August 2026
NOW IS THE TIME!
Do you need to renew your membership?
Do you want to become a member of STGS?
NOW IS THE TIME!
Dues are $30 for individuals, $35 for families, and $20 for students.
You can join/renew at the next in-person meeting or you can mail your dues to: STGS, P.O. Box 1904, Covington, LA 70434 .Click the button below to download a membership form.
ANNOUNCING A GENEALOGICAL PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE
ST. TAMMANY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (STGS) AND THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH LIBRARY (STPL)
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Hybrid Meeting: Program will be offered in-person at the
St. Tammany Parish Library’s
Madisonville, LA
and as a virtual broadcast for those at home.
Tomb Ownership And Deeds
with Emily Ford
This presentation is designed for anyone in Louisiana who has an original cemetery deed, has lost one, or is trying to reestablish family ownership of a tomb. The speaker, Emily Ford, will give a clear overview of how tomb and cemetery plot ownership works in Orleans and St. Tammany Parishes and environs. She 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. Attendees will be provided with practical guidance for protecting their family’s burial property across generations. They will learn how to contact cemetery authorities, the type of documents that may be needed to prove heirship, and how to officially update the title holder
of record.
In this presentation Emily Ford also describes how Louisiana laws allows cemetery property to pass from person to person through wills, affidavits, or court orders, as well as how different cemeteries apply these laws in practice. She breaks down the difference between owning a tomb and having the right to be buried there - explaining how family members may qualify for right of burial even if the title has never been formally updated. The talk also covers more complicated situations, such as unclear or abandoned ownership, perpetual care requirements, and servitude rights of use.
Emily Ford is a cemetery preservationist, restoration mason, and architectural historian based in New Orleans. As owner of Oak and Laurel Cemetery Preservation, LLC since 2014, she has performed hundreds of tomb and monument restorations throughout the Gulf South, including South Louisiana, Pensacola and Natchez. Her work focuses on empowering cemetery stakeholders in the care and preservation of their properties. She continuously researches and analyzes historic craft and the landscapes of historic cemeteries. From 2019 to 2024, Emily served as superintendent of cemeteries for the City of New Orleans.
Emily is a graduate of the Clemson University Master of Science in Historic Preservation program at Charleston, South Carolina. She regularly provides presentations to genealogical, historical, and preservation groups.
DATE: Saturday, October 10, 2026
TIME: 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Central Time
TWO LIVE VIEWING OPTIONS: IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE BROADCAST
In-Person Attendance: Madisonville Branch of the
St. Tammany Parish Library
ADDRESS: 1123 Main Street, LA 70447
At Home Viewing: St. Tammany Parish Library (STPL)
Live Broadcast via Zoom
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You must register for this program on the
St. Tammany Parish Library’s event calendar
whether you plan to attend in-person or view from home.
Admission is limited, so please register right away.
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You must register for this program on the St. Tammany Parish Library’s event calendar whether you plan to attend in-person or view from home.
Admission is limited, so please pre-register right away.
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TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY (STGS)
For all those who have not yet joined STGS, you can download a membership form from the STGS website at sttammanygenealogy.com, print it, fill it out, and mail it with your dues. We will add you to our list for future webinars. If you do not have access to a printer, please email STGS at stgsgenealogy@gmail.com and ask STGS to mail you a membership form. Please feel free to contact us at the above referenced email address if you are not sure whether you
have renewed for 2026.
STGS Needs Your Support
Your Membership Matters!
Ask to be added to the STGS Mailing List! Use the "Contact Us" button in tool bar above.
Meeting Location:
This month's program is at , 1123 Main St. Madisonville, LA and remotely via zoom.
St. Tammany Genealogical Society