Award Winning Filmmaker and Genealogist Document the History of the Black Cowboys and Horsemen

Leonard Smith III, Award Wininng Filmmaker
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Leonard Smith, III, who won several awards for his film called "A Place Called Desire' accompanied Harrell in documenting and interviewing the Black Cowboys and horsemen in St. Helena Parish several years ago. It was the first time Smith had been in the parish to document a rich undocumented subject. In his capacity as a filmmaker and genealogist researcher, Smith understands how important it is to document and tell our own stories.

His company LS3 Studios, a video production company provide services in person histories, photography, storytelling, and video editing. Having been briefly introduced to the topic of the black cowboys by Harrell, his attention was drawn to the story of the life of black cowboys and horsemen. Harrell arranged for photographer Walter C. Black, and Smith to join her in St Helena. Parish. All three with cameras in their hand enjoyed taking photographs. Their cameras mean to them what the horses means to the horse riders. 

While the horsemen rode their horses some of the men was cooking, barbecuing and boiling different types of meat. Among the meats was opossums, a meat Smith and Harrell have never tasted and had no plans to taste it that day. In others opinions, they both didn't know what they were missing by passing up the taste of wild game. 

They end the day with lots of photographs and video footage for preservation. There is nothing like exploring life around you and learning about the native people, their culture and way of life. Harrell is pleased that she had the opportunity to document some of the Black Cowboys events in the St. Helena Parish.

The Home Going Celebration for Mae Louise Miller

Mae Louise Miller
1943-2014

Mae Louise Miller was born August 24, 1943 to the late Cain Walls, Sr., and Lela Mae Holden Walls. She was married to Wallace Miller for twenty plus years. She accepted Christ early in her life and attended Orange Grove C.O.G.I.C., then she later joined Deliverance Temple C.O.G.I.C., She truly the Lord.

She was an inspiration to all she met and known for her big smile and caring spirit. Her most precious gift was her motherly love for all children. She also had an open door attitude for all who came to her home.

She traveled to several states on behalf of the Civil Rights Movement speaking and meeting notable people: Martin Luther King, III, Susan Taylor-editor of Essence magazine, the late Dr. Ron Walters, Dr. Ron Daniels, the late Min. Harold Muhammad, Dr. Leonard Dunston, and former Councilman Oliver Thomas.

She appeared in People's magazine (2007), Nightline News, and About Time magazine. She spoke on the Travis Smiley Radio Talk Show, Bev Smith Radio Talk Show, and FM 98 Radio Talk Show, Warren Ballentine Radio Show, and Nurturing Our Roots Television Talk Show with host and producer Antoinette Harrell.

She leaves to cherish her memories; 4 children-Terrine (Christopher) Steele, Burkhalter, Joe (Angela) Hill, Tausha' Steele; all of Kentwood, LA-Kerry (Tamika) Steele of Raleigh, NC; 5 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren, 2 sisters; Annie Miller and Idell Walls of Kentwood, LA; 2 brother; Arthur( Willie Mae) Walls of Varnado, LA and CW Walls of Kentwood, LA; a host of nieces and nephews whom she loved and help raise as her own children, other relatives and friends and a special cousin, Minnie Dillon.

She was preceded in death by her parents Cain Walls, Sr., and Lela Mae Walls, a sister; Ernestine Hills, and a brother Cain Walls, Jr.

October is Family History Month

Leonard Smith III

Did you know October is Family History Month? Several states and cities have designated this month Family History Month. U.S. Senate has adopted similar resolutions in the past. It is estimated that there are over 80 million people researching their family histories. If kicked off Family History Month by donating my Harrell, Gordon, Vining, and Richardson Family History collection to the Amistad Research Center.

Nurturing Our Roots Television and Radio Talk Shows would like to recognize the author of the book entitled " A Beginner's Guide to Searching Family History" Leonard Smith lll. Leonard is the owner and president of LS3studios-an award winning multimedia production company. LS3 Studios offers a variety of services that include images and audio editing, production of broadcast quality video and multimedia presentation, custom photography and web development. For more information about LS3 Studios please visit http://www.LS3studios.com

LS3 Studios won two AVA award on March 13, 2013 in New York, NY There were 2,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries in the 2013 competition. Narrative Network and LS3 Studios were winners of the AVA Digital-Gold Award, for co-producing documentary trailer " From Shanghi to Harlem." in the category of Creativity Video and Production Editing.

New Orleans Musuem of Art(NOMA) presented a screening of LS3 Studio's " A Legend in the Classroom: The Life Story of Ms. Yvonne Busch, born in New Orleans in 1929 and raised in the historic Treme section of the city. Ms. Busch who mastered several brass instruments and wood chimes, became a touring professional by the age of 12, crisscrossing the United States as a member of the critically acclaimed "International Sweethearts of Rhythm" and the "Swinging Rays of Rhythm," two all female bands sponsored by the Piney Woods Country Life School, an African-American boarding school located in Piney Woods, Mississippi.

A Beginner's Guide to Searching Family History is a common-sense approach to you researching your genealogy. I share with the reader the benefit of the many years I have spent interviewing relatives, digging through courthouse records, traveling to historic sites, searching websites, and rediscovering the stories of those who came before us. I reaffirm the value of oral histories while also cautioning the reader to listen for contradictory narratives.

Get your copy today at http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Searching-Family-History/dp/1479144851

Leonard Smith III will be a guest on Nurturing Our Roots Blog Talk Radio Show with host Antoinette Harrell on Tuesday, October 15,  at 8:00 p.m. CST. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/antoinette-harrell