From pine straw to to basket weaving the skilled hands of Robert Vernon, Jr.

Glyniss Vernon Gordon
Hand weaved basket
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Robert was born in 1854 in Rankin, Mississippi, where he was of seventeenth children of Robert "Free Bob" Vernon, Sr. He entered into marriage on two occasions, fathering children with both of his wives. One of his spouses was Elizabeth Stokes, with whom he was wed on January 20, 1887, in Tangipahoa, Louisiana. Elizabeth was born on February 11, 1866in Roseland, Louisiana, and died on March 18, 1938. Robert and Elizabeth had ten children: Ely, Willis, Hugh, Nellie, Jannie, Nancy, Lettie, Ruby, Mary, and Linsey Vernon.

Robert passed away in 1949 and was laid to rest in the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery. In addition to his role as a preacher, he had a passion for crafting baskets and chairs. To learn more about the Vernon family, I conducted an interview with Mrs. Grace Belvins Walker, who is Robert's great-niece. Her grandmother, Georgiana, and Robert were siblings. During my visit to her home, Mrs. Walker presented several family heirlooms to me and her cousin, Glyniss Vernon Gordon. Among these cherished items were a syrup pitcher and baskets woven by Robert himself.

Mrs. Walker shared with Glyniss that these baskets were crafted by their second great-grandfather, Robert. This was Glyniss's first opportunity to see the baskets in person. Notably, Mrs. Walker emphasized that while the heirlooms could be admired, they were not to be removed from her home. As one of the Vernon family griots, Mrs. Walker is a repository of detailed and engaging family stories, which she recounts with great care and vividness. I found her narratives to be both captivating and deeply informative.

Robert died in 1949; he's buried in Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery. Robert was a preacher, and he enjoyed weaving baskets and chairs. I went to Mrs. Grace Belvins Walker for an interview about the Vernon family. Robert was her great uncle, her grandmother Georgiana and Robert were sister and brother.  When I got to her house, she had a few family heirlooms to show me and her cousin Glyniss Vernon Gordon. One of the  family heirlooms was a syrup pitcher and baskets.

She informed Glyniss that her second great-grandfather, Robert, was responsible for weaving the baskets, marking Glyniss's first opportunity to see them in person. Mrs. Walker emphasized that while Glyniss could look at the baskets, they were not to be removed from the house under any circumstances. As one of the Vernon family griots, Mrs. Walker holds a significant role in preserving and sharing the family's oral history. I find her detailed and captivating family stories to be something I could sit and listen to for hours.