Hammond School Suspend Negroes Students

 

Source
The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) 
Sept 7, 1963

                         The first kind of such demonstration in Southeastern, Louisiana 

Three African-Americans Broke the Segregation Lines in St. Helena Parish

Three African American students broke the segregation lines in St. Helena Parish. It was in 1964, that the brave students faced one of most difficult times in their life. They were escorted by their parents and marched by police into the red brick building know as Greensburg High School.  

The school was surrounded with people from the tow, news reporters, and photographers. They were kept back by the state police from approaching the school. There wasn't any reports of incidents, although it was reported that several crosses were burned over the week in the newspaper article. 

Georgia Lea Gordon 17,  David Howard, 18, and Charles Hall-were accepted under a federal court order directing St. Helena Parish to desegregated the 11th and 12th grades. These students are the Ruby Bridges of St. Helena Parish.  Four later after Ruby Bridges desegregated the all-white Williams Frantz elementary in New Orleans, LA. 

Left: Ann Lee Hurst-Right: Georgia Lea Gordon
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Source

The Time (Shreveport, Louisiana)  August 1964

NAACP Called Three Witness from St. Helena Parish by A.P. Tureaud

A.P. Tureaud

The NAACP called three witness in an attempt to show that Negros have been discouraged from voting in St. Helena Parish election to choose between public and private schools. Ellis D. Howard, Higgins,  and John Hall. A.P. Tureaud, attorney for the three men attempted to stop the election. 

The Civil Rights Movement took place in St. Helena Parish. For whatever reasons, many people do not talk about it.  A lot of the elderly people who was a part of the movement had passed away. 

Others like Mrs. Minnie Lee Stewart, Oscar L. Hall, and Clarence L. Knighten all was farmers in St. Helena Parish, but stood up for the rights of others who was to afraid to take a stand. 

They face men with pistols in their belts who tried to intimated them from voting. "Negroes are not going to vote in St. Helena."  They didn't allow them for lining up to vote. In some cases the Negro voters outnumbered white votes, causing long lines at the polls for Negroes. 

Knighten  said that at one election in which the negroes were entering to vote was closed for three hours, but the white voting polls continue to be open. 

Source: The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana) Sun. August 16, 1964-Page 28

             The Times (Shreveport, Louisiana)   Thur. Sept 1960

Ellis D. Howard Testified There Were Separate Voting Machine in St. Helena Parish

The Time-Picayune
Wed, September 28, 1960

Who was Ellis Dught  Howard? Ellis was a farmer in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was married to Bernice Howard. The was born in 1915 to  Charlie and Mandy Taylor Howard. Ellis wasn't afraid to stand up in the face of voting injustice in St. Helena Parish. He testified:" Negroes in my percent lined up at one door and white at another. Whites march to one machine and Negroes to another."

Ellis died in St. Helena Parish on April 17, 2004.  Ellis is buried in Turner Chapel Cemetery in Greensburg, Louisiana. He was a member of the Masonic Temple. 

A.P. Tureaud of New Orleans, Louisiana Counsel for the NAACP Filed a Suit Against St. Helena Parish

 

Shreveport Times

Tuesday; June 7, 1955

That Good Old Color Citizen Moses Sheridan

St. Helena Echo
Greensburg, Louisiana 
Fri. Jan 21, 1910

St.  

St. Helena Echo
Greensburg, Louisaina
Fri, January 15, 1909

Biography of Mary E. Powell Rist

Mary Powell Rist was born three miles west of Summit, Miss., July 17, 1877 to Hillary and Laura Lenard Powell.   She died in She at attended public schools at Sand Hill and Summit, finishing the grammar course at the latter school. Later attended New Orleans University, New Orleans, LA. Being forth of a family of twelve children, her educational advantages were limited. In 1894,  she began teaching in the public schools of Pike County, Mississippi. In 1900, she entered Morris Brown College Atlanta, Ga., to prepare for mission work in foreign fields. Her father failing to consent, she declined. 

