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| Temple Cemetery Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell |
A couple of years ago, Edwin Temple and I discussed the name of a cemetery in Amite, Louisiana, after he read some of my historical publications about the cemetery. Edwin informed me that the name needed to be corrected. He said that name of the cemetery is Temple Cemetery and not Temple-Bush Cemetery or Bush-Temple Cemetery.
I recorded nine African-American cemeteries in St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Temple Cemetery was of the nine cemeteries recorded.
According to some of the funeral programs, the cemetery is called three different names; Temple Cemetery, Temple-Bush Cemetery, and Bush Temple Cemetery. According to Edwin's family history, his great-grandfather Jim Temple was married twice. First to Margaret Amacker, and secondly to Orthell Butler. Jim's second wife Orthell Butler Temple donated two acres for a cemetery for all their descendants from both marriages. The family wants to correct the inaccuracies and make sure that everyone note that the name of the cemetery is "Temple Cemetery" some of Jim and Orthell descendants are discussing placing the Temple name as the official name for the cemetery with the State of Louisiana and Louisiana Florida Parishes. Because the cemetery is known by three different names, it is confusing some of the heirs and people in the community.
According to several newspaper obituaries and funeral programs for the deceased quoted the interment for the deceases all three names were used. The Temple family want the cemetery to carry the only name of Temple. The family plan to notify all funeral homes in written letters concerning the official name once it recorded the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk.
The Temple cemetery is a private cemetery, and there aren't any officials in the parish clerks office. For clarification Mary Temple was married to Tony Bush, Sr., After Mary passed away she Tony Bush, Sr. married Pearl Mae Clark. Any descendants from Tony Bush, Sr. and Pearly Mae Clark Bush shouldn't be buried in the Temple accord all descendant of Jim Temple.
