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This African American cemetery has been known under many names, including Maccedar, Howard and Iola Cemetery. The name St. Louis is due to affiliation with St. Louis Baptist Church in Iola, which operated from the 1890s-1980s. The oldest recorded burial is that of Jerry Mckeiver (1811-1895). Veterans of World War I, world War II and Vietnam are buried at St. Louis. Notable burials include local Civil rights icons, such as birdie “Doll” Lofton and Emmitt Leon Mitchell; religious leaders, such as Johnnie Gilbert and Emmitt James; and those who made significant community impacts: Finner Mitchell, a farmer, and James Gibbs, one of the largest black landowners in Iola. St. Louis is a testament to the history witnessed by these ancestors. |