She was one of nine children. Her siblings were; Georgiana, John, Hillary, Bennie, Minnie, Beulah, Nannie, and Edward Powell. 

In 1900, Mrs. Rist's book was published "My Leisure Moments,"  which was favorably received. In it, she wad very touchingly appeals to the women of the race for higher standard of womanhood.

In October, 1901, she was led to her bridal nuptial by Mr. J.C. Rest, of Summitt, Mississippi. At present, she is engaged in teaching, her leisure time being utilized in revising her first work, and adding to the a serial which she hopes to bring out in the near future.

References

Professor I.W. Crawford, B.S. Multa In Pavor. 1909. pg 214

The Biography of William Henry Holtzclaw Founder of Utica Normal and Industrial Insitute

William Henry Holtzclaw was born in 1876 in Alabama. In 1910 he was a principal at a college in Hinds County, Mississippi. He was born to a former slaves and sharecroppers. His mother told him that the only way to escape poverty was to get and education.  William went on to enroll in Tuskegee Institute and studied under the leadership of Booker T. Washington. 

Booker T. Washington inspired Williams to used his education to teach and educate the children of former sharecroppers in rural areas in the South poverty stricken communities. Williams chose Utica, Mississippi to solicit support from both black and white people to organize and build the Utica Normal and Industrial Institute. 

Williams was married to Mary Ella Patterson Holtzclaw. Mary was a 1895 graduate of Tuskegee Institute at the Snow Hill Normal and Industrial School in Alabama. After her and Williams moved to Hinds County, Mississippi, she and her husband found Utica Normal and Industrial Institute where she was in charged of the training of black girl's studies. 

The Institute later became Utica Junior College, and eventually the Utica campus of Hinds Community College. He was and author and published two newspaper, the monthly Utica News and a s school newspaper, Southern Notes. He also published his autobiography, " The Black Man's Burden, in 1915.

References

Professor Crawford, I. W: Multa In Parvo The Connell Printing Company, 1904.

Finding My Enslaved Ancestors in the Inventory Records of the Slaveholder

Slavery Inventory of Jesse and Martha Vining
Dr. Antoinette Harrell ancestors, Courtesy of the St. Helena Parish Clerk's Office

It's very hard for me to comprehend why African American History is still a subject that most people do not like to talk about in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes in 2020. My genealogy adventure has taken me down many dusty roads and busy interstate to learn about my direct family history. While driving down the dusty, lonely roads, my mind seems to drift off in a time and period. Looking on both sides of the road and looking at the trees and old wooden building is now falling. 

I can almost feel the stories that these trees and lonely roads want to tell me—driving on the land where formerly enslaved people of St. Helena Parish once worked from sun up to sun down in the blistering summer heat and the cold winter whispering days. Somehow I feel like Alex Haley felt when he went to Gambia, Africa tracing the "Roots" of Kunta Kinte. Kunta Kinte was born in 1750 in Gambia and kidnapped and sold into slavery in America. Kunta Kinte died in 1822.

My Richardson, Vining, and Bates family research ties to St. Helena Parish. There is something that pulls at me always to research their history. "Who was the first person in my family that touch the soil of America?" I know I had to search the Clerk's office records until I could find them. The painstaking research wasn't easy; I realized that. The pain causes the tears to stream down my face until I could see a

Dr. Antoinette Harrell
St. Helena Parish Clerk's Office

clearing. 

After going inside the vault and looking at the many files that seem to be at least fifteen feet tall, I look up and down, and somehow, I knew I would find them because they wanted to be found. The first slave records I found were Carrie and her child Thomas who was owned by Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson. I was looking at their names in this cursive writing, and a deep saddest hit my heart. "'I realized that on this day," my Carrie and her child was being sold. Who are the other people listed on the inventory? "Could this be people that are related to Carrie?

