By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – St. Peter Cemetery in Reserve was once again the site of an evening of community bonding as it hosted the second annual Cemetery Walk.

Initiated last year as part of the Reserve150 celebrations, the walk offers a unique opportunity for community members to socialize with their neighbors while learning a little about local history.

A walk through St. Peter Cemetery reveals many of the names that shaped the region, and their descendants came out in full force to speak about their ancestors.

Parish President Natalie Robottom came out to tell the tale of her father-in-law, who began Robottom Mortuary. Originally from St. Charles Parish, he was a school board member in St. John the Baptist Parish. He was also a diehard Saints fan, she said, and he was one of the original season ticket holders.

Verna B. Schexnayder positioned herself near the massive tree that stands at the back end of the cemetery. The live oak, which is more than a century old, is dedicated to Monsignor Jean Eyraud, who was instrumental in bringing equal education opportunities for African Americans to St. John Parish.

Schexnayder was a student at St. Catherine’s Mission School, which would eventually be moved and become Our Lady of Grace.

“This is a historic tree, and this is a historic lady,” said OLG parishioner Mary Mitchell.

The Lapeyrolerie family, including Renee Lapeyrolerie, who is now the head of the Louisiana Democratic Party, stood near the Lapeyrolerie tomb and spoke about the many accomplishments of their ancestors, including Frank Lapeyrolerie, who was instrumental in local civil rights endeavors.

Some of the other community members who came out for the event include Gail Castay, theater owner Louis Maurin’s grandson Mark Maurin, Jane Montz DesRoches and Gerard Montz, Elma Adams, Walter Keller Jr. and Isabella Keller and Suzette Remondet and Sandra Lasseigne.

In addition to the many tales to be heard that evening, the Our Lady of Grace choir performed for the crowd as the Knights of St. Peter Claver stood guard at Eyraud’s tomb.