Booker T. Lawson of Amite, Louisiana

Booker Timsey. Lawson
Courtesy of:  Mrs. Vernia Mcoy

Booker Timsey Lawson, was a member of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church for m most of his life. During his life time of service, he served as a Steward and Trustee. He also served as president of the usher board. He was a member selected for the committee to build a Greater Grant Chapel Church. Mr. Lawson was a willing worker toward the financial efforts, reporting large amount of money. H was married to Mrs. Modena Lawson, and was the father of Bernard Lawson.  

He was born in 1899 to Esau and Malinda Tom Lawson. Booker died on December 25, 1976 and he is buried in Butler Cemetery.  His siblings were: Sallie Lawson Carter, Robert Lawson, Rosa Lawson, Willie Lawson, Eddie Lawson, Arthur Lawson, Bernard, Lawson, Mary Lawson, and Chauncey Lawson.

Mrs. Clara Hollins Watts of Amite, Louisiana

Mrs. Clara Hollins Watts

Mrs. Clara  Hollins Watts was born about 1893 and died in 1981 in Amite, Louisiana. She was is buried in Butler Cemetery in Amite, Louisiana. According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, she was living with her mother Viney Hollins. The census stated that her father was from Maryland. She was married to Ed Watts. 

On the 1910 United States Federal Census, Clara was a washerwoman and lived at home with her mother Viney. She was seventeen years of age. 

Mary Aaron of Amite, Louisiana

Mary Aaron

Mary Aaron was born around 1879 in Amite, Louisiana and died in 1962. She is buried in Butler Cemetery in Amite, Louisiana.  I used the U.S. Federal Census to learn more about Mary. In 1930 she was renting a house in Amite, Louisiana and had one son Emile, twenty-years old living in the house with her. Mary was married to Nelson Aaron in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon of Amite, Louisiana

Alma "Mandy" Richardson Gordon and son 
Adam Gordon

Alma was born in 1909 to the union of Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish. Alma passed away in 1987 in Amite, Louisiana. She married her sweetheart Willie Kiddes Gordon, Sr., They has seven children to their union: Willie K. Gordon, Jr., Frank Gordon, Charles H. Gordon, Earl Gordon, Barbara Gordon, Adam Gordon, and Robert Gordon. 

Alma was one of four children born to Thomas and Emma: Josephine Richardson Harrell, Alexander Richardson, and Rosabell Richardson Moore. Her mother Emma was married twice. Her second husband was Jim Williams and they were the parents of four children: Dorothy Williams, Arthur Williams, Jimmy Williams and Ethel Williams Temple.

All of her nieces and nephews called her Aunt Mandy. She enjoyed baking coconut cakes and jelly cakes. My mother always bragged about how delicious her homemade cakes and pies were. One thing I notice as a child is her fancy hats and dresses. 

It appears that the family was attending someone funeral. She is wearing  black dress and her son has on a suit. During that time women wore black at funerals. I wish someone in the family could tell me about this occasion. The old cars caught my attention. 

I spent a lot of time interviewing her husband. Uncle Willie told me that he didn't want his wife to do domestic work for anyone. He forbidden her to do public work and wanted her to be a housewife. It was his responsibility to provide for his wife and family. Aunt Mandy was my maternal great aunt.