Soon afterward, I started looking at my Vining family and found that they were owned by Jesse and Martha Vining in St. Helena. I discovered my ancestors; One Negro named Frank age 18 of yellow color valued at $700.00, One negriss named Thursday age 20 years old and her child valued at $700.00, one negro woman named Judia age 25 years value at $600.00, and one negro man named Ben age 22 years old, yellow color valued at $700.00.

I'm so grateful to Alex Haley for the book called "Roots" and teaching African-Americans like me who are thirsty for knowledge of self and the history of family history. I feel enriched knowing that I have studied my own 

New Found Relatives in My Family Tree

Mayor Rochell Bates and Dr. Antoinette Harrell
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

I moved back to the Parish, where my ancestral lived in 2005. I was happy with the move; after all, I didn't have to travel from New Orleans two to three times a week to conduct my maternal and paternal genealogy research in Amite County, Mississippi or St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. I focus my attention and research energy, mostly on my maternal side of the family, until 2019. It was after the death of my father that I decided to look deeper into his family tree. My father's mother's name was Mary McKay, was born to Charlie and Florence William McKay in 1904 in Pike, Mississippi.

Florence's parents were Alexander and Rebecca Ann Williams. Rebecca was born around 1857 in Mississippi. According to the 1910 United States Federal Census, she was listed as a mulatto. Rebecca was able to read and write. She and Alexander had nine children. 

Rochell Bates is the mayor of Kentwood, La., and the principal of Kentwood Magnet High School. I would have never imagined that there could be any relations to us at all. Well, I was in for a surprise. I found his Sim Bates on in a family tree where my Rebecca was found. I wanted to look a little deeper into the Bates family lineage. 

I learned from Rochell that the Bates started somewhere in Amite County, Mississippi. I started looking for the first white Bates in Amite County, Mississippi and found a man named Richard Bates, who owned hundred and six enslaved people. Richard was born in 1796 in Barnwall, South Carolina, and died in 1867 in Amite, Mississippi. I would like to know the names of everyone he owned on the plantation.

Mayor Bates and I were just and surprised to learn that we are related. Sometimes you never know who you are related to. There is more to come to this story. 

Teaching Family Members How to Conduct Genealogy Research in St. Helena Parish

Monteral and I are first cousins, and both were given the gift of preserving family history. Her father, the late Raymond Harrell, Sr., passed away and left her a rich collection of family photographs. She had shared this collection with me for various reasons. Several of the images are in the newly published book entitled " Images of America" African Americans in Tangipahoa and St. Helena. These rich images help tell the stories of the lives of African American people in the two Florida Parishes.  Her father took pride in preserving the collection and so does Monteral. 

Last summer, she and I packed lunches for my grandchildren and her daughter, and we took the four and a half hours to drive to Union Parish to research our Randall and Priscilla Blackburn Harrell. When we reached the courthouse, the lights had just gone out, and we were astonished. We waited about for a couple of hours before heading back. 

 

Last week we went to the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court for more research. That was the first time that Monteral went inside the vault and researched for slavery records. She found one inventory of a mother and her three children being sold in St. Helena Parish. That was somewhat emotional for her. 

In the pictures above Wanda Knighten, Glyniss Vernon Gordon, Thomas Cook, and Monteral Harrell all are related and have family ties to St. Helena Parish. Everyone found something that day and was very happy with their research. 

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Two First Cousins Are Double Related

Last week my brother Thomas joined me for his paternal genealogy research in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Several family members joined me at the Amite Genealogy Library and the St. Helena Parish Courthouse to research their paternal and maternal side of the family. For the most part, I have done a lot of research on the Harrell, Vining, Richardson, and Williams branches of our family. Thomas decided to look at his Tucker and Cook family lines. Thomas's mother, Isabell Harrell Cook, and Wanda's father, Jasper Harrell, Jr., were brother and sister. 

Our maternal first Cousin, Wanda Harrell Knighten, joined in to research her maternal family lineage. I learned that her grandmother Lillie's mother's maiden name was "Hitchens," and they were from Hillsdale in St. Helena Parish. Lillie was born around 1907 to John and Ellen Tucker Hitchens. 

