Chloe Cemetery Preservation Efforts Featured in the American Press

May 29, 2026

The Chloe African American Cemetery Preservation Association (CAACPA) is honored to be featured in the May 29, 2026 edition of the American Press ahead of our community volunteer restoration and preservation event at historic Chloe Cemetery in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.

The article highlights the growing effort to preserve and document one of Southwest Louisiana's historic burial grounds, a cemetery connected to generations of African American, Creole, and Native American families whose roots run deep throughout the region's history.

For decades, much of the cemetery remained hidden beneath dense vegetation and neglect. Through the dedication of descendants, volunteers, tribal leaders, historians, local residents, and community partners, Chloe Cemetery is once again emerging as a place of remembrance, reflection, and historical significance.

The preservation work extends far beyond clearing land. It is about honoring the lives of those who came before us, documenting family histories, protecting a sacred cultural landscape, and ensuring that future generations understand the contributions these families made to the development of Calcasieu Parish and Southwest Louisiana.

Among the families connected to Chloe Cemetery are descendants of the Alphonse, Hunt, Tillman, Taylor, Broussard, LeBleu, Roberts, and St. Mary families, along with many others whose stories continue to be uncovered through ongoing research and community engagement.

We are especially grateful to the volunteers, descendants, members of local law enforcement, and representatives of the Attakapas Eagle Tribe who have joined this effort and helped bring greater awareness to the importance of preserving historically significant burial grounds.

The recognition from the American Press reflects the growing public interest in protecting places that have too often gone undocumented or overlooked. We hope this coverage inspires additional support, research, and preservation efforts for Chloe Cemetery and other historic cemeteries throughout Louisiana and beyond.

Every grave tells a story. Every story deserves to be remembered.

On behalf of the Chloe African American Cemetery Preservation Association, thank you to everyone who has contributed their time, knowledge, resources, and encouragement. Together, we are preserving history, honoring our ancestors, and ensuring that their legacy endures for generations to come.

Read the American Press feature and follow our ongoing preservation efforts as we continue this important work.