Willie M. Chaney, Sr. of Kentwood, Louisiana.

O.W. Dillon Training School
Willie M. Chaney, Second Row: Right End
Photo Courtesy: David Chaney

 A couple of weeks ago, David Chaney, the son of Willie McKinley and Edna Chaney, shared a little history about his father.  Willie Mckinley Chaney was born in 1918 to Clarence Chaney and Mamie Bentley Tobias in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Willie died in 2008 in Kentwood, Louisiana. He was buried at Oak Grove AME Church Cemetery. 

Willie enlisted in the United States Military on January 14, 1943, in New Orleans, LA., and discharged on February 12, 1946. He served as a Private in the Branch Immaterial, Warrant Officers, USA.  The term of his enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergencies, plus six months, subject of the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law.  He had two years of high school. He worked at Brown Morris lumber yard in Kentwood. He and Raymond Coleman became the first African Americans to own a taxi service company.  Raymond Coleman also owned a movie theater in Kentwood. 

This picture was submitted to Nurturing Our Roots Blog by David Chaney.  Willie is standing on the right end on the second step, second row. 

Willie McKinley Chaney

Annie's Picture Found on Ancestry Public Tree

Annie Richardson Vining and her daugher Laura
Photo Courtesy: Sharone Hall Frisco.

Annie was the daughter of Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson. Annie was born in 1882  in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. She is one of the five children born to Thomas and Amand. Her siblings were: Golene, Sophia, John, Thomas.  Annie was married to Benjamin " Pete" Vining. According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, Annie was a widow. She was the mother of Carrie, Laura, John, Leon,  and Luella. Annie husband was the son of Caleb and Ann Vining. His siblings were: Wesley, Louis, Sarah, Cale, William, and Ike Vining. Ben was born around 1875 in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Annie photograph is the only one I have come across of my  2nd great grandfather's siblings. If others have pictures of family members, I hope they would consider sharing with other family members.  I learned that Annie was the oldest child born to Thomas and Amanda. It was her daughter Luella Vining Franklin that told me about Annie. Out of all the stories my mother shared with me about her maternal grandfather Thomas, she never talked about Annie. She only talked about his siblings; Golene, Sophia, and John. Is it because she didn't know about Annie? Why didn't she know about Annie? What happened to Annie?

Amanda Breland Richardson
Courtesy of the late Luella Vining Franklin

On was of my genealogy road trips, I learned of Luella Vining Franklin. She was such a sweetheart; I remember her sitting in her wheelchair or the comfort of her bed crocheting. Luella lived with her daughter Betty off Earhart Street in New Orleans, LA. One Sunday afternoon, I went by to visit her, and she welcomes me with a big smile and a loving heart. After going through the oral family history, I soon learned that she was my maternal grandmother Josephine Richardson Harrell's first cousin. Josephine's father Thomas and Luella's mother Annie were brother and sister. 

That mystery question in my mind couldn't contain any longer. Why didn't anyone ever talk about Annie? Well after talking with cousin Luella, I found out that her brother John had accidentally shot Annie and she died of lockjaw. Luella, remembered her grandmother Amanda because lived with them when her father Ben died of smallpox in the wood. He had no other choice but to be quarantined from the rest of the family according to Luella. She remembered they would walk in the woods near the old shack and put food down on the ground for him. Once they left and was safely away, Ben would leave the cabin to get the food.  A sad look came across Luella's face when she talked about her father and what he went through. I could only imagine the loneliness and illness he felt. I'm thankful to my cousin and family historian Sharonne Frisco Hall for shaing this picture of Annie with the Richardson and Vining Families.