Thomas and Wanda are also related through the Tucker lineage. Thomas's paternal grandmother was named Pearl Tucker Cook. This makes the two of them double related. Through Wanda's maternal great-grandmother Ellen and Thomas's paternal grandmother Pearl comes through the Tucker lineage. 

Ellen was born around 1889 in St. Helena Parish to Thomas and Lizzie Coleman Tucker. It's fantastic to see family members make the connection of family relations. "My mama knew all about the family lineage connection, "said Wanda. 

The day was exhilarating to have family members researching their lineage in the courthouse and library. It seems like the genealogy bug is biting new people. During this COVID-19 pandemic, genealogy research something that we all can do to keep our minds occupied. If you haven't set up a free Family Search account to use as one of the many tools out there. Please do so, and happy ancestors hunt. 

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Here is a link to family search. 

https://www.familysearch.org/en/

Eady Bates Appraised Eady for Twenty-Five Dollars in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Eady Bates Appraised for Twenty-Five Dollars 

Whenever I go into a courthouse to conduct genealogy research, I never know what I may find. In the case of Eady Bates, age 80 years old, appraised for $25.00. Montreal Harrell, my assistant and I were looking in the Bates family files, and we came across the enslaved belonging to Ephriam Bates, 1829. 

His inventory consist of two tracks of 640 acres of land; 13 enslaved people. His total inventory valued at $14, 569. Eady stayed on my mind all that day. She was the same age my mother was when she passed away this year. It made me sick to the stomach to know they treated her with no dignity and respect. Somehow today, I feel that Eady's story will be told. When I open the files drawers, I don't know who's story will come to the light. I just know that the ancestors do not want me to forget them. When slavery was abolished, Eady were deceased due to the fact that she was eighty-years old in 1829. I hope that I can find her offsprings if she had any. 

Just imagine Eady worked all of her life, most likely give the Bates family everything she could, not be sold with the livestock and furniture. And in the end, they showed her just what they thought about her. She was only worth $25.00. The old horse saddle was twelve dollars let then what Eady a human being appraised for. 

As a matter of fact, they could have sold her for much less than twenty-five dollars. The inventory said she appraised for and not sold for twenty-five dollars. Recently I learned that my paternal third great-grandmother was Rebecca Bates Williams. The Bates family were from Amite, County, Mississippi. Some settled in McComb, Mississippi and St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Well that's a whole new story for my paternal genealogy research. That's was Monteral's first time finding such a record. Holding and reading a record of someone being sold was a little emotional for her. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell and Monteral Harrell Climmons 
researching at the St. Helena Parish Courthouse
Photos Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

Special Thanks: St. Helena Parish Courthouse

In Loving Memory of Ernest Hickerson, Jr.

Ernest Hickerson, Jr., was born on July 21, 1933 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Ernest and Roberta Hickerson, Sr.  Ernest Jr., entered the United States Army in 1949 where he served serveral years during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged and was decorated with the Purple Heart for his services.

His survived by: his mother, Roberta Hickerson-Waiters; his wife, Gloria, his sister, Willie Mae Hickerson-Canody; two children, Darnell and Glyniss; his aunt Emma Lee Frazier of Amite, Louisiana; tow grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, several cousins and many, many friends. 

Ernest had gone on to Greater glory. We know that the Lord will welcome him to his new home with open arms.

Source: Funeral Program of Ernest Hickerson, Jr.

Courtesy of Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. Amite, La.

A trailblazer in Tangipahoa Parish the story of James Robert Vernon

James Robert Vernon
Photo Courtesy
 Gyniss Vernon Gordon

On the evening of July 27, 1957, the figure of silence, often personified as an angel, entered the home of Reverend James Robert Vernon and, with a touch as cold as the stillness it brought, sealed his lips in eternal repose. He was the devoted and loving husband of Pearley Briggs Vernon, and in that moment, his soul departed from this realm of human struggle—a world marked by sin, sorrow, and pain—ascending to a place of eternal peace and rest.

