Ponchatoula, Louisiana African American Educators

Photo Courtesy: Ella Mae Ashe Badon
Right to Left: Gideon Carter, Riley Wilson, Mary Lee Carter, Curtis Warner, Anna Starwood, Genois Reeve, Otis Watson,  Ella Badon, Lillen James, Laura Knighten, Edna Bean and Wilona Terrence.
Sitting from Left to Right
Joan Seals, Estelle Cable, Viola Carter, Florida Smith, Elizabeth McCray, Ethleen Fleet, Ruby Ashe Lowe and  Lovie D. Garrison

Ponchatoula Color School Teacher Recalls the Days of Segregation & Integration

Mrs. Badon and her class: Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Badon

Ella Mae Ashe Badon was born to the union of Joseph Ashe and Elizabeth Robertson Ashe.  She is one of three children and the mother of two sons. One of her son's passed away. She attended Tangipahoa Parish Color Training School in Kentwood, Louisiana. "I finish school at 16 years old, I made two grade at one time," said Mrs. Ella. When she started teaching at the Ponchatoula Color School. She taught second grade and coach the boy basketball team at Ponchatoula Color School in the old wooden building. Mrs. Badon is a lifelong resident of Ponchatoula and is well respected throughout the community in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. One of her former students Dr. Kingley Garrison informed me of Mrs. Badon during one of our interviews.  She taught Mr. Garrion in second grade. 

Her sister Ruby Ashe Lowe also was an educator at Ponchatoula Color School. Mrs.  Ruby died at age of 90 years old in Hammond, LA. Some of the collections I looked at belonged to Mrs. Ruby Lowe. Mrs. Ruby was the first one in her family to attend college, her mother Elizabeth worked hard to help her two daughters get an education. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing her about her life, her accomplishments, and integration. She was eager to share what she could recall about the way life was back in the day according to her. I sat there listening and audio recording her. She was very detailed about the information she was sharing. Mrs. Badon, starting reminiscing and thinking about people she hadn't talked about in many years. So many memories started flowing about the community, the schools, civic organization clubs, and the black churches. 

Mrs. Ella Mae Ashe Badon

She pulled out her class reunion book of O.W. Dillon where she graduated in 1943. She told me I came to her at the right time because she had just put the booklet in the trash. Mrs. Badon didn't think that anyone wanted the books, records, and handwritten notes.  I was gleaming with joy when she said that she would allow me to assist her with preserving her collection for the studies of African Amercian history in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. 

I talked with her son Musheer Badr Abudl-Jabbaar about the importance of persevering her rich collection that is vital to the history of Tangiphaoa Parish, Louisiana. Especially the City of  Ponchatoula. 

She attended Leland College a college for blacks,  the college was established in 1870 first in New Orleans and then moved to  Baton Rouge. but earned her degree at Southern University in Baton Rouge.

On July 12, 1956, a group of women met and formed the Ladies' Mystic Club, with the idea of encouraging, through community support, "Finer Womanhood," and educational attainments. In the year of 1958, a new name was given the organization. It adopted the name it now bears, the "Altruist Civic Organization." The Charter members were: Mmes, Christine Greenup, President; Ella Badon, Vice President; Esterlee W. Spain, Recording Secretary; Lizzie Mae Seals, Financial Secretary; and Venola Simmons, Treasurer.

Mrs. Ella Mae Badon is one of the many prominent African-American women in the City of  Ponchatoula. She helped to shape and mentor many students both black and white to become all that they could become.  One of her photo albums of full of pictures of her former students, both black and white. A lady of class, respect and wisdom she is. 

Mt. Canaan Elementary School Was the First School for African American Students in Arcola, Louisiana

Robert"Free Bob" Vernon donated the land for the first school for African American children in Arcola, Louisiana.,  The school closed it doors in the mid 60s according to Tony Stone. Free Bob didn't know how to read or write but he made sure that the African American children in the community had a school to attend.  He was born a slave and he purchased his own freedom. He also purchased 2300 acres of land. Giving each one of his children who married one hundred acres to help them get started. There is a community called "Vernon Town" in Arcola, Louisiana.

Photo Credit
Luther Tolliver

Alma Harrison Vernon a Woman Pioneers of Amite, Louisiana

Alma Harrison Vernon

There is one African-American woman in Amite, Louisiana that left a legacy for so many in her community. Her name is Alma Harrison Vernon. She was born on April 7, 1923, in Amite, LA., to the late Obie and Carrie Mcknight Harrison.

Mrs. Vernon spent her life educating, empowering and inspiring women throughout the Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. Mrs. Vernon let her light shine in all that she did and touched. I will never forget the times that I would visit with her and how we spent time talking. She was also an archivist that clipped and saved important newspapers articles about the local black folks that made the news.  She kept very good and detailed records of the churches and community meetings.

Alma Harrison Vernon

Although I didn't have her as a teacher, I still learned so much just by watching and listening to her. She taught my brother Thomas in second grade at Amite Elementary School.  She taught so many of the children in the community.

Alma Harrison Vernon

She received her elementary and high school education in Tangipahoa Parish. She received a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from Grambling State University. Mrs. Alma H. Vernon was the wife of Rev. Willard Vernon, and she was the President of the Senior Women Auxiliary of the Little Bethel Baptist Church of Amite, Louisiana. She spoke at the National Baptist Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1975. It was the 95th Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention. Her address to the Convention brought many favorable comments, including that of the National President of the Senior Women Auxiliary of the National Baptist Convention of American.

While visiting her only daughter Glyniss Vernon Gordon, I had a chance to look through some of the many albums that Mrs. Vernon kept. It was like looking in an archive and I was happy and delighted but not the least surprised of the accomplishments of such an elegant woman whom help shape our community.

One of the awards that I had to make mention of in this blog; is the "Certificate of Appreciation" that was presented to Mrs. Alma Vernon in recognition of an important contribution to the ongoing fight against hatred and intolerance in America.

The name shown above will be added to the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama to provide inspiration to all those who choose to take a stand against hatred. The Certificate of Appreciation was signed by Morris Dees, Founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Morris Dees co-founded the SPLC in 1971 following a successful business and law career. He won a series of groundbreaking civil rights cases that helped integrate government and public institutions. He also severed as finance director for former President Jimmy Carter's campaign in 1976 and for Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern in 1972.