Civil Rights Leaders Climon Ricard Sr, of St. Helena, Louisiana

Climon Ricard
Military Draft Cart
Ancestry

Climon Ricard, Sr.  was born on July 30, 1915 to George Samuel Ricard and Susan Ricard. He died on November 15, 1992. Climon is buried at Mount Zion Cemetery in St. Helena Parish.  Climon was married to Helen Simlin. Cited in the 1940 United States Census, Climon was living in St. Helena Parish on Road No. 333. He was a farmer by occupation. He was working on his own account.  Researching the 1920 United States Census, he was living in New Roads,  Louisiana and was listed as a mulatto. Ten years later Clemon Ricard and his family was living in Police Jury Ward 4, St. Helena, Louisiana. 

As a member of the Citizens Voter League Board of Directors, Climon Ricard represented St. Helena Parish. Ten directors from St. Helena Parish served on the Board of Directors in 1950. As a result of the right to vote in 1950, Climon put his life on the line. The vote was a powerful tool for his life as well as that of African American people in St. Helena Parish. 

Livingston Parish Civil Rights Leader Lester Youngblood

Lester Youngblood
Courtesy of
 Bernice Alexander Bennett
Funeral Program Photo

I'm familiar with the name Youngblood since author and genealogist Bernice Alexander Bennett comes from the Youngblood family. Often she talked about her Youngblood ancestry from Livingston Parish. Recently I was at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office researching charter documents and found a the charter for the Citizen Voters League. 

Among the 36 names mentioned in the charter was Lester Youngblood. Her confirmation was that there are two Lester Youngbloods: Jr. and Sr. Bernice forwarded me a copy of Lester Youngblood's funeral program. Among the civil rights icons in Head Island, a parish in Livingston, was Lester Youngblood, Sr. 

Lester was born on August, 7, 1914  to Wesley Youngblood and Fannie Walker in Head Island, Louisiana  He passed away on May 32, 1997 at his home. He was married to Dorothy Martin Youngblood. They were the parents of 16 children.  10 daughters and 5 sons: Dora Youngblood  Harris, Elnora Youngblood Quiet, Margie Youngblood Hawkins,  Helen Youngblood Raven, Georgiana Youngblood Jackson, Lillie Youngblood Davis, Jessie Youngblood Hart, Daisy Youngblood Norman, Barbara Youngblood Thomas, Toni Youngblood Jackson. James Youngblood, Elgene Youngblood,  John C. Youngblood and Henry Youngblood.  When he passed away he had 55 grandchildren, 74 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren. He and his wife had a very large family 

I used Ancestry to learn more about the man who put his life on the line for the right to vote. Lester realized that during that time in the Deep South. I found information on the U.S. World War II Draft Card. His bright day was listed as 1914, he was born in Head of Island, Louisiana and was employed at McCarrol Lumber Co.  In the United States 1940 Census he was working for as a logger for a Sawmill Company. Lester owned his home in 1940. 

Standing up for that right to vote, Youngblood could have been murdered. That didn't deter him from doing so. In 1955, he organized the Citizens Voter League with 35 other men. Civil rights leaders are often lauded on a national level and dismissed locally. The charter provided the names of brave men such as Lester Youngblood. It wasn't that long ago that he passed away. My hope is that his family members recorded his story. It is possible to gain some insight into the time and period of voting rights in the Florida Parish by learning about a few pieces of the rich history of voting rights for African Americans through documents like this charter.

Source: Funeral Program for Lester Youngblood

             Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office 

             Bernice Alexander Bennett

Campbell's African American Funeral Home was established in 1940 in Hammond, LA

Samuel Levy Campbell Military Draft Card
Courtesy of Ancestry

Kathe Hambrick, founder and director of the River Road African American Museum in Donaldsonville, La., told me that Campbell's Funeral Home in Hammond, LA, was her family's funeral home. The fact that there was a family connection to her delighted me. Kathe understands how critical it is to preserve and educate about African American history. 

Asking around in Tangipahoa Parish about the funeral home. Bobby Cyprian remembers the funeral home and its original location in Hammond, Louisiana.  To search for records, I visited the Clerk's office in Tangipahoa Parish. My research led me to Campbell's Funeral Service, Inc.'s charter. 

The document only contained the abbreviations for their names after I carefully read it. My search for the Campbells was conducted using Ancestry. In my research, I discovered that Samuel Levy Campbell was born on March 10, 1885, and he died in 1975.  He was married to  Mary Campbell. His military draft card provided a lot of useful information. Smith County, Mississippi, was the place of Samuel's birth. Campbell's Funeral Home was located at 505 North Holly Street in Hammond. 