The life of Reverend James Robert Vernon was one that left a lasting and unwavering impression on those who knew him. Unlike some lives that may disappoint or require a reassessment of character over time, the impression he made upon first meeting remained steadfast until the end of his days. From a young age, he embraced Christianity, joining the Mount Canaan Baptist Church, where he was baptized by his father, Reverend Robert Vernon. For over sixty-one years, he dedicated himself to the Master's service, selflessly offering his time, counsel, and resources to support endeavors that he believed would contribute to the greater good. 

His generosity and commitment to helping others exemplified a life lived in service to his faith and his community.Reverend James R. Vernon was a man of selflessness, which led him to seek companionship to share in the blessings of his life. This sentiment guided him to marry Pearley Gertrude Briggs, with whom he built a family. From their union, eight children were born, and he devoted himself to being a loving and faithful husband and father. He worked diligently to ensure his family's comfort and happiness, instilling in his children the values of loving and fearing God. He emphasized that embracing Christianity was among the most significant endeavors in life. Those who came to know his children would recognize how deeply they upheld and remembered the lessons he imparted to them.

Picture: Reverend James Robert Vernon

Photo Courtesy of Glyniss Vernon Gordon

In Loving Memory of Clothidle Aaron Zanders 1912-2010

In writing the "obituary" of Mrs. Clotidle Aaron Zanders, one had to the of terms of memories. She was born in Amite, Louisiana, December 27, 1912, to the late Mike and Maggie Bush Aaron. Clotidle was known for her love of house plants, beautiful yard, and dressing for church on Sunday. Her interest in plants was enhanced with membership of the Gladiola Garden Club.

She served the church as president of the usher board as well as the willing Workers Club, Class leader forte Youth and as Leader of Leaders. She was a gifted seamstress. She also fed many West Side students during her tenure as manager fo the cafeteria for twenty seven years, finally retiring on June 2, 1978.

He marriage on July 25, 1929, to her childhood sweetheart, Robert Zanders, lasted for 55 years, 8 month. From this union one daughter, Delores. She departed for this life on Tuesday morning, November 16, 2010 at her home.

She leaves to cherish her memories: one daughter, Mrs. Delores X. Levy, Amite, one grandson, Shawn Levy, one sister, Mrs. Mildred Turner; one nephew, Mike Aaron, III and many other relatives and friends. 

Sources: Funeral Program of Clotidle Aaron Zanders

Courtesy of Richardson Funeral Home, Amite

Louisa Mahoney Mason Story "Enslaved by the Jesuit

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Edwin Temple Found Arrowheads on the Temple Homestead

Indian Arrowhead
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Can you imagine working in the field, disking up the dirt to plant the seeds for the produce. This is what happened to Edwin Temple who found several Indian arrowheads on the their property in Amite. "I was  rolling up roll with the fourteen rake" said Edwin.  Just north of Lake Pontchartrain in the Town of Amite, the parish seat. On the outskirts of the town in a rural community serveral Indian Arrowheads were found. 

The name Tangipahoa is derived from the Muskogean words (tranche pahoha) which translates to  "corncob people" or people of the corn. This is where Tangipahoa gets it name.  The Bayogoula, part of the Choctaw nation in, areas directly north of the Chitimachas in the parishes of St. Helena,  Tangipahoa, Washington, East Baton, Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, and St. Tammany genealogytrails.com

When I held the arrowheads in my hand, I felt like I step back in time. Touch and feeling something that the Native American made. I quickly started visualizing the time and period before Amite became what it is today. I felt interconnect to the Natives. Arrowhead can be as old as 14, 000 years old. They symboled courage, strength and protection.  They were introduced by the Native Indians during the ancient time.

