Sunday, September 24, 2017

Tishann Woods Deemer Was a Midwife in Clinton, Louisiana

Tishann Woods Deemer
Photo Courtesy of Gwendolyn R. Carter
Tishann was born in 1853 in Clinton, Louisiana  in a small community called Blairtown. She passed away in Hammond, Louisiana in 1947. She met and married  Richard Deemer  in 1872, and to their union the following children were born; Sarah, Richard, Edward, and Ezecial. Her husband Richard was born in 1840 and died on February 25, 1923 in Blairtown, East Feliciana, Louisiana. 

Oral history was passed down to her great granddaugher Gwendolyn R. Carter.  Gwendolyn said that she was told that  her great-grandmother Tishann was a midwife in Clinton, Louisiana. 

Tishann was the grandmother of Mary Deemer Carter of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Mary Deemer Carter was the wife of Gideon T. Carter a trailblazer in Ponchatoula, Louisiana.  Of course I googled her name to find out if any information was recorded about her as a midwife and I couldn't find any information about her. I search the search engines for information on Mandy Jones Wheat who was a midwife in Tangipahoa Parish and I couldn't find anything on her as well. Many midwives were also herbalist and for the most part they administered the only health care African-American people received in rural communities. I hope that we will do a better at recording the history that was passed down to us about the midwives. After all they are the ones who delivered many babies, both African- Americans and Caucasian people.

Gwendolyn was told that Tishann father was the plantation owner and he asked the local doctor to allow Tishann to work with him to learn about  medical care. When Tishann's  mother Sarah Green married a man with the last name Woods, Tishaan took on that name, although they knew that her father was the plantation owner.




Celebration of Life for Earl Lee Richardson, Sr.

Alpha: May 26, 1948.  
Omega: September 17, 2017
Earl Lee Richardson, Sr was born on May 26, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Supt. Thomas Alexander Richardson and the late Missionary Melisa Wheat Richardson. He was the 9th child of nine brothers and one sister. Earl was reared in a Chrisitan home and was united in fellowship at the an early age at Gordon/Richardson Temple of Deliverance COGIC, (formerly Gordon Chapel) under the leadership of the late Supt. Alexander Richardson, and after his passing under the leadership of the late Dr. Samuel Richardson, and up until his death under the leadershp of Supt. Emmitt N. Richardson, Sr. Earl was united in Holy Matrimony to Dianne Richardson, on December 23, 1995.

Earl was educated in the Tangipahoa Parish School System, and graduated from Westside High School in 1966. He recieved his Mortuary of Science Degre from the Common Weath College of Scinece in Houston, TX, in 1967. Upon graduation, he joined his father in the family business where he worked and managed Richardon Funeral Home, Inc., until his demise. He retired from the Tangipahoa Parish School System after serving as a bus driver fro over thirty years. 

The final chapter of the Book of Life for Earl Lee Richardson, Sr., has been completed. He leave to cherish his memories: His devoted wife: Dianne Harrell Richardson, Amite: His children: Earl Richardson, Jr., (Joselyn) of Natalbany, LA., Valarie Richarson of Denham Springs, LA, Shareka Muse of Independence, LA, Monica Holden-Irving, (Deitrich)  of Baton Rouge, LA, Brandon Richardson of Magnolia, AK; his stepchildren Teresa Perry of Ponchatoula, LA., Shelisa Perry-English (Tony) of Ponchatoula, LA., and Dalton Harrell  (Danyatta) of Fort Worth, TX; a granddaugher who he reared Daja Richardson, a host of grandchildren, and two great grandchildren; two brothers: Supt Emmitt N. Richardson, Sr., (Carolyn) of Kenner, LA, and Darnell Richardon (Gayle) of Hammond, LA; five brothers-in-law, Johnny Harrell, and Kenner Harrell, Amite, LA., Michael Zanders (LaShaunda) of Tickfaw, Ellis Zanders of Roseland, and Gerald Zanders of Independence, LA; eleven sisters-in-laws: Supervisor Dorothy J. Richardson of Amite, LA., Betty Richardson of Amite, LA, Collen East (Alford) of Kenner, LA., Genoria Courney (Charles) of Roseland, Evelyn Holden of Amite, LA, Katie Cutrer (Jimme) of Roseland, LA, Patty Dawson of Wilmer, LA, Debra Davis, Independence, LA, Linda Harold (Reginald) of Los Angeles, CA, Brenda Harrell and Ada Harrell of Amite, LA; One God-son, Emmitt Richardson, Jr. of Kenner, LA; two God-daugthers, Shaketia Cutrer-Addison of Roseland, LA adn Evelyn Davis (Chris) of Houston, TX; a God-brother and God-sister, Rev. Jeremiah and Faye Brumfield, a houst of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Supt. Thomas Alexander Richardson and the late Missionary Melisa Wheat Richardson, his sister, Helenstine Richardson Williams, six brothers; Thomas Richardson, Sr., Walter Richardson, Sr., Alex Richardson, Jr., Supt. Samuel Richardson, Elder Nathaniel Richardson, Sr., and Deacon Joseph Richardson; his mother-in-law, Minnie C. Harrell, one grandchild, Daniel Jamal Harrell, three brothers-in-law; Lawerence (Buster Dyson, Ellis Milton Harrell, and Rober Harrell, and one sister-in-law, Mary (Dena) Robertson.