Womack Family Making Syrup in St. Helena Parish

Larry Womack
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

During the summer of this year, I participated in a farm tour in Lexington, Mississippi with farmers from St. Helena and Tangipahoa Louisiana Parishes. Kenwtood was their last stop before heading down the highway, so I had to meet them at 5:00 a.m. I met many farmers and agriculture-interested youth on the bus. 

Cedrick Womack was sitting several seats behind me on the bus. The subject of his family farm was not discussed that day. In the following week he contacted me with information about the syrup making business in his family. Several years ago, I watched James Baker make sugar cane syrup. Observing the entire process for the first time, I gained an insight into the entire process. Each November, Baker drove thirteen hours from Chicago to Louisiana to produce syrup. 

I was invited by Cedrick to interview his father and uncles and take photographs and video them making syrup as well. As the time approached for the syrup to be made and produced, he contacted me to remind me to come out and document the process. During the twenty-minute drive to their location, the scenery was picturesque. It is dotted with tall pine trees and curvy roads on the way to the syrup mill. The Womack family had already begun cooking the syrup and was in the process of bottling it. 

Cedrick Womack Bottling Syrup
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

In the course of the interview, I wanted to ask each brother about the process of making syrup. During the preparation of the syrup, they were making it for Larry. Larry's brothers Johnny, Floyd, Richard, and Morris "Buddy" Womack assisted him. Our family works together in this way, explained Johnny Womack, Sr. Their parents Walter and Sally Pitts Womack were the parents of 18 children. A total of eight sons and ten daughters were born to the couple.

The art of syrup making was mastered by each brother. Floyd skimmed off what they referred to as trash from the syrup as they boiled it. He remained busy skimming the trash that was left after boiling the syrup. As Larry checked the temperature, Johnny appeared to be keeping an eye on everything. 

 Following  preparation of the syrup, the containers could be filled with the syrup. The containers were prepared by Cedrick, his uncle Richard, and Larry's grandson Lemarye Womack, Jr. The Womack brothers were raised on farms and have a strong sense of family. A total of 30 acres of land were farmed by them. In fact, farming is ingrained in their DNA; it is not something they are unfamiliar with. This Friday after Thanksgiving day, I will meet them at the mill at 7:00 a.m. to watch and document from start to finish.