The Tangipahoa village was destroyed in the 17th century, and any survivors. probably merged into the Acolapissa and Houma tribes, who later joined the Choctaws. I often think about Malinda Lawson who was a Choctaw Indian. She and her family lived in Ried's Community in Amite, Louisiana. 

I often think about purchasing a metal detector and search for rare coins and other metal treasures buried underground.  Edwin have held on to the arrowheads for over forty-years. He's thinking about way to preserve them. The one thing that Edwin pointed how is the skills it took to shape the arrow head in a point. In another observation, he notice the sides and shapes of each arrowhead. 

Joseph Franklin Pugh

Joseph Franklin Pugh (Joe Pugh) was born, February 28, 1950 in Greenville, Tennessee to the late Reverend Ernest Thomas Much, and the late Madlyn A. Pugh. He departed this lief on June 14, 2015 as he answered his call to join the Heavenly Choir. 

Joseph attended West Side High School where he played in the band under the direction of Mr. Duplessis. He graduated from West Side High in 1967. Joseph went on to attend Southern University where he received his B.S. Degree in Instrumental Music. H was a member of The Mighty Southern University Band (150) under the direction of the late Mr. Ludwig Freeman and the late Mr. Isaac Greggs. His position in the marching band was called March 00; right out front with concert band. While attending Southern University, he became a member of the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha. In 1972, he participated in the great Louisiana Conference choir under the director of his sister Carrie Ann Pugh. He was an outstanding Bass-Baritone singer.

In 1975, Joseph enlisted in the United State Arm, where he served as Military Police during his career. On December 27, 1975, he united in holy matrimony to Joyce Ann Burton. To that union a beautiful baby girl Joelle LaShaun was born as he gained a daughter JonQuelle.

He became a member of the Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church, Rosalind, LA, where he was the musician and the choir director for one thirty years. He was also President of the Sons of Allen organization.

He leaves to cherish his memories, daughter Joelle Pugh Adam (Aaron) Hammond, La., and JonQuelle Johnson (Carl) Killian, LA, one brother, Jordan B. Pugh (Joan), Culver City, Ca., one sister Carrie Ann Pugh-Paul (Robert), one sister-in-law Barbara Pugh, a devoted companion Betty Marks, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and relatives. He was preceded in death by siblings; Thomas O. Pugh, Charles W. Pugh, and Coney L Pugh.

Source: The Funeral Program of Joseph Franklin Pugh

Courtesy of Richardson Funeral Home, Amite

Sarah Ann Sanders Belvin Raickett

Sarah Ann Sanders Belvins Ratchet

Sarah Ann Sanders Blevins Raickett, the ninth of ten siblings, was born on January 2, 1910, to Cass and Georgia Vernon Sanders, and she passed away on February 23, 2000, at 4:00 p.m. in the St. Helena Parish Nursing Home, surrounded by her daughter and grandson.

Mama led a fulfilling and profoundly blessed life, as recounted by her daughter Grace Belvins Walker. She resided in the Vernon Town community. After she married Alton and later relocated there following her father's death. In 1944, she remarried and moved to Amite, Louisiana, returning to Vernon Town after the death of her second husband. Her final move was back to Amite after a fire destroyed her home, where she lived for thirty-seven years. Mama was a steadfast participant in family events, including gatherings, graduations, weddings, baptisms, and other milestones. She also supported her son-in-law, Dr. Percy Walker, the first Black veterinarian in Amite and the surrounding communities. She assisted him in his daily operations and other responsibilities.

Her church life commenced at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church in Arcola and extended to Little Bethel Baptist Church upon her affiliation there. At Little Bethel, she served as a Sunday school teacher and Director of the Baptist Training Union, deriving great satisfaction from attending various church conferences and meetings.

Mourning her passing are her daughters, Grace B. Walker and Marjorie (Kozy) Barnes; her sister, Celestine Williams; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.. 

Sources: Funeral Program for Sarah Ann Sanders Belvin Raickett

               Richardson Funeral Home, Amite