Descendants restoring historic African American cemetery tied to 1943 American Press article

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | MARCH 15, 2026

Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana — Restoration efforts are underway at Chloe Cemetery, a historic African American burial ground located near the rural community of Chloe and the town of Iowa along English Bayou.

The cemetery is one of the few remaining historic African American burial grounds associated with the early LeBleu Settlement along English Bayou and preserves the memory of generations of families who lived and worked in the region.

The work is being led by the newly formed Chloe African American Cemetery Preservation Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the cemetery and preserving the history of the families connected to the settlement and surrounding community.

Chloe Cemetery holds the graves of African American men, women, and children whose lives spanned the years of slavery, emancipation, and the generations that followed.

Among those buried in the cemetery is James Alphonse, remembered in a 1943

 Lake Charles American Press article as the last surviving enslaved man of Major J. C. LeBleu. Alphonse is the third great-grandfather of project lead Terry A. O’Neal, and records indicate that several generations of his family, including children, grandchildren, and later descendants, are also buried within the cemetery.

More than eighty years after the newspaper recorded his passing, his descendants are now working to preserve the cemetery where he and many others from the community were laid to rest.

Initial restoration work began in late February, when family members and a few volunteers started clearing heavy overgrowth. The project focuses on restoring access to the cemetery while carefully working to identify and preserve unmarked graves.

“Cemeteries like Chloe hold the memory of communities that helped shape Southwest Louisiana,” O’Neal said. “This work is about honoring those who came before us and making sure their history is preserved.”

Additional volunteer workdays are planned for the first two weekends of May, when community members will continue careful clearing and documentation of the cemetery grounds. Volunteers are welcome, and individuals with experience in land clearing or access to appropriate equipment are encouraged to contact the association in advance to coordinate preservation-sensitive work.

The association would like to work with descendants, historians, preservation organizations, and community members to document the cemetery and pursue formal historic recognition.

The association also hopes to partner with historians, archaeologists, and academic institutions to help document the cemetery, identify unmarked graves, and ensure the site is preserved with care and respect.

Like many historic African American cemeteries across the South, Chloe Cemetery was maintained by the community for generations and gradually fell into neglect as families moved away and burial markers were lost over time.

Members of the public who have family connections, photographs, or historical information related to the Chloe community are encouraged to share their stories.

More information about the project can be found at:www.chloecemetery.org

Contact:Phone: (916) 756-7500

Email: contact@chloecemetery.org

www.chloecemetery.org​