She Remembered Like It Was Yesterday

Several weeks ago genealogist and television talk show Antoinette Harrell met with Mrs. Brumfield was a graduate of O.W. Dillon High School. She came with her kept 1950-1951 yearbook wrapped so neatly in a bag and ready to display it. 

"No matter when and where you see Mrs. Brumfield, she is neatly dress and her hair so neatly groomed!" She is just one of the women in her mid 80s who look so well and still has a very good memory in Kentwood.

She is such a graceful lady in every way. Soft spoken and she never raise her voice to speak above her soft tone. After looking her yearbook for 1950-1951, Harrell saw a beautiful young lady was the assistant editor for the school's yearbook. Several of Harrell's own family members photographs were in the yearbook. Her cousins Walter Richardson, Sr., and  Willie K. Gordon, Jr. , and her uncle Ernest Boykins.

One of the stories she shared with Harrell was her prom night story. She told her that she had purchased a new yellow dress and was all ready to go to the prom and Mr. Dillon wouldn't allow her class to attend because they put photograph of him in the yearbook.

She spoke about how firm Mr. Dillon was; and wasn't afraid to use his paddle to get the students in line. She recalled the morning lectures about life he would give to them before they were allowed to go to class each morning. Although she didn't integrate Kentwood High School, after graduating from college with a degree in education, she integrated Spring Creek School.

The Town of Kentwood, Louisiana Elected Its First Woman Mayor

Kentwood First Elect Female Mayor

Irma Thompson Gordon is no stranger to the Town of Kentwood Louisiana for services rendered. She retired from the Tangipahoa Parish School System after dedicating thirty-years educating children. Many students she taught at Kentwood High School remembered her at the voting poll this past election.

She is the daughter of the late Jimmie and Bertha Thompson. She's the proud mother of two children and the grandmother of five grandchildren. She attended O.W. Dillon Memorial High School and graduated from Kentwood High School in 1969. She earned a B.S. Degree at Southern University in Baton, Louisiana., and a Master's Degree at Southeastern Louisiana University.

She served on the Kentwood City Council for twenty-years; sixteen of which she held the position of Mayor Pro-Temp.  As Mayor-Elect, she plans to work hard to bring new business, small business chains, and social services to the Town of Kentwood, La., One of the issues we discuss was the outdated website that needs to be updated immediately so that the citizens of Kentwood, Louisiana can use to get updates and access information that is vital to the Town of Kentwood. One of her goals is to plan various activities for the youth, seniors and the town that will promo education as well establish entertainment entitles for families and children.

Mayor-Elect Irma T. Gordon and offsprings.

"She is the first female elected as Mayor of Kentwood, Louisiana., although as previously said she is no stranger to serving our community." It's surprising that she would choose her ninety-eight-year-old aunt to hold the bible that she used to be sworn on December 28, 2014, inauguration. She has a great respect for the elderly people in the community. One of her platform missions is to bring more programs to the Town of Kentwood for the elderly citizens.

I couldn't help but think about the time in which Ms. Geneva was born, a time when women didn't have rights. Many women of color fought for the right to vote.  The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Women's Right to Vote was passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote.  Now Ms. Geneva was witnessing her niece being sworn in as the first female mayor elected to the Town of Kentwood. Although women in Kentwood, Louisiana., has been elected as Town Council members.

Please follow Mayor Gordon at
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