeteries No. 1 and No. 2 on Freret St. that had been used to bury the indigent dead.  

The land acquired for Holt Cemetery was desirable as it was remote and sat high on the Metairie Ridge.  At the time it was considered a health issue to have this cemetery located on the outskirts of the city because it was thought yellow fever and malaria were spread by the carrying of infected corpses through populated areas.

Holt Cemetery now sits behind Delgado Community College and is considered one of the more interesting burial grounds in New Orleans.  Not because of any stately tombs or graves, but because of the uniqueness of the markers and gravestones.  Most are humble and primitive but in all, you can see love. Many are changed as the seasons change and holidays are celebrated.  

Some citizens in New Orleans have complained that Holt needs to be “cleaned up”, but anyone with vision can see what is truly going on here.  Generations taking care of their ancestors’ place of rest the best way they can.  This is a place for indigent burials, so little money is usually not spent on the monument or grave marker.  But imagine what silk and plastic flowers, dolls, Mardi Gras beads and a little plywood and paint can provide a handy relative.  It is quite stunning at times.

There are no famous or rich buried in Holt Cemetery, with the exception of the great jazz coronet player, Buddy Bolden, who played in the Storyville district.  Unfortunately, record keeping was not the greatest and other burials were allowed to take place on top of Bolden and so the exact location of his resting place is unknown in Holt.  But a memorial plaque was dedicated to his memory in 1996 with Jelly Roll Morton’s assessment inscribed on it, “The blowingest man since Gabriel”.  Holt Cemetery is well worth a visit.

The website NewOrleansCemeteries.net has beautiful images of Holt Cemetery and others in the city.

St. Roch Cemetery and Shrine:  The Shrine to St. Roch sits inside the Holy Trinity Chapel located in the St. Roch Cemetery in New Orleans.  

German immigrants made up a large portion of the New Orleans population and were known to pray to St. Roch in times of plague and illness.  When the yellow fever epidemic of 1868 was taking the lives of New Orleans residents, Father Thevis, priest for the immigrants, also prayed to St. Roch to keep his congregation safe from the plague.  

None of his flock perished that year from yellow fever, and as promised to St. Roch, Father Thevis built the Chapel and Cemetery with the help of his parishioners.

Since that time, many have come to pray to St. Roch to heal their illnesses.  They have left small tokens and gifts for his answered prayers. A small gated room to the side of the Chapel houses these gifts or “ex-votos”.  These gifts are most curious indeed. Besides the beautifully carved “thanks” and “merci” petite blocks that pave the floor of this small room, there are countless pieces of plaster body parts such as feet, hands, hearts and livers with some inscribed “Thank you St. Roch” or just “Thanks”.  

There are braces, crutches, corsets and canes that have also been left by the healed faithful.  And amassed on the floor are assorted crucifixes, Jesus and Virgin Mary icons, handwritten testimonies, rosaries and heart shaped plaster casts engraved with “Thanks”, all testaments to the healing powers of St. Roch.

Inside the Chapel is a statue of St. Roch with his faithful dog.  The body of Father Thevis is buried beneath the floor of the Holy Trinity Chapel.  The St. Roch refrain is mounted on the wall of the Holy Trinity Chapel: “Oh help us, oh help us dear St. Roch, do help.”