Meet Our Tour Guides

Holly Wilson is a lifelong Louisiana resident and graduate of Louisiana State University. She earned a degree in history and went on to teach Louisiana history, deepening her appreciation for the state’s rich food, culture and architecture. After moving to New Orleans as an empty nester, she sought meaningful ways to engage with her community and became a licensed tour guide, sharing her passion for Louisiana with others. Through her work with the Preservation Resource Center, she has continued to expand her knowledge of architectural preservation and share that knowledge

Jamie Barker is a New Orleans native, born at Baptist Hospital on Napoleon Avenue. Her formal education was in Catholic schools, and she graduated from the University of New Orleans with a degree in education. She grew up learning a lot of misinformation about the history of her city. When she became a tour guide, she began to delve into scholarly works that have enabled her to do quite a bit of “myth busting.” Her interests are French, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean colonial histories — with a focus on women in New Orleans prior to, and just after, the Louisiana Purchase. Now in the 21st century, she jokingly states that she is three centuries behind. That’s why she loves the cemeteries and the PRC/SOC mission to preserve them and their history.

Dana Criswell’s love of history and all things New Orleans led her to start a post-retirement life as a tour guide. Early in her training, she became fascinated with the unique funerary culture of New Orleans and found that Save Our Cemeteries provided opportunities to increase her knowledge and also gave her a way to share her enthusiasm as a tour leader. Dana retired from the University of New Orleans, where she served first as an English Department faculty member and later as an administrator, providing support for international students and faculty.

Melissa Hall has a lifelong love for the rich history and culture of New Orleans. Before retiring from a career as a respiratory therapist, she would spend her free time walking in the city’s many cemeteries, curious about the tombs and the people who were laid to rest in them. This curiosity led her to become a tour guide for Save Our Cemeteries. Melissa’s tours offer a window into the lives, legacies and lasting impact of those who made New Orleans what it is today.

Nancy Jacobs has been a tour guide since 2010 and is a fourth-generation New Orleanian. She has led tours in the Garden District, French Quarter and St. Louis Cemeteries No. 1 and No. 3. She believes the PRC and Save Our Cemeteries do valuable preservation work and provide educational opportunities about the history of New Orleans. It is a privilege and exciting for her to work with them. In addition to tours, she also sings in the choir at her church, Grace Lutheran, enjoys theater—both Broadway and opera—as well as other types of music. She is also a trivia enthusiast, especially in classic film.

Cassandra Long is a lifelong passionate history enthusiast. She studied classics at the University of Texas at Austin but became obsessed with New Orleans at a young age. Having a great love for Anne Rice novels, she first moved here in 2006 and had a long, winding path filled with world travels before returning to the city many times. With no plans to leave again, she currently spends her time pursuing academic interests in New Orleans history, sharing her ever-expanding knowledge of history and folklore through tours, enjoying the beauty, whimsy and decadence New Orleans has to offer, and spending time with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Tracy Norwood has been a licensed New Orleans tour guide since 2015. When studying to become a tour guide, she learned about Save Our Cemeteries and knew she had to give tours with them. In addition to being a former high school English teacher, she holds a BFA, MA and MFA, so it’s only natural she’s a tour guide. Outside of tour guiding, she works full time for the New Orleans Video Access Center as the Communications and Engagement Manager. She is also a union actor and filmmaker currently writing a TV series about a quirky group of morticians.

Liz Reed came to New Orleans in 1980 for a six-month training session, fell in love with the city and has been here ever since. In 1994, Liz earned her tour guide license and soon after began her association with Save Our Cemeteries. Over the years, Liz has enjoyed leading tours in several cemeteries, introducing visitors to New Orleans’ unique funeral and entombment customs while sharing the city’s fascinating history. She is pleased to continue this work through the Preservation Resource Center and Save Our Cemeteries.

Glenn Schiro has been leading tours of Metairie Cemetery since early 2018. He quickly realized that, as a tour guide, he would be on a continuous learning curve, finding out something new or different every time he led a tour of the gem of New Orleans cemeteries — Metairie Cemetery. He thoroughly enjoys sharing with tour takers how Metairie Cemetery reflects the history, culture, religions and diverse ethnicities of the Big Easy since 1872. The day he is no longer passionate and committed to telling the never-ending stories about those who are resting peacefully in beautiful Metairie Cemetery will be the day he stops doing tours.