In Memory of Doris Harrell Wheat

One of my childhood memories of my cousin Doris Harrell Wheat was her beautiful smile and her kindness. Cousin Doris was my maternal second cousin, her father Palmer and my grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr. were brothers. Cousin Doris was always kind to me and my brothers no matter when we visit her home. She always offered us something to eat or candy and cookies. I don't have to tell you which of the two my brothers and I chose. The candy and cookies of course.

Doris Harrell Wheat

Doris Harrell Wheat was born in 1923 to Palmer and Manilla McCoy Harrell in Amite, Louisiana. She had a very loving way with children. She made us feel welcome in her home when we went over to play with  her youngest son Bruce. I stopped by and talked with Bruce last week and he and I went down memory lane. We both talked about the time we busted a lot of watermelons in his father's garden and his father didn't raise his voice or showed any anger toward us. After my mother found out what we did she told cousin Henry to give us a good whipping and he said no, kids will be kids.

I miss cousin Henry and cousin Doris and I often think about them not only as good neighbors but kind and sharing family members. They wasn't the kind of people that bragged about anything, but they were the kind of people that shared what they had with the community and family.

When Bruce told me he had something to show me, he came out of his house with a picture of his mother and I was so happy to see her photograph. She was a beautiful woman that loved children. Bruce was the youngest of the family and he was a little spoiled by his parents. Me and my brothers liked playing with Bruce, he was as gentle as his mother and father. Bruce had older brothers and no sisters, he had nieces and nephews at an early age. Of course they didn't call him uncle Bruce.

The Wheat Family and Uncle Palmer Harrell

As kids we never had a fight and if we did our parents didn't get involved, matter of fact we had better settle whatever it was before they found out. Beside we didn't have many neighbors were we lived,  and the ones that lived closed by was family. We all played together and got along very well. We didn't care anything about being third cousin or fourth cousins, we were cousins and that's the way it was.

Living next door to cousin Henry and Doris was Roy Wheat the brother of cousin Henry. Roy and his wife had several children. The girls were very beautiful to me, we played with them as well. We all loved each other and thats the way it was. We spent long hours playing in the woods, hunting for antiques and animals. Sometimes we would go fishing or bike riding.

Our great grandmothers' Emma's house was right across the road from our house. Little did we know that house could have been full of antiques items from our great grandmother Emma and her children. That house stood until one family member decided to demolished the house, just like they demolished my grandparents house. The house the Wheat's built is still standing and one of their offsprings still live in the house, I was so happy to see that. The Wheat's may be gone but they are not forgotten.

The Legacy of Sunny Cohn of Amite, Louisiana

Sunny Cohn
No name were given for the woman in the
photograph

A man whose energy, determination and varied interests led him to become a very influential man in Amite and the northern section of Tangipahoa Parish. Sunny was born in Roseland, Louisiana, where he attended grammar school in Kentwood, Louisiana. He served seven years in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in France, England and Germany.

On his return home in 1950 he attended a trade school in Hammond, La., and then worked for Ardillo's Supermarket in Amite. In 1960 he purchased his own school bus and began driving for the Tangipahoa Parish School Board. He was also the Assistant Supervisor of Maintenance at the Parish Court House in Amite, a position he held since 1973.

Serving his community by taking part in many civic organizations is one of the highlights of his life. One of his favorite projects was serving on the board of director of the Head Start Program in Tangipahoa Parish and Amite for three years. The Head Start Program is 80% funded. Sunny assisted by a cousin Leatha Cook, who was director of the Head Start were very active in fund raising for the remaining 20% need to continue the program.

Sunny was very proud of being on the board of the Tangipahoa Black Festivial, Inc., for the past three years. He was recognized as a member who could be counted on to do his job well. He and his wife, the former Mary Lee Head have been married for forty years, they had one son Floyd, Jr., who has three children.

Sunny was a great enthusiast of all sports. He really enjoyed watching the local high school games because he had watched these kids grow up over the year while riding his school bus.  Sunny's outlook on life is to help his fellow man when ever possible.

Source: African American Album donated to the Amite Genealogy Library by Mrs. Gracie Perry of Amite, LA

Steptoe's Lounge "The Juke Joint in Arcola, Louisiana"

From Left to right rear Murphy Steptoe, Sr., not identified, not identified, Willie McCoy, not identified.  Second row: from left to right Mae Wilkerson, unidentified, unidentified, Ella Mae Henry, Eloise Jones.  These business men and women and their friends attended a business trip in New Orleans, LA.

One of the most prominent business men in this picture was Murphy Steptoe, Sr. Murphy was born to Ms. Willie Steptoe February 22, 1906.  Ms. Willie worked as a maid in a private home to support her boys, Murphy, Otis, and her youngest Sam.  Murphy attended schools for a while and at 14 began working at a local cotton gin factory to help support the family. He met Clara Tate in 1924, they dated and had a son M. J. Steptoe in 1925.   

Murphy worked for several years at the Cotton Gin factory, He later met and married Helen Perry and they had one son, Wesley Steptoe.  He and his wife lived with his mother for a while, and Murphy decided that he wanted something better for his family.  He and his brother Sam moved to Los Angeles, CA.  Murphy and Sam got jobs as welders.  While working as a welder, he got injured and could not work for a while. His injuries rendered him a nice sum of money.  He and his wife and son returned to Louisiana in the 1950s.  He purchased a large parcel of land in Arcola, La.  He built a night club called Steptoe’s Lounge. 

    

This was no ordinary night club, because it was a place where people of color could go and see live, popular blues artist. His clientele included teachers, doctors, lawyers, business owners and common everyday people.  It was “high class”, and the dress code was semi-formal or to us “Church clothes” without the hats. He also sold barbecue, which had a reputation of its own.  He prepared the best barbecue ribs and chicken in Louisiana. On Sunday the club was closed, but Murphy still had a heart to give the people good, quality entertainment.  He sponsored baseball games in a field where he had created a diamond for the game.  He gave people of color a place to go for good, Sunday Family Outings.  Many African American young men demonstrated their baseball talents and abilities on the Steptoe Diamond. Some were good enough for the “Negro Leagues.”

Bobby Blue Bland

The club was open on Friday and Saturday nights.  He would book top notch entertainers such as: Candi Statton, Clarence Carter, Percy Sledge, Tyrone Davis, Bobby “Blue” Bland, B. B. King, Joe Simon, Joe Tex, and Wilson Pickett to name a few.  He was negotiating a booking with the “King of Soul”, James Brown.

    

In July of 1971, Murphy was burning some debris using gasoline and he was badly burned. He was hospitalized, but never recovered from his injuries.  He passed away a few days after the incident. His grandson, Melvin Steptoe carry on his legacy by keeping his tradition of barbecuing.  I don’t do it commercially, but I do large scale barbecues for hire in the community.Steptoe’s Lounge will be remembered as well as Murphy the man who had a vision for “his people”.

Story and article submitted by Gloria Steptoe.