The Legacy of Our Ancestors of Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana

As a small child I enjoy the company of my maternal grandmother Josephine Richardson Harrell. I was just a toddler when my grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., passed away in 1962--so I have no memories of him at all. It was his brother Palmer Harrell whom my three brothers and I had the pleasure of his beloved company. The four of us would sit on the front steps of our home waiting for that old beat up green truck to come slowly down the lonely country road. At that time not that many cars would pass by so we waited for him as if we were waiting for a playmate our age. That how much joy he brought to us as kids. We knew that he had some cookies in his little old brown bag.

We called him "Uncle Buddy" somehow we felt that he was our buddy and friend. That beautiful smile and friendly way he had about him made our day. When it was time for him to start working in the field for the day, we would join him and help him as much as any little hands could picking beans, cucumbers, bell peppers and any other fresh vegetables he planted. At the end of the work day, we knew we had a treat coming, a ride to the store to get a nickel worth of candy. Now, let me tell you for the record, that was a lot of candy.

Rev. Ernest Thomas Pugh

Someone else who comes to mind is Rev. Ernest Thomas Pugh, he was born on February 14, 1896 to the late Bishop and Amanda Pugh, was reared by Mr. John and Emma Harrison of Delhi, La. in Richland Parish He passed away on June 7, 1979. He met married Madlyn Albernathy and to their union ten children were born. He received his high school education at Pearl Hight School in Nashville, Tennessee and his Bachelor of Science Degree at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn.

His teaching experience included areas in Cooksville, Tenn., Loudon, Tenn., Harriman, Tenn., where he served as elementary principal Greenville, Tenn., elementary and secondary principal, Pastoral Arkansas as an elementary principal, and Amite, Louisiana where he taught and retired as a Science teacher in the Tangipahoa Parish School System.  Rev. Pugh was minister and teacher. He pastored for over forty-three years and he taught school for over thirty years. He pastored A.M.E. Zion churches in the following areas: Loudon, Tenn., Harriman, Tenn., which was constructed under his pastorship.

He was a member of the Ministerial Alliance of Amite, LA., The Tangipahoa Parish Voter's League, and Morning Light Lodge, No 18 F & AM, Greenville, Tenn.

https://www.facebook.com/PreservingOurHistoryinTangiandStHelenaParishes