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Jeff Chauppetta, age 53, resident of St. Bernard Parish The first set of images are of the…

Hand-drawn ink sketch on lined notebook paper of a humanoid figure with large feathered wings outstretched and bird-like taloned feet, rendered in purple and black ink.
Child's ink drawing of a two-level structure: upper balcony with armed figures and a winged angel figure, lower level with a row of people, a doorway, and initials "K. R. H.V. M. J." written above.
Child's hand-drawn illustration on lined notebook paper of an airplane with passenger faces and initials (J.J., R., M., H., K.) in the windows, surrounded by clouds; a smaller partial drawing with figures appears at left edge.
Hand-drawn ink sketch on lined notebook paper of a stick figure in a hat holding a torch and a stick of dynamite inside an arched, scribble-textured cave or tomb entrance, with a small fire and debris nearby.

Collection

Do You Know What it Means

Jeff Chauppetta, age 53, resident of St. Bernard Parish

The first set of images are of the Belair Cemetery, on the East side of the Mississippi in Plaquimines Parish. The cemetery once belonged to the Diamond family, who had a plantation home on the property adjacent to where the cemetery is. Is is said that slaves are buried there and also Jeff Chauppetta's grandfather, Salvadore Chaupetta. In 1980 Jeff Chauppetta visited the cemetery with his father to learn more about his grandfather's life. His grandfather's tomb was the only remaining one in the Belair Cemetery. In 2000 Jeff began cleaning up his grandfather's gravesite and served as the unofficial caretaker of the cemetery until Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. When Jeff ran out of film he began to draw pictures of his family's experience post-Katrina.

Jeff Chauppetta, age 53, resident of St. Bernard Parish

The first set of images are of the Belair Cemetery, on the East side of the Mississippi in Plaquimines Parish. The cemetery once belonged to the Diamond family, who had a plantation home on the property adjacent to where the cemetery is. Is is said that slaves are buried there and also Jeff Chauppetta's grandfather, Salvadore Chaupetta. In 1980 Jeff Chauppetta visited the cemetery with his father to learn more about his grandfather's life. His grandfather's tomb was the only remaining one in the Belair Cemetery. In 2000 Jeff began cleaning up his grandfather's gravesite and served as the unofficial caretaker of the cemetery until Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. When Jeff ran out of film he began to draw pictures of his family's experience post-Katrina.

Jeff Chauppetta, age 53, resident of St. Bernard Parish

The first set of images are of the Belair Cemetery, on the East side of the Mississippi in Plaquimines Parish. The cemetery once belonged to the Diamond family, who had a plantation home on the property adjacent to where the cemetery is. Is is said that slaves are buried there and also Jeff Chauppetta's grandfather, Salvadore Chaupetta. In 1980 Jeff Chauppetta visited the cemetery with his father to learn more about his grandfather's life. His grandfather's tomb was the only remaining one in the Belair Cemetery. In 2000 Jeff began cleaning up his grandfather's gravesite and served as the unofficial caretaker of the cemetery until Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. When Jeff ran out of film he began to draw pictures of his family's experience post-Katrina.

Jeff Chauppetta, age 53, resident of St. Bernard Parish

The first set of images are of the Belair Cemetery, on the East side of the Mississippi in Plaquimines Parish. The cemetery once belonged to the Diamond family, who had a plantation home on the property adjacent to where the cemetery is. Is is said that slaves are buried there and also Jeff Chauppetta's grandfather, Salvadore Chaupetta. In 1980 Jeff Chauppetta visited the cemetery with his father to learn more about his grandfather's life. His grandfather's tomb was the only remaining one in the Belair Cemetery. In 2000 Jeff began cleaning up his grandfather's gravesite and served as the unofficial caretaker of the cemetery until Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. When Jeff ran out of film he began to draw pictures of his family's experience post-Katrina.

Original title

Item 26110

Citation

“Jeff Chauppetta, age 53, resident of St. Bernard Parish The first set of images are of the…,” Hurricane Digital Memory Bank, accessed November 3, 2026, https://hurricanearchive.org/items/show/26110.