Women Servants of Tangipahoa Parish

Mrs. Christine Harrison was my neighbor in Amite, Louisiana. We all called her Ms. Tina in the community. A beautiful woman with a beautiful smile is how I will always remember Ms. Tina. She was married to Governor Harrison.

Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

Left to Right: Mrs. Buckhalter, Mrs. Brooks, Mrs. Harrison

Tangipahoa Parish Civil Rights Icon Bobby Cyprian

Bobby Cyprian
Photo Courtesy: Antoinette Harrell

Civil Rights Icon Bobbie Cyprian was a member and secretary of the Sweetwater Voters League. He was born in 1940 in Independence, LA. His parents were Andrew Cyprian, Sr, and Beatrice Alexander. Sweetwater was known for syrup making, and sugar cane raising. 

He joined the 1967 Bogalusa Civil Rights March for the 105 miles march to the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol. "I went down to Greenville Park High School to fight injustice," said Cyprian. I was young, and I was working for a white man who was mistreating me. I knew I had to stand up for my rights, he said. The marchers were met by the KKK when they reached Hammond, Louisiana.

During the night while attending a meeting at Greenville Park School, the KKK came and started shooting. No one was shot or killed. We resolved the meeting, and a day later, we gather to start marching again. I picked it up where the overpassed in on 1-55. When we got to Walker, the KKK was waiting for us; they were hollering, "niggers, you will never make it to the State Capitol. "Under pressure from the U.S. Civil Rights Divison, Governor John McKeithen agreed to dispatch nearly 700 National Guardsmen and 500 state trooper to protect the demonstrators as they walked down the center of Highway U.S. 190.

I asked him to give me the history behind the name Sweetwater. The wagon felt through a crack, and all the syrup fell into the creek, and they call the community "Sweet Water" according to the folk tales, it just one the many stories behind the name of Sweet Water. 

Mount Olive School was the first African American; Mount Olive Baptist Church started the school. Bobbie attended school there and from Burgher Elementary School. 1n 1955, he went to West Side School in Amite, LA.

Uncle Alex and Aunt Melissa's Golden Wedding Anniversary

Alex Richardson and Melissa Wheat Richardson
Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

Uncle Alex and Aunt Melissa celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in this picture. His sister Alma Richardson Gordon and her husband, Willie K. Gordon, Sr., celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with them. The wedding took place at Gordon Chapel Church in Amite, Louisiana. Sorry, I don't have the date that the event took place. 

I love the eyeglasses they're wearing. Aunt Melissa's parents were Saul and Corrine Wheat and Uncle Alex 's parents were Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson. 

Good Times Spent with Cousin Walter

Emmitt Richardson, Sr. and Walter Richardson, Sr.
Photo Courtesy: Glynis Vernon Gordon

My mother and her maternal cousin Walter Richardson, Sr., had an extraordinary bond that developed after her father, Jasper passed away in 1962.  "Walter told me that he couldn't take the place of my daddy, but I will be here for you," said Isabel. My mother would get so excited when she got the news that  cousin Walter was coming to  Louisiana to visit his parents, siblings, and extended family. My mother was on that list of people to visit in Amite, Louisiana. To this very day, she still talks about Cousin Walter and his children. She often reminisce on  Sunday's  after church Walter, Jr, and her cousin Freddy jumped in the car and headed home with us. Aunt Melissa would call the house and asked my mother If they were with her. "My mom just knew they had asked her!" It didn't matter because it was alright with  my mother and Aunt Melissa. My mother always had Sunday's dinner ready on a Saturday night. We took our Sunday clothing off and had dinner before running outside to play.

We were just as excited as my mother to hear that cousin Walter was coming to Louisiana. He had such a big heart for everyone. He was just a handsome and kind person. I remember one time when he came to visit, his brother Earl Lee brought a busload of cousin to my mother's house. We had fireworks and all the candy and cookies we wanted. My mother had cooked their favorite meals. One thing I remember her cooking was her delicious tuna casserole and baking her homemade yeast rolls. I guess that was one of Cousin Walter's favorite meals. They sat around the table, laughing and reminiscing on their childhood days. I only wish that the genealogy bug at bit me then. 

Fireworks, snacks, and cousins was a great combination for all the kids. Cousin Earl Lee and Walter had so much fun watching all of us play together. It wasn't a holiday or a special occasion, and it was just family coming together to spend time with each other. While writing this blog, it's taking me back to those beautiful evenings spent on my grandparents' place. I want to record those sweet  moments before they slip away from me. Family was very important back in those days. Not just your immediate family but all family. Cousin Walter and Earl Lee was those kind of people. They loved all their families and treated everyone with love. 

Cousin Earl Lee laugh and smile would light up any room. When he parked the bus and let everyone off the bus, he would smile, watching the kids run off the bus and started playing and screaming with laughter.