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| Mandie Jones Whea |
Mandie Jones Wheat was born in St. Helena Parish on December 15, 1892 to Joe Jones and Lizzie Banks. Mandie, a midwife delivered thousands of babies in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. She delivered black, white and Italian babies throughout the community. People in the community also called her D'Mandie because she put the letter "D" before all of her words
As an herbalist, she treated many black people during a time when black people couldn't go to hospitals and clinics due to segregation. There were times when white physicians called upon her to make medicine for their patients.Her husband was Bass Wheat, and they had five children: Willie Kiddes Gordon, Sr. Cala Wheat, J.B. Wheat, Lizzie Wheat, Mary Wheat, and Ruby Wheat, according to the 1920 United States Census.
Michael Daniel, Mandie's grandson, remembered the days when she prepared to deliver babies and some of the herbs she gathered in the woods for healing. During my time at Gordon Chapel Church of God in Christ in Amite, LA, I remember Mother Mandie sitting in her chair at the front of the church. My memory of her in church is that she was dressed all in white and was using a walking cane. Oh, boy! It's best not to chew gum in church. Walking past her chewing gum one day, she hooked me with that cane and gave me a good talking to. She was a very sweet and kind woman
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| The home of Mandie Jones Wheat |
As a farmer she planted every vegetable and fruit you could imagine. Her farm produced vegetables that she shared with others in the community. She was known as a generous and kind-hearted woman. She was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was an example of what true community was.
"I know she cured my youngest brother Michael who use to have terrible asthma attacks as a child, my mother took him to see Mother Mandie for a natural cure." To this very day my brother doesn't suffer from those asthma attacks. I was delighted her grandson got in contact with me to share photographs and oral history with me about his grandmother. We should never forget pioneers like Mandie Wheat. Many people who were delivered by her are still alive today in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes.
Eugene Edwards, her grandson, said she walked miles to deliver a baby when she didn't take the wagon and mule. Back then, people did not have money to pay her, so they paid her with laying hens, potatoes, and livestock just like they did the doctors. In 1928, Mandie also graduated as a hairdresser. It is important to never forget the amazing African American woman in Amite, Louisiana.
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| June 8, 1928 Diploma of Mandie Wheat |
