African Americans in Covington by Dr.Eva Semien Baham

African Americans in Covington" is a collection of stories, memories and photographs covering the history, lives, and triumphs of Covington's African American community. The forward by Rev. Mallory Callahan, it was published in 2015 as part of the "Images of America" historical series by Arcadia. Covington is the seat of St. Tammany Parish government and sits north of Lake Pontchartrain in the New Orleans metropolitan area. One person of African descent was present at the founding of Covington on July 4, 1813. Most African Americans in antebellum Covington were slaves with a modest number of fee people, all of whom covered nearly every occupation needed for the development and sustenance of a heavily forested region. 

Amite Native Dr. Valerie Richardson, Author of The Vision Blueprint

Dr. Valarie Richardson

Dr. Valerie is a Mentor, Spiritual Leader, Motivational Speaker, Entrepreneur, Nutritionist, anAuthor. She is the granddaughter of the late Supt, Alexander Richardson and Missionary Melissa Wheat Richardson. She is the descendant of Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson. Dr. Richardson is purpose and passionate about provoking, praying and promoting others into purpose. What is it that you know you have a gift or calling to do? What is it that you have always wanted to do bu the fear of failure had plagued you form getting started. Let Dr. Richardson help you push past your fears and give you some foundational principles to help execute and sustain your vision with her new book: The Vision Blueprint. 

Native of Amite, Louisiana Dr. Daphne L. Richardson an Optometry Specialist

Dr. Daphne Richardson
Photo Courtesy: Dr. Richardson Facebook Page

Dr. Daphne L. Richardson is an Optometry Specialist in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the granddaughter of Supt. Alexander Richardson and Missionary Melissa Wheat Richardson. The daughter of the late Joseph Richardson and Linda Topps. She graduated with honors from University of Houston-College of Optometry in 2002. She had more than 19 years of diverse experiences, especially in Optometery. 

Kasia Trepagnier Tangipahoa Celebrity

Kasia Trepagnier
Photo Courtesy: Kasia's Facebook page

Kasia Trepagnier is the daughter of Tangipahoa Parish Natives,  Andrew and Belinda Trepagnier. She is a descendant of Ben and Annie Richardson Vining of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. She had appeared in 27 films including NCIS, Queen Sugar, Girl's Trip and Palmer just to name a few. Kasia is also a model  and actress who travels extensively to Atlanta and other states to model and act.

She was the top model for Bonner Borther's 2021 Top Model and participated this years in New York's Fashion Week, she was also recognized at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. She walked the red carper with other celebrities. She is currently working on a Will Smith film titled "Emancipation" that is filming in St. Francisville.  

I find Kasia to be a very kind and lively person. The sky is the limit for Kasia, and she had a very strong support system from her family. 

American Singer Irma Thomas Was Born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Irma Lee Thomas  was born in 1941 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.  She started out singing as a teenager in a Baptist Church choir. She was married twice and the mother of four children. Occasionally she song with bandleader Tommy Rigley. Her first singer " Don't Mess with My Man" was released in 1959, and reached number 22 on the US Billboard R& B chart.  She worked with songwriter and producer Allen Toussaint. She appear annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, In 2007, Thomas was honored by her contributions to Louisiana music with induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. She also won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album for After the Rain.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irma_Thomas

Singer Songwriter Robert Parker "Barefootin" Passed Away at His Home in Roseland, Louisiana

Barefootin was written and performed by Robert Parker. The song reached No.2 on the U.S. Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart and No.7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Robert Parker, a New Orleans, Singer. He passed away at his home in Roseland, La at the age of 89. Robert was raised in New Orleans,  He was born in 1930 in Mobile to Robert and Lena Parker.

Robert performed alongside many other New Orleans Musicians such as Fats Domino, and Irma Thomas.  He started his career last saxophonist, he played with Professor Longhair on his hit "Mardi Gras in New Orleans, in 1949. Parker played with many popular New Orleans performers,  on records with Eddie Bo, Earl King, James Booker, Ernie K.-Doe, Tommy Ridgley, He backed up visiting R & B artists including Solomon Burke, Lloyd Price, Jerry Butler and Otis Redding. 

He was introduced into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame 2007. He funeral services was held last Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist Church.  Richardson Funeral Home, Inc, Amite was in charged of the final arrangement for the singer.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Parker_(singer)#

http://www.richardsonfuneralhomeamite.com/obits

Youtube: https://youtu.be/azIytXgdggA

Wicker Water Owned by Harvey "Champ" Wicker

Harvey "Champ" Wicker

Harvey was born in 1921 to Ida and Milton Wicker. There were six children born to the couple. Milton was born in Greensburg, Louisiana in 1889. Milton lived in Alexandria, Louisiana before settling in Pensacola, Florida.  At the age of fifteen, Harvey left Pensacola, Florida after he meet his benefactor named R. Bethel. Heavery served as Bethl's chauffeur. His grandson Harvey contacted me to talk about the history of his grandfather whom he spent a great deal of time with as a child growing up.

He was married to Blanch Batte, they were the parents of four children: Harvey Anderson, Sr., Anita Louisa, Donald Edwards, SR, and Debra Ann. He went into the Army at the age of seventeen. He was a boxer, he began in boxing career in Detroit, becoming the Golden Gloves "Champ" in the Bantam Weight Division for the the state of Michigan.

Harvey started the Wicker Water business. He me Angie Dickinson, President Kennedy and Nixon. In a newspaper interview Harvey talked about his vegetables on Wicker water. The water came from an artesian week in Inyo County, owned and worked by Harvey himself.  Wicker spoke about most water we get from our taps, contain all kinds of substances. He proved a copy of a chemical analysis of Wicker water for eery bottle.

For years Wicker donated water to Pacoina Memorial Hospital. He serviced other recipients with Wicker Water. Some wrote letter about Wicker water stating that the drinking water cleared up problems such as Insomnia, indigestion, constipation and heartburn. Wicker mission was  to get the drinking water in the home coolers and on the supermarket shelves. Emmett Culligan was working on a marketing program for the water. The sales from Wicker Water Company could have make Wicker a very wealthy man. 

Source: The Funeral Program of Harvey A "Champ" Wicker & Harvey Wicker, the Grandson of Champ

Little Bethel Deaconess Board

 Please help me to name these women in this picture. I know Mrs. Janie Bell Wiliams, Mrs. Dudley and Mrs. Alma Harrison Vernon. I know that this is from Little Bethel Baptist Church in Amite, Louisiana. 

The Vernon Family of Amite, Louisiana

 

From Left to Right
Glynis Vernon Gordon, her son Vernon Gordon, Rev. Willard Vernon and his  wife
   Mrs. Alma Harrison Vernon.

The Dudley Family of Amite, Louisiana

Seated from left to right: Ms. Gisele Ricard & Baby, Mrs. Maggie Lee Dudley, Mr. O.D. Dudley, Mrs. Mildred Ricard, and Natalie Ricard. Back Row: Mrs. Norma Jean Ricard, Mrs. Tonell Ricard, Mrs. Shirley Griffin, and Craig Ricard. 

Judge Perry of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Judge was born in 1895 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. to Grofton and Margaret Hunter Perry.  He was married to Dicie Perry. He worked on his own account as a farmer. He was living at Route 1 Box 133 in Amite, Louisiana.  Siblings were: Carrie, Judge, Martha, John, Ellis, Monroe, Luvenia, Howard, Lewis, James, Duncan, and Kelly Perry. 

Monroe Perry of Amite, Louisiana

 

Monroe Perry  was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana to Grofton and Margaret Hunter Perry. He was married to Alice Brown Perry. I remember Mr. Monroe Perry. I can recall seeing him on Sunday's at church with his hat, suit, and white shirt. Mr. Monroe was a very tall man. He didn't say many words or at least I never heard him talk a lot. At that time the church was named Gordon Chapel Church of God in Christ. It is located in Amite, Louisiana off HWY 1045. He was a well respected man in the African American community.

Charlie Arthur and Elvia "Evie Magee Varnado

Both the Varnado and Magee families are known to reside in Pike and Wathall Counties in Mississippi. Others live in Washington and Tangipahoa, Louisiana Parishes. In counties and parishes where the Varnado and Magee surnames are known, everyone is familiar with them. Both of these families are quite large. 

Charles Arthur Varnado was born between 1861 in Magnolia, Mississippi. He died on July 30, 1936.  He was the son of Harry and Margaret  Varnado. He was married to Evie Magee in his hometown of Magnolia. He and his wife had 21 children.

Let me attempt to name some of  their children: Dewitt C, Willie M, Rachel, Richard, Lucius, Clara, Curtis,  John, Mary Margaret, Anna, Charlie Arthur, Martha, Menevie Minnie,  Minnie, Spellman, Turley, Tulny, Jesse Varnado.

Charles parents had eighteen children as well. One can only imagine how the family reunion would be for their family. One thing that is for sure, it would be a large family reunion.  Just between Charles and his father Harry there is a total of thirty-nine children. Could you imagine how many Varnado descendants there are from just these two Varnado men. Not to mention whether Charles and his father Harry had siblings or children with large families. It is possible for the Louisiana Florida Parish Varnado's to descended from this huge family tree or connected somehow. 

Were Your Ancestors Homesteaders in the Louisiana Florida Parishes?

Exploring African American History in Louisiana Florida Parishes.

I Cooked My First Thanksgiving Dinner At Our Home with Daja

My Grandson Carter Teaching His Grandmother Social Media Technology

Carter making short films
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

You are never too old to learn from anyone or anything. We can learn a lot about technology from our youth.  My grandson Carter has offered his services to manage my TikTok social media account. Carter has a passion for videoing and editing. He use his iPhone for most of his editing. Our time together is one of the things I cherish the most. All of the children are a great source of information. In particular Carter and Connor, they teach me so much about modern technology and how to use some apps. Both of them are eager to teach me something new about technology. It makes them feel good to know that their grandmother are their student.  

The most wonderful thing is we are learning together. Together we are bonding, learning, and exploring together. Of course, I had to give him the position as my manager in training.  I'm excited to see how well he does and what he can do. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, it is never to late and no one is too old or too young to learn. 

Bernard Speaks Out for the First Time About Researching With His Mother Antoinette Harrell

Bernard documentary interview
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

When Bernard was a very young child, he traveled with his mother to conduct genealogy and peonage research. They visited numerous courthouses and state archives around the United States.  Visiting museum and other historical sites were also included in their tour. At the time, "I was unaware of the importance of genealogy and peonage research,  I understand now" said Bernard. 

As part of the his interview for a documentary about his mother genealogy and peonage research, he described how much he learned from his mother, and how much he appreciate the lessons his mother taught him about family history and peonage. He   want to become involved to assist her. 

My mother used everything to teach a lesson, that's just the way she is. "Everything is a teaching moment and that is how it is in our family with her. I know that one day my mother will not be here, so I need to spend more time learning new things that she can share with me.  

Bernard traveled twenty-seven states with his mother researching. On their off time of research, he visited theme parks, local eateries, and other places for kids. His most memorable experience was going to Michael Jordan's restaurant and purchasing his first Michael Jordan basketball jersey. He was very enthusiastic about taking his African Ancestry DNA test on the Atlantic Ocean.  There are so many beautiful memories he have of his travels with his mother. 

Herbert Willie Vining

Herbert Willie Vining
Source: Ancestry

Herbert was born on March 5, 1903 in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana to Butman and Eva Vining. . He farmer by occupation and worked on his own account. Herbert was married to  Easter Vining. His sibling were: Ivy, Hosy, Christina, Florence, Francis, Frankie  and Hazel Vining. According to the 1930 United States Federal Census. 

Frank Vining U.S. World War II Draft Card

Frank Vining 
Source: Ancestry 

Frank Vining was born on December 22, 1908 in St. Helena Parish to Butman and Eva Vining. His siblings were: Herbert, Christina, Francis, Hilda, and Creola Vining. There could possibly be more, I documented the names that were listed in the 1920 United States Census.  He was employed by Dave Strong in Amite, Louisiana. Frank died on May 5, 1994. Frank was a labored and he lived in Vernon's Quarters in Amite, Louisiana. According to the 1940 United States Federal Census the highest grade he  completed was 2nd grade. Frank's last residence was in Pontiac, Michigan.