In the United States 1900 United States Census, Samuel was living with his mother Jennie Campbell, his father Joseph Patrick Campbell had passed away. Their home was in Jasper, Mississippi. Farm laborers were the family's occupation. According to the 1930 United States Census, Samuel's occupation was Undertaker, and his industry was Timeral Parlor. 

Citizens Voters League Members in Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena Parishes 1955

Photo Courtesy
Library of Congress

BE IT KNOWN, That on the this 3rd day of September, 1955, before me, Leonard E. Yokum, a duly commissioned and qualified Notary Public, within and for the Parish and Sate aforesaid, personally came and appeared the several parties of the full age of majority, whose signatures are hereunto subscribed, who declared in the presence of the undersigned competent witnesses, that, availing themselves of the provision of the Louisiana Revised Statues (1950) Sections 12:101-12:155, they do hereby organize a non-profit corporation as defined in R.S. 12:101 (8) under and in accordance with these articles of incorporation.

The full names and post office address of its register agents are: Rev. J.J. Montgomery of Hammond, Louisiana  and J. W. Elliot of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. The names of the first directors and their post office address as follows:

Tangipahoa Parish

Rev. J. J. Montgomery, Hammond, LA

Lavoice Harvey, Hammond, LA

Rev. E. M. Booker, Hammond, LA

J.W. Elliott, Ponchatoula, LA

Johnny Flowers, Hammond, LA

T.T. Terry, Jr, Ponchatoula, LA

Bun John Montgomery, LA

C. P. Mitchell, Hammond, LA

Rev. Hub Square, Tickfaw, LA

Rev Paul Silas, Amite, LA

Wesley Bailey, Head of Island, LA

Antoine Martin, Springfield, LA

Lester Youngblood, Maurepas, LA

Frank Buckhalter, Kilian, LA.

Eddie Cox, Head of Island, LA

Lawerence Willis, Killian, LA

Clarence Garner, Springfield, LA 

Steve Harris, Walker, LA

Rev. A. F. Gray, Denham Spring, LA

Oscar Hall, Greensburg, LA

W.M. Coleman, Greensburg, LA

George Carter, Denham Springs, LA

Clemon Ricard, Montpelier, LA

Winston Rudison, Denhman, LA

Bennie Tate, Greensburg, LA

Elyn Howard Darlington, LA. 

Henry Wheat of Amite, Louisiana

Henry Wheat
Photo Courtesy of 
Gordon Richardson Deliverance C.O.G.I. C

He was born in Tangipahoa Parish, in 1919 to Saul and Corrine Harrison  Wheat.  His siblings were: Booker S. Wheat, Rosa Wheat, Beatrice Wheat, Melissa Wheat, Bennie Wheat, Bertha Wheat, Mattie Wheat, and Roy Wheat.  According to the U. S. World War II Draft Card, he was employed by the W.P.A. and his wife Doris Harrell Wheat was his next of kin. He was about 5'6 and dark skin.  He and wife was the parents of Henry Wheat, Jr, Ernest Wheat, Earl C. Wheat, Bobby Ray Wheat and Bruce Wheat.  In 1950 he was working on his own account farming and owned his own business. He died in 1992 in Amite, Louisiana. 

Major Coleman of St. Helena, Louisiana

Major Coleman
Photo Courtesy of
Gordon Richardson Deliverance C.O.G.I.C

Major Coleman was born  in 1893 in Chipola, St.Helena, Louisiana to James and Martha Robertson Coleman  Living in the house with his parents were his siblings Otis Coleman 21, Harry Coleman 15, and Britain Coleman. A granddaughter named Lillie Himes 4. was also living in the house. According to the 1940 United States Census, he owned his own land and worked as a farmer. He completed the 4th grade. Major died on May 25, 1961. He is buried in Gordon-Richardson Cemetery in Amite, Louisiana. 

His father James was born in Louisiana in 1868. He was a farmer and worked on his own account. James could read and write. 

Josephine Baker Coleman

Josephine Baker Coleman
Photo Courtesy of 
Gordon Richardson Temple Deliverance 
C.O.G.I. C. 

She was born in 1911 and died on May 11, 1952 in St. Helena, Louisiana. She was married to Major Coleman. According to the 1940 United States Census, Josephine worked as a farm laborer. She completed the 5th grade. The following children were living in the household at the time: Carretha Coleman 18, Minnie Coleman 16, Lilly Coleman 14, Mabel Coleman 12, Leroy Coleman 10, and Mildred Coleman 8.

Josephine Baker was the daughter of William and Clara Baker.  William was born in 1853, according to the 1900 United States Federal Census. On the census, Joseph D. Baker, 9, Crealou D. Baker, 7, Elnora G. Baker, 6, Mora E. Baker, 4, Frances B. Baker, 3, Mary A. Baker, 1, William Baker, 18, and Commander Baker, 15 was listed. 

William was listed as a mulatto on the 1900 United States Census, working for himself as a farmer. He lived with his wife Clara in the house. Daughters. Francis, Lizzie and his sons, John, Merrell, Alphonsse Baker. His mother-in-law Forrest Pettis. was listed. Her birthplace was South Carolina and she was a widow. Forrest gave birth to nine children. 

The 1920 United States Census listed the following siblings: John Baker 17, Clarence Baker 14,  and Alfred Baker 12. The family lived in Police Jury Ward 4, St. Helena, Louisiana, when the census was taken.  There is no doubt that the Coleman family is a very large family in St. Helena, Louisiana. 

Rev. Vernia Garrett McCoy Obituary 1938-2022

Rev. Vernia Garrett McCoy ws born in Franklinton, La., to Isaac James Garrett, Sr. and Vander Anthony Garrett. She was batptized at Winans United Methodist Church. She was educated in the Washington Parish School System and earned here hight school diploma from Washington Parish Colored School in 1952. She furthered her education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., where, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education in Counselors Education. She taught school for thirty-two years in the Tangipahoa Parish School System. She was united in marriage to Fred McCoy on December 24, 1955. This union was blessed with three of their own children and a niece thy raised as their own child.

She was a faithful, hardworking member of Grants Chapel AME Church. She answered the call to preach and was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the  Eighth Episcopal District in the Louisiana Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She studies at the International Theological Center and earned a Certificate of Theology. Rev. McCoy was licenses to preach in 1996 and was later appointed to St. James AME Church Airport Rd. She served there until her retirement. After retirement, she returned to Grants Chapel AME Church and continued to serve in many capacities.

Rev. McCoy was a member of Shady Grove Order of Eastern Star #134 PHA. She served as  Chaplin and was a past Worthy Matron. She joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and remained active in the Theta Theta Zeta Chapter. She diligently served with North Oaks Hospice for over 20 years. SH was a m ember of the Golden Tones Choir for the Hammond Recreation Department.

Her beautiful life will be forever cherished in the lives of her children: Roderick McCoy Sr., Zander McCoy and Samaria Rose McCoy; one special daughter, Corriene McCoy; siblings Ella Rose Brookins, Catherine G. Brown and Jerry Garrett (Mary); four grandchildren; five great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Fred McCoy; siblings; Purvis Garrett, Isaac Garrett, Jr., Willie Dean Brickman, Betty Blackburn, Shirley Garrett Martin, David Garrett, Melvin Garrett, Sr., Benjamin Garrett and Rodney Garrett; and niece she raised as her own, Johnnie Mae McCoy.

Researching their grandparents records at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office

Conducting genealogy research
Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office

Did you ever wonder where to begin researching your family history? Dr. Valarie Richardson and her brother  Earl Scott Richardson, Jr.,  research their family history with genealogist and local historian Dr. Antoinette Harrell at the Tangipahoa Parish Clerk's Office. It was their  first time conducting genealogy research. 

The discovery of the marriage record of their great aunt Hattie Wheat intrigued them. My paternal great uncle Theodore Harrell married their  great aunt Rosa Wheat. Their marriage record was found, which was quite surprising to them. In the marriage index book, they found several of their great aunts on the Wheat side of their family. 

Richardson's Funeral Home was founded by their grandparents Supt. Alexander and Aunt Melissa Wheat Richardson. During the 1960s, their grandfather worked at Good Shepherd Funeral Home. In addition, we examined the records of Campbell Funeral Home, which was founded in the 1940s.

Doing our research we were joined Susan Roesgen, WGNO, New Anchor and her camera man. Susan watched us move around the courthouse finding hidden treasure in chattel books that feel like they weigh at least 25 pounds. By the end of the day my arms was sore from picking up the heave books. With the help of the clerk's employees, we had a successful research trip regardless of the bomb threat at the courthouse.