John Wesley Richardson 1885-1952

John Wesley Richardson
1885-1952
Photo Courtesy: Lorraine Deemer Lizana & Supt. Jimmy Richardson

John Wesley Richardson ws born on August 15, 1885 in Darlington, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana and died on November 8, 1952 in New Orleans according to the Louisiana U.S. Statewide Death Index, 1819-1964.  He is buried at Black Creek AME Church Cemetery in St. Helena Parish. He was married to Minnie Ada Richardson.  They were the parents of:  Emmett Nathaniel Richardson, John W. Richardson, Inez Richardson, Myrad T. Richardson, Gladys Richardson, Mildred Richardson, Janie Richardson.   and Flora Christine Williams.

According to the 1940 United States Census, John was a farmer by occupation and he owned his land. He and his family was living on Amite Riner Road. John completed the 4th grade. 

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

The Family History of Alfred and Rebecca Richardson of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Photo Courtesy of Robert Lee Richardson
Funeral Program 

My entire life I have heard from some of my Richardson family members that there are numerous sets of Richardson family members. I had doubts then and my doubts have only grown stronger in light of my Richardson family history research. The first white Richardson family to inhabit the Louisiana Florida Parishes was Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson. A recent study I conducted slavery inventory research my maternal 5th grandmother Carrie Richardson and her child Thomas Richardson was owned by Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson. 

During my studies and research, I discovered. that Nathan Richardson and Alfred Richardson were on the Richardson plantation. When Nathan appraised for $1,100  and sold as chattel property, he was 15 years old in 1855. Alfred Richardson appraised for $1,100 dollars as well in 1855 and so did my Carrie and her child Thomas Richardson appraised for $1,100.

Supt. Jimmy Richardson, Sr., descends from Andrew Richardson and Sarah Foster Richardson line and Lorraine Deamer Lizana descends from the Alfred Richardson and Rebecca Cubard Richardson line. The science of genealogy will assist us in discovering our Richardson family ties.  Most of the elders who could have shared their oral histories with us have long since passed away. Most of us who study family history wish that our ancestors are alive to answer the unanswered questions we have. It is through DNA testing and, of course the many genealogical resources that are now available that can provide some very helpful clues and tips for family history research. 

Alfred Richardson was born in 1829 in St Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was married to Rebecca Richardson. They were the parents of: Wilson Richardson, Albert Richardson,  Delphine Richardson, Thomas Richardson, Martha Richardson and Mattie Richardson

Nathan was married to Dicey Harden. They ware the parents of: Mary Ann Richardson, Wesley Richardson, Andrew Richardson, Dan Richardson, Eddie Richardson, Caroline Richardson, Minard Richardson, Monroe Richardson, Alonzo Richardso, Leonard Richardson, and  Gertrude Richardson.

An Interview with St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court Staff Denise Geoffrey

Denise Geoffrey
St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court Staff

The St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court is located in Greensburg, Louisiana. Greensburg in the parish seat. The Clerks of Court is where genealogist and family historian can find a wealth of original documents. Documents such as Marriage Records, Civil Record, Chattel Property Records, Succession Documents, Crop Liens Records,  Land Deeds and other records can be found in side the Clerk Office. Since there are no public computer terminals available, most of the documents can be located by indexes. As Clerk of Court for St. Helena Parish, Mildred T. Cyprian and her staff have done an excellent job of maintaining the court records and documents. 

During an interview with Denise Geoffrey, a member of the staff. She informed me that the courthouse has never been damages by fire and she believes that the vault is a secure place for the documents if a fire was to occur. On another note she said that the earliest records date back to 1807 and some older records can be found in Spanish and French. 

I enjoy conducting genealogy research at the St. Helena Parish Courthouse. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Geoffrey is a New Jersey resident and has no connection to St. Helena Parish; however, she had discovered the name Geoffrey in the courthouse and wonders if thee is a family connection with the Geoffrey's from New Jersey.  During the slave trade and sale, Africans and Africans born in America was sold and transported down south. I would like to think is she certain hard enough she just might find a connection. What's really amazing is Flying Ghost Production Film company owner has family ties to St. Helena Parish as well. Fagan Davis, Jr., is family are the Richardson, Knighten, and Lee families. 

Thomas Tucker of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Published The Times-Picayune, June 25, 1962

Tucker-Entered into rest on Saturday, June 23, 1962 at 10:00 o'clock a.m. at Clinton, Infirmary, Clinton, Louisiana, Dr. Thomas Tucker, beloved husband of Mrs. Ida Wright; father of Charlie Tucker and Mrs. Pearl T. Cook of Greensburg, La., Mrs. Marie Tanner, Rev. Robert H. Tucker, Joseph, Woodrow and Mrs. Rebecca Chaney of New Orleans, Mrs. Flora Frazier of Tuckegee, Alabama, Mrs. Shirley Hardesty of Baton Rouge, and the late Bernie J. Tucker; foster father of Mrs. Juanita A. Brealy; son of the late Thomas Tucker Sr., and Mrs. Flora Coleman; father-in-law of Mrs. Elsie Tucker and Sidney Cook of Greensburg, Edward Frazier, Tuskegee, Alabama, Francis Tanner, Mrs. Ruth Tucker, Mrs. R. H. Tucker, Mrs. Rosalee Tucker, John A. Chaney of New Orleans, and Robert Hardesty of Baton Rouge; also survived by 37 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren, and on great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends of the family, bishops, general officers, presiding elders, pastorsa and laymen of the African Methodist Episcopal Churchh, Pitkins' Chapel church, Turner's Chapel A.M .E. church and all others churches of the Greensburg area, St. Peter A.M.E. church and Union Bethel Church of New Orleans, and Usher Board No. 2, Washington Chyapel, Tuskegee, Alabama, Bethel No. 212, Eagle Chapter No. 113, Order of Eastern St

ar, Prince Hall Affiliates, Greensburg, Dorcas Chapter No. 53 Heroine of Jericho Radiant Court No. 12, New Orleans, Louisiana, Educational Association, Faculty of North Scotlandville Elementary school, East Baton Roughe Principals Association, St. Helena Parish Education Association; principal and facutly of Morgan Elementary, Louisiana State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, Ladies Auxