Louis Ali Researching His Allen Family History with Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Star Hill C.M.E Church
Amite County, Mississippi
Photo Credit: Dr. Antoinette Harrell

For twenty years Crawford Allen's story sat on Dr. Antoinette Harrell's desk. Crawford Allen, his wife and three children were kidnapped from Amite County, Mississippi and sold to a farm in Fluker, Louisiana in 1926. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared" that all person held as slaves" with the rebellious states "are, and hencefoward shall be free.

Peonage researcher, Dr. Antoinette Harrell, conducted peonage for decades at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The Crawford Allen story was one of the stories she uncovered during her visit. Harrell discovered a 1926 newspaper clipping published by the Associated Press regarding Allen's and his family being sold for $20.00. Yes, a family of five sold for $20.00, after slavery was abolished seventy plus years. "How could this happened? Who sold them? Whatever happened to the Allen's who kidnapped and sold them?"

Louis was named after his paternal grandfather, Louis Allen, who was assassinated in 1964 after witnessing Hebert Lee's murdered at a cotton gin in Liberty, Mississippi. "I was the first male child born and my parents named me after my grandfather." said Ali. My grandmother passed the oral history down to me about my grandfather. She always talked about what happened to her husband and my grandfather. Louis father Henry "Hank" Allen said that his father Louis told him, that papa was a slave. He never mentioned that he was sold as a slave as well. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell
Gravesite of Crawford Allen

When Harrell delivered the news to the Allen family, it was so shocking to them. They had no ideal that Louis was one fo the three children who was kidnapped and sold. The Allen family needed a few moments to process what was being told to them by peonage detective Dr. Antoinette Harrell. There were no easy methods for Harrell to inform the family that their father, grandfather, and great grandfather was one of the three children in the house when the kidnapping occurred. 

Ali contacted Dr. Harrell and requested that she accompany him to the Amite County Clerk of Court in order to  conduct genealogical research  his family history. The opportunity to guide Ali to learn more about his family history was too appealing for Harrell to turn down. When they arrived at the Clerk's office the first records Harrell directed Ali to was marriage records. Ali was so excited to find his grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles and aunts marriage records. In addition to marriage records, Harrell wanted  Ali to examine records relating to conveyances and succession. With the aid of Harrell's magnification glasses, Harrell helped Ali to locate a  number of land records and succession records relating to the Allen family. 

In the Clerk of Court office, they exerted all their efforts and energy researching records. Harrell requested that Ali take her to the gravesite of his great grandfather Crawford and his grandfather Louis Allen. It was the first time Harrell had visited the gravesite of Crawford Allen, his son Louis Allen, his wife Anna, and his daughters who was also sold. 

As Ali led Harrell to the location where his grandfather Louis Allen was murdered, Harrell had to compose herself emotionally.  Harrell couldn't believe that after waiting patiently for the story development for twenty years, she was finally able to speak with the Allen family and to go back to the site were the terrible events occurred. 

Louis Allen
Researching his Allen family history
Amite County, Mississippi
Photo Credit
Dr. Antoinette Harrell

Homegoing Celebration for Mardus (Myrtis) Lee Womack

Myrtis Womack Johnson
Nurturing Our Roots with Dr. Antoinette Harrell

A life so beautifully lived, deserves to be beautifully remembered. Our beloved Mardus (Myrtis) Lee Womack Johnson, peacefully transitioned this life in her home, surrounded by family on March 5, 2022. She was born April 8, 1945 to Walter and Sallie Womack, in Greensburg, LA. Myrtis was baptized at an early in the Tickfaw River. She was 1964 graduate of Helena High School, She was employed at BASF Chemical  Plant for 25 years and retired in 2010. Myrtis was active in the church and the community until her health began to decline.

Myrtis was a devoted member of Venable Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greensburg, LA. She served faithfully as the Sunday school Superintendent, Adult Sunday school teacher, Missionary President, Steward, Stewardness, Christian Education Director, and the Church Historian. She also taught the rich history of Richard Allen adn the structure of the AME Church during the new membership class at her church. Myrtis attended many seminars, workshops, and speaking engagements involving history and historical facts. One other most rewarding speaking engagements she attended was the Kweisi Mfume, the former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as the keynote speaker.

Myrtis is known in St. Helena Parish for the dedicated work restoring abandoned cemeteries. Myrtis' passion for the preservation efforts of abandoned cemeteries came when she tried to visit the cemetery in St. Helena Parish where some of the her ancestors were buried, and she could not gain access to it due to fallen trees, weeds, and debris. She have been interviewed and featured in the St. Helena Parish Newspaper the "Echo",  numerous times for her efforts and commitment to restoring abandoned cemeteries. She was a guest speaker for the St. Helena Historical Society, and she was featured in St. Helena's parish newspaper. She was interviewed by b Allen Turney for his "Tummy Travels" segment of WAFB Channel Nine News, and she was featured on the front page of the Baton Rouge Advocate after restoring and marking 82 abandoned slave graves. She was a guest on "Nurturing Our Roots" Television Talk Show hosted by Antoinette Harrell. She was honored by United Daughters of the Confederacy in 2005, during a ceremony in recognition of her work with here restoring abandoned cemeteries. Myrtis founded "Save Our Graves Foundation" in 2011. Her foundation located, restores, and collects data of abandoned cemeteries. Myrtis was the keynote speaker in Germany for Black History Month in 2016. The program was held on her son's military base.

Myrtis Womack Johnson
African American Cemetery in St. Helena Parish, LA. 

Her travels have taken here to North Buxon, Ontario Canada where she visited the Buxton National  Historic Site and museum. This Historic site and museum is on the original Elgin Settlement, which was the first stop on the Underground Railroad for hundreds of fugitive slaves. She had visited many plantations and historical museums including, Nottaway Plantation, Magnolia Mound Plantation, Rural life Museum and Southern University Museum of Art.  Her most recent and memorable visit was to Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana. 

She leaves to Cheris her memories, her children: Valery, Baton Rouge, LA, Kevin (Raquel), Houston, TX, Andre (Keisha) Kileen, TX, grandchildren: Markell, Debbie, Jamie, Nalani, Maya, Kevin Jr., Aaron, and Frank, nine siblings: two sisters: Shirley and Janice Womack, Baton Rouge, LA; Seven brothers: Walter (Lorene), Charlotte, NC, Charles (Linda) and John (Mary) Baton Rouge, Rev. Floyd (Sandra)), Port Allen, Louisiana, Morris, Larry, (Mildred), and Richard (Tracy) Womack, Greensburg, LA.  one brother-in-law: Walter Kendrick, Jr., Kings Mountain, NC, a host of nieces, nephews, cousin, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Walter and Sallie Womack, siblings: Carolyn Beller, Lena Kendrick, Jimmy Ray, Ned, two sets of twins Willie Gene (Slick) and Barbara Moore, Alfa and Effie, sister-in-law; Joann, several uncles, aunts and numerous other relatives. 

Myrtis Womack Johnson

Source: The funeral program for Mrs. Myrtis Womack Johnson