ABOUT HOLLYWOOD PLANTATION CEMETERIES ASSOCIATION*
*A Louisiana non-profit corporation with IRS tax exempt status per Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Our EIN#: 92-0321900
Turning Interest into Action
The Directors of Hollywood Plantation Cemeteries Association (HPCA) want to be a catalyst for making the last remaining feature of Hollywood Plantation - its cemeteries - a place of history, respect, reflection and inspiration for everyone. By making repairs to the graves and informing the community of the historical importance of the site, we hope to instill a sense of history, place, perspective, and purpose. We created this non-profit tax-exempt corporation to enhance our community's history in all respects, not just to repair a cemetery
Dealing with the challenges of the times requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and individuals who are willing to take risks. HPCA emerged out of interest in history, a desire to inspire and to support the community, and a vision to create a place to visit and learn more about the difficult and imperfect beginnings of Louisiana and Baton Rouge.
The Board of Directors
Get to Know the People behind Hollywood Plantation Cemeteries Association
PAUL BLEDSOE
Founder & President
Paul is an engineer by profession, receiving his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974. He spent most of his work life in engineering and maintenance management roles at aluminum and steel manufacturing plants across the U.S. and Caribbean. He takes pride in his expertise as a consultant in Change Management and achieving world-class industrial maintenance performance.
Paul is a Vice President of the Philemon Thomas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, Alamo Chapter, the Louisiana Historical Association, the National Genealogical Society, and the West Baton Rouge Parish Genealogical Society. He has been a resident of Louisiana for more than 20 years and is fascinated with the history of the state and of Baton Rouge. He has been working on the genealogy of his own family since 1995. Paul is a 6th generation Texan. He is a descendant of Romani settlers of Colonial Post du Rapide, Louisiana – via The LaPrairie and Castel families of the early 1700’s. His Louisiana ancestors include Adam Huffman Sr., one of the earliest Anglo settlers of the Catahoula district of Rapides Parish – before 1788.
He became aware of the abandoned cemeteries at Hollywood Plantation in 2019 and has thoroughly researched the genealogy of the Bird family and the history of the plantation. Paul (not a Bird descendant) is writing a book about Abraham Bird Sr. and his descendants originating from Missouri and Louisiana.
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Concerning the HPCA non-profit endeavor, Paul said, "HPCA provides a powerful mechanism to channel our historical interests into positive change. I am proud to be a part of it."
DR. DERRICK SPELL
Secretary - Treasurer
Dr. Derrick Spell is a breast medical oncologist in Baton Rouge. He graduated summa cum laude from McNeese State University in Lake Charles with a degree in biological sciences. He then earned his medical degree from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Spell completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Earl K. Long Medical Center. He then completed a medical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He has been in private practice with the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center since 2004. He currently practices full-time at the Woman’s Hospital Cancer Pavilion. He has published several manuscripts and abstracts in distinguished journals. He also published a book regarding his own personal weight loss experience entitled The Bite-Sized Guide to Getting Right-Sized.
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Dr. Spell is very active in the Baton Rouge community. He has served on the Institutional Review Board at Woman’s Hospital since 2007. He served on the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board from 2007-2010. He was named to the “Top 40 Under 40” list by the Baton Rouge Business Report. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the ARC of Baton Rouge Chapter, the Hospice Foundation of Greater Baton Rouge and the Children’s Charter School.
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Dr. Spell is descended from five American Patriots, but is not a Bird descendant. He is the Registrar for the General Philemon Thomas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and is an officer of the Louisiana State Society of the SAR. He also volunteers as the Southern district publisher and reviewer for the online National SAR Patriot Research System. These volunteer activities with SAR help fuel his passion for preserving American history and studying genealogy.
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Dr. Spell and his wife Sharon are founders of E.J. Caire & Co. Store - a non-profit focused on restoring, preserving, and maintaining the Caire’s Landing buildings, antiques and properties in Edgard, St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana on River Road - part of the National Historic District in that includes Edgard, Louisiana.
NATALIE TRUAX
VICE PRESIDENT
Natalie Truax has worked in many roles in the information technology department for the State of Louisiana for more than 20 years. She is currently the Enterprise Architecture infrastructure manager which serves as the technical foundation for major state computer applications. Natalie graduated with cum laude honors from Louisiana State University with bachelor’s degrees in mass communication and history. While at LSU, she was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. Before Natalie began her career in information technology, she had a brief stint at The Daily Review in Morgan City, La. She also covered the local school board as a freelance newspaper reporter for 20 years for the Livingston Parish News in Denham Springs, La.
Natalie serves as second vice president of the Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana Chapter 1. She was also a member of The HIVE Band Boosters for Denham Springs High School, the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts Parents Council, the costume sewing crew for the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater Nutcracker and as a parent volunteer for the Louisiana Youth Orchestras.
Natalie's passion for cemeteries began in elementary school when she was captivated by a visit to a plantation home with a family cemetery on the grounds. Her fascination grew during a visit to her great-grandparents' grave in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, where the French inscriptions on the tombstones enchanted her. Every cemetery visit offers her a unique glimpse into the history and people of the locale, revealed through the monuments and epitaphs. This love has led her to explore cemeteries across the Southeast, particularly in Louisiana, where she has visited most of the Baton Rouge cemeteries and frequently explores the historic cemeteries in New Orleans. For Natalie, each monument at a final resting place tells a story, and she always uncovers something new. Though she is not a Bird-Byrd descendant, she eagerly looks forward to working with the HPCA to revive the local cemetery and bring the stories of those interred there to the community.