Rev. Lee Woodridge of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Rev. Lee Woolridge
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Kingley B. Garrison

Rev. Lee Woodridge was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was born on June June 11, 1889. He was self-employed as a  farmer in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was married to Selina Woodridge. He passed away in August of 1976.  Rev. Lee is buried in Bear Creek Cemetery, also known at Mount  Zion and Greater Refuge Temple Cemetery. Rev. Lee Woolridge was the father of Laura Knighten, Irene Lee, Clara Woolridge, Mary Brown, Rosa Lee Brown, Della Mae Woolridge Garrison.

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

From Slave Shackles to Becoming the First African American Mayor of the City of Ponchatoula in 1873

Rev. Arthur Tasker

Rev. Arthur Tasker was elected and served two terms as Mayor of the City of Ponchatoula, Louisiana.  He married a woman named Sarah. He was elected to serve his first term as mayor in September of 1873. Rev. Arthur Tasker was a very prominent man during the Reconstruction period in Ponchatoula. He was born circa 1829-1835 in Virginia or Maryland. During slavery, he was a slave of Widow McCarroll. As a slave, McCarroll hired   Tasker out to work for different people. 

He began to teach the Gospel to the freedmen in and around Ponchatoula. On October 12, 1867, he established a church. 1867 proved to be the year that the African Methodist Episcopal Church was established through out the parish of  Tangipahoa, several miles away,  Greater St. James church was established by a former slave named Charles Daggs in the same year. Charles Daggs was imported on a ship called the Tribune in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1835.  He stated on his pension application that he was owned by the Governor of Louisiana Henry Johnson. Charles Daggs served in the Navy during the Civil War.

The church was also used as the school. The church was the first school for many African Americans in rural town across the states. The African Methodist Episcopal churches believed in the power of education. They wanted their children and grandchildren to get an education and not go through what they went through as slaves. 

Rev. Tasker's son Clinton Tasker decided to walk in his father footstep. He was elected to the Town Council in the City of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Clinton married a woman named Martha, they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and started their own family. Clinton and his wife named their son in namesake after his grandfather.  On July 14, 1874, in Hammond, Louisiana a large number of Republicans of Tangipahoa Parish assembled at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The meeting was called to order by Rev. Charles Daggs and prayer were offered by Rev. Arthur Tasker. On a motion, Rev. Arthur Tasker was called to the chair, and Charles H. Jackson. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Jackson, Mr. Burton, Rev. Arthur Tasker and Rev. Charles Daggs. They all explained the object of the meeting. The meeting addressed that a J.B. Wands was violating their rights and trying to take entire control of their political affairs. The Republican groups had not granted him the permission to do so. 

I'm learning so much about the history of prominent African-American men in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Recalling the stories I heard about my grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., oral history told to me by my family members. During election time, my grandfather would take it old pick up truck and take African Americans in Amite to the voting polls.

Robert "Free Bob" Vernon, a former slave donated land for Mt.Cannan School and church in Arcola, LA., He purchased large tracts of land. He gave each one of his children a hundred acres of land when they got married.

Oliver W. Dillon a principal of Tangipahoa Parish Color Training School, the oldest training school in the nation for African American students. There are so many African-American men and women who had contributed so much to our parish that hasn't been documented. 

The meeting then proceeded to organize a Parish Executive Committee, when the following

President-Rev. Arthur Tasker

Vice Presidents-Parker Loving,  Albert Potter, Charles Daggs, Louis Baham

Members:
Charles Foster
Wesley Erabbam
Anthony Broomfield
Robert Veron
Solomon Wheat
Aaron Penn
James B. Cason
Levi Lloyd
Fred Butler
Charles H. Jackson
R.M. Lanier
M.H. Singleton


Sources: 136th Church Anniversary of the Tasker African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
               Arthur Tasker: Ponchatoula's First African American Mayor by Jim Perrin
               Mrs. Ella Mae Badon
               Melody Ricketts
               Hammond Newspaper
               Amite Genealogy Library

The Little 25 Women Club of Ponchatoula and Hammond, Louisiana

Little 25 Women Club
Right to Left: Mrs. Ella Ashe Badon
Standing Left to Rights: Mrs. Ruby Ashe Lowe, Mrs. Laura Knighten

Source: Mrs. Ella Mae Badon

Altruist Civic Organization An African American Organization in Tangipahoa Parish

Mrs. Ella Mae Badon: Sitting on the left
Laura Knighten sitting on the right end.

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 education. It adopted the name it now bears, the Altruist Civic Organization." The Charter members were: Mmes, Christine Greenup, President; Ella Mae Badon, Vice President, Esterlee W. Spain, Recording Secretary; Lizzie Mae Seals, Financial Secretary; and Venola Simmons, Treasurer.

The original Club members were comprised of Mmes, Bessie Johnson, Mildred Davis, Elena Martin, Dorothy Reeves, Ruby Lowe, Willie Mae Williams and Helen Parker. Later Mary D. Carter, Lillie Muse, Elizabeth McCray, Ceola Clark, Ola M. Porter, Gladys Denhan and Ms. Ora L. Jackson joined the group.

The idea of sponsoring a Debutante Cotillion was presented by Mmes, Mildred Davis, and Elena Martin. All agreed, and on March 8, 1958, the first Debutante Cotillion was held at the Greenville Park Gymnasium. At this Cotillion, twelve charming young ladies were presented to society. Over a period of 35 years, with the cooperation and support of all concerned, they presented over 500 outstanding, talented and beautiful young ladies not only in our parish but in neighboring parishes and states. Many are making remarkable contributions throughout America.

They have given many academic scholarships that have helped hundreds of debutantes further their education, and find themselves a respectable place in our society. They received outstanding support from the parents, debutantes, escorts, sponsors, friends, relatives and business firms. They help the civic organization accomplish their goals. It took many hands, hearts, and minds, working together t in love to get the job done. Thus the Altruist Civic Organization is like a little acorn which grew into a mighty oak in our little city.

Not only did they present debutantes with scholarships. They gave donations to charity organizations and help those in distress.  God had wonderfully blessed them throughout 1989. They gave four scholarships this year, Queen Altruist 1989, Miss Siltanise McCraney received a $2,040.00 scholarship; First maid, Wauthisha Wells received a $1,730.00 scholarship; Second Maid Yolanda M. Davis won a scholarship for $1,086.00; and Third Maid, Miss Wondearia Foster got a $500.00 scholarship. 

Mrs. Lizzie Mae Seals recieved the Award of Appreciation for 35-year consecutive years of dedicated services. Mrs. Ethel Douglas White of New Orleans received a plaque for having presented three daughters throughout the years.

Oueen Altruist 1990, Miss Alkena Rene' Alford received a $2, 468.00 scholarship. It is their desire that the Altruist Civic Organization will live on: and make an even greater contribution to a changing and challenging society. 

Sources: Altruist Civic Organization " Through the Years"

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.