Star Cemetery: The forgotten

Next time you're driving East on I20 and traveling between the Greenwood Rd and Lakeshore exits... look to your right.  You'll see a cemetery.  You'll see the first African-American Cemetery in Shreveport.

It is has an interesting story.   I researched it before going to visit and take pictures.

It's easy to miss the road that leads into Star Cemetery.

In 1893 14 African-American men joined together and purchased 10 acres of land for $350.   They wanted to give the black community a place that their people could be laid to rest.

The cemetery lacks "order".  There are markers everywhere, not to mention several unmarked graves.

The land is listed as belonging to "The Star Cemetery Association".  However it disbanded YEARS ago.    So, technically... there is no "owner" of the land.  It's just... there.  The city now does the maintence.      They need to tend to it now.  

The headstones are modest, most of them concrete.  A few marble headstones for the military men and a few larger more extravagant monuments.    A couple of above ground burials surrounded by brick.   There are many ministers, buried at the Star Cemetery.  Another notable citizen laid to rest there is the city's first black attourney Charles Roberson.

There are some volunteer groups that gather for work days at the cemetery.   And apply "pressure" to the city to improve the ground care.  Like I said, it needed work the day we visited.  The grass was almost 2 foot high in places.

                                     My favorite headstone is the one above.  Simple. 

Hiking the 10 acres and exploring the simple cemetery was interesting and informative.  But I just kept getting the feeling that for the most part, this place and the ones laid to rest here have been forgotten.