The purpose of this page is to connect family members and researchers to all the obituaries I have found in my research. I hope this helps people locate ancestors and learn about the lives of the people buried in this cemetery.
Thanks to the hard work of Rob and Lois Riley, I was able able to include their chart of some of the graves, found under the tab "The People." The decedents we've identified on that page are just a drop compared to the number of visible graves, and cemetery practices suggest that there are even more not visible.
There are at least 5,000 burials in the cemetery, according to the research of Row 10 Historic Preservation Solutions.
Thanks to the hard work of Rob and Lois Riley, I was able able to include their chart of some of the graves, found under the tab "The People." The decedents we've identified on that page are just a drop compared to the number of visible graves, and cemetery practices suggest that there are even more not visible.
There are at least 5,000 burials in the cemetery, according to the research of Row 10 Historic Preservation Solutions.
2015 Recorded Graves,
charted by Rob and Lois Riley
1900s
1920s
Burials in Sweet Olive started as early as the 1890s until the 1920s, when it was shut down by the health department (The State Times, Baton Rouge, Feb 9, 1929, pg 11). It is unclear why burials resumed in the 1930s, but author Faye Phillips speculates that above ground burials started in the 1930s (Faye Phillips, Baton Rouge Cemeteries, Arcadia Publishing, 2012). Most likely, the above ground burials solved the crowding problem that contributed to the cemetery's closure.
~Anne Mahoney
~Anne Mahoney
1930s
Obituaries
Randall Wash, 1874 - October 10, 1935
Wash was, among other things, an athletic trainer and attendant for Louisiana State University in the 1900s. Before working at LSU, he was a "ditcher on a big sugar plantation down in St. James Parish, Armant, it was called." Dr. A.J. Tucker. Armant Plantation was about 50 miles down the Mississippi River, set among other sugarcane plantations. He was an only child, survived by his second wife Sedania Randall and his father who lived in Donaldsonville. He died in his shotgun house at 625 Iberville Street, less than a mile from Sweet Olive Cemetery and almost 4 miles from the LSU campus. Less than a city block separated his house from the lumber and rail yard, and across the street from his house was a "Public Hall (Colored)" (Sanborn Maps, Baton Rouge 1923-1947 vol. 1, 1923). Thanks to Michelle Melancon with LSU special collections. |
Mattie Carney, August 25, 1937.
Clip from State Times, Baton Rouge, Wed afternoon, Aug 25, 1937, page 1.
Clip from State Times, Baton Rouge, Wed afternoon, Aug 25, 1937, page 1.
William Dawson, September 13, 1938.
Clip from The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Sept 14, 1938, page 2.
Clip from The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Sept 14, 1938, page 2.
Sylvester Hardnett, March 21, 1939.
Clip from Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, Tuesday, March 21, 1939, page 1.
St. Mark's Church in Baton Rouge is the second oldest historically black church in Baton Rouge.
Clip from Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, Tuesday, March 21, 1939, page 1.
St. Mark's Church in Baton Rouge is the second oldest historically black church in Baton Rouge.
Eunice Simms, July 13, 1939.
Clip from the Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, Thursday morning, July 13, 1939, page 6/8
Clip from the Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, Thursday morning, July 13, 1939, page 6/8
1940s
April 30th, 1946 the Morning Advocate made this announcement: "Notice Colored Notice To whom it may concern: Sweet Olive Cemetery Number 2 is undergoing construction (reconstruction). All grave mounds are being leveled for better up-keep of the cemetery. All patrons claiming unmarked grave plots in the above state cemetery are requested to call at the office of Gilbert Funeral home, 210 North Blvd, no later than April 23, 1946. - The Management."
Thanks to Emily Ardoin with the State Historic Preservation Office for sharing this news notice with us.
210 North Blvd is about a mile from Sweet Olive on the same street.
Thanks to Emily Ardoin with the State Historic Preservation Office for sharing this news notice with us.
210 North Blvd is about a mile from Sweet Olive on the same street.
John Louis Primus, Nov 12, 1948.
Clip from the Advocate, Baton Rouge, Sat Nov 13, 1948, page 9-B.
Clip from the Advocate, Baton Rouge, Sat Nov 13, 1948, page 9-B.
Joseph Shelvin, Friday ? March 1942
Clip from Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, March 1942
Clip from Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, March 1942
Margaret Brown Taylor, October 10, 1945.
Clip from The Times Picayune, New Orleans, Sunday, October 14, 1945, page 9.
Clip from The Times Picayune, New Orleans, Sunday, October 14, 1945, page 9.
Edna Ursula Johnson, June 2 1949.
Clip from The Times Picayune, New Orleans, June 4, 1949, page 2.
Clip from The Times Picayune, New Orleans, June 4, 1949, page 2.
1950s
Anna Minor, December 30, 1950.
Clip from the Times Picayune, New Orleans, Tuesday January 2, 1951, page 3.
Clip from the Times Picayune, New Orleans, Tuesday January 2, 1951, page 3.
Miles Hampton, June 10, 1951.
Clip from the Times Picayune, New Orleans, Tuesday June 12, 1951, page 2.
Clip from the Times Picayune, New Orleans, Tuesday June 12, 1951, page 2.
Arthur Johnson (1898 - 1952)
"Died December 16 at 1am, at residence 713 N.16th St. Age 54. Born in Woodville, Miss. Husband of late Mrs. Roberta Veals Johnson, son of late Mr and Mrs. Richard Johnson. Survived by son, Simon Johnson, Baton Rouge; sisters, Miss Eleamese Johnson, Miss Mary Johnson, Baton Rouge... Services at Nazarene Baptist Church at 1pm Thursday. Rev. T. R. Provost officiating...Gilbert's Funeral Home in charge. State Times, Baton Rouge, Wednesday Afternoon, December 17th 1952 |
George W. Howard, Sr. (1888 - 1952)
Died at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Native of Louisiana, resided at 601 S. 11th Street, Age 64, and employee of Standard Oil Co. for 34 years. Wake at Capitol Funeral Parlors, services at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. State Times, Baton Rouge, Tuesday Afternoon, October 21st, 1952 |
James Dunn
Died May 15th 1952, of 2332 Melpomene Husband of Mrs. Malinda Porche Dunn, son of Mrs. Anna Jackson and Mr. Cleveland Dunn. St. John's Grand Lodge of F. and A.M., the daughters of the Eastern Star of St. John's Lodge, and employees of Couch Motor Lines are invited to the wake at Majestic Mortuary Service. Remains leave New Orleans for interment in Sweet Olive, Baton Rouge. The Times-Picayune New Orleans, Sunday May 18th 1952 |
Mrs. Lorena Drew
Died March 11th 1952 at 5:30am 1325 Willow Street Wife of Fulton Drew, daughter of Mrs. Martha Coston of Baton Rouge, sister of Mrs Ophelia T. Grant of Hempstead, N.Y. Ebenezer Baptist Church, Ebenezer Crusaders Benevolent Society, Christian Advancement and Release Association, Christian Release Social and Aid Club, and White Rose Social Aid and Pleasure Club are invited to the wake. Remains will be forwarded by L. and A. Railroad to Baton Rouge. The Times-Picayune, Saturday March 15 1952 |
Matt Plunket (1867 - 1952)
Died September 26th 1952 native of Baton Rouge parish Funeral services from the Sixty-Aid Baptis Church. Survived by wife, Mrs. Hattie W. Plunkett, two sons, Ira and Ruben Plunkett, one daughter, Mrs. Beulah Hall... State Times, Baton Rouge Saturday Afternoon, September 27th, 1952 |
Pfc. Samuel Pierre, Jr. (1930 - 1952)
Killed in Action, Korea. Son of Mrs. Gladys Williams and Samuel Pierre Sr. Wake at Desselle's Funeral home Religious services held at Progressive Baptist Church. Survived by mother, father, and stepfather, Mathews Williams, his grandmother, Mrs. Nancy Pierre Smith. Grandson of the late Mrs. Louise Ash Jones. A native of New Orleans, Samuel attended highschool and college in Baton Rouge. State Times, Baton Rouge, Saturday Afternoon, September 27th, 1952 |
Samuel Stewart (1896 - 1952)
Born Woodville Mississippi 1896 Died October 9th 1952 at home 655 S. 15th Street Worked as a porter at LSU for over 30 years. Survived by wife, Mrs Ella M. Stewart, and 5 sisters, 2 brothers. Gilbert's Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. State Times, Baton Rouge, Tuesday Afternoon, October 14th 1952 |
1980s
Moses "Whispering" Smith.
Clip from the Baton Rouge Times, May 2, 1984, page 6-B. "Harpist Whispering Smith made it in on the tail end of the swamp blues movement that swept the Baton Rouge region, working with Lightnin' Slim and Silas Hogan before making his own fine singles for Crowley, LA producer J.D. Miller.Alternating down-in-the-bayou entries such as "Mean Woman Blues" (not the Elvis Presley/Roy Orbison rocker), "I Tried So Hard," and "Don't Leave Me Baby" with the storming instrumentals "Live Jive" (also featuring the fleet guitar of Ulysses Williams) and "Hound Dog Twist," Smith was an excellent performer who arrived in Crowley just a trifle late, after the heyday of the swamp blues sound." - Bio by Bill Dahl http://www.allmusic.com/artist/whispering-smith-mn0000819779/biography |