The Famous "G" Club in New Orleans, LA

Clarence E. Harrell
Photo Courtesy: Juanita Harrell Stewart
 collection

The club was founded in 1927 and  was formed to bring a closer relationship among members and engage in civic activities. The club's motto: "Pleasure through friendship and services." The members dressed so distinguishably in their white jacket, green vests, black tuxedo, and green ties. 

My cousin Clarence E. Harrell loved the "Famous G" and always supported the causes financially. I  enjoyed being around him, he was such a gentleman. I remember him being dressed all the time. He was a man of standard and class. 

Every holiday he and his sister along with four of his double first cousins would visit my mother's house. Mama enjoyed cooking and having her Harrell first cousin over for dinner. Cousin Clarence was known for bringing drinks. I  miss his big smile and friendly ways.

He served in WWII and his father Edgar harrell served in WWI. Clarence was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parent Edgar and Minnie Nolan Harrell lived at 3939 Third Street. After his only sister, Juanita came to live with me and we started cleaning out her house, I found some beautiful handwritten letters he wrote to his parents and sister Juanita. 

His father and my grandfather Jasper were brothers. My grandfather didn't want to leave Amite, Louisiana because he didn't want to raise his children in the city. So he and my grandmother stayed on his mother Emma Mead Harrell homestead. However, Uncle Edgar continued to visit and bring boxes of fruit and other treats to his brothers and mother. 

Uncle Edgar and his brother Shelton married two sisters. Uncle Edgar married Minnie Nolan and Uncle Shelton married Ada Nolan. The Nolan girls were from Canton, Mississippi. Their father was an AME Minister and came to Louisiana. The Harrell brothers and the Nolan girls met while picking beans one summer in Tangipahoa and the rest is history. Both brothers raised their families in New Orleans. Uncle Shelton built his home on Toledano Street. Uncle Edgar and Aunt Minnie had two children and Uncle Shelton and Aunt Ada had five children.