GRSNO Meeting

Cemetery preservationist Emily Ford will discuss “Tomb Ownership and Deeds” at 7 p.m., Monday, April 20, at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie. This event is part of the regularly scheduled meeting of the Genealogical Research Society of New Orleans and is available through Zoom participation for GRSNO members and guests who live out of town or who are otherwise unable to attend. Patrons should contact Stephen Stuart at stuartnola@gmail.com.

Ford will give an overview about tomb and cemetery plot ownership in New Orleans. The talk is designed for anyone who has an original cemetery deed, has lost one, or is trying to re-establish family ownership of a tomb. It will explain how to identify your family tomb and lot number, where to find deed books and cemetery records, and what counts as a valid tomb title. She also breaks down the difference between owning a tomb and simply having the right to be buried there, and explains how family members may qualify for right of burial even if the title has never been formally updated.

The presentation also walks through how Louisiana law allows cemetery property to pass through wills, affidavits, or court orders, and how different cemeteries apply these rules in practice. Attendees will learn how to contact cemetery authorities, what documents may be needed to prove heirship, and how to officially update the title holder of record. The talk also covers more complicated situations, such as unclear or abandoned ownership, perpetual care requirements, and servitude rights of use, giving families practical guidance for protecting their burial property across generations.

Emily Ford is a cemetery preservationist, restoration mason, and architectural historian based in New Orleans. She is a graduate of the Clemson University Master of Science in Historic Preservation program at Charleston, South Carolina. As owner of Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, LLC since 2014, Emily has performed hundreds of tomb and monument restorations throughout the Gulf South, including Pensacola and Natchez as well as South Louisiana. She continuously researches and analyzes historic craft and landscapes of historic cemeteries, regularly presenting to genealogical, historical, and preservation groups. Her work focuses on empowering cemetery stakeholders in the care and preservation of their properties. She also served as superintendent if cemeteries for the City of New Orleans from 2019 to 2024.