Today, we had a fascinating and emotional experience. It was a difficult day to process. Our day for Justice here in New Orleans brings us to service. We did not know what our service project was to be when we left our hotel this morning. When we arrived at the Super Dome, we found out we would be working at a cemetery. No not the beautiful mausoleums found in pictures of New Orleans. We worked in Holt Cemetery, a pauper's field. No one is paid for up keep in this cemetery and it is in an incredible state of disrepair. Grave stones are broken or missing. Artificial flowers had disintegrated and petals were everywhere. There was broken glass and rotting planks of wood. Weeds are overgrown and some of the graves have sunken in.
No this is not the type of place that teenagers want to go and work. But there were some 100 teenagers in the hot and humid New Orleans summer pulling weeds, picking up trash and finding human remains. Yes, part of a skull, a mandible and dentures. No graves were desecrated, either due to the over abundance of rain or the necessity of reusing the graves created the situation where the bones surfaced.
You see after one year and one day, the grave can be reused. The remains of the previous person buried is gathered and kept in the grave and covered over by an inch or so of soil, then a new person is buried.
The original graves could not be identified so a new grave was dug and these few remains were added, we gathered, and asked for peace anew for the souls of these persons.
In the middle of this all is Bobbiann. Bobbiann is a force to be reckoned with. Bobbiann is a one-woman preservation movement. Her plea to save this cemetery has been heard nationwide and the volunteers come. Bobbiann educates those who help to restore it. Bobbiann has a passion. Bobbiann makes a difference. Bobbiann is a volunteer. Bobbiann is a historian. Bobbiann is a blessing to those souls who rest in Holt Cemetery.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
That is a great post. It is wonderful to read so many positivies about the work in Holt Cemetery. I believe the passion involves the desire to accomplish Gods will on the earth.
ReplyDeleteThe desire was planted in my heart at a early age. I wanted to become a mortician because i wanted to take care of the dead and to help families heal and get to a better place.
As a Funeral Director i often brought families out to the cemetery. the funeral homes had made over $4,500 from poor families and paid $450.00 to the cemetery to have a grave digger dig for $75.00.
everyone has the right to a decent burial no matter their fianancial status.
Thanks for the great story and insight to the mission.
On the battle for Holt; One grave at a time
Bobbiann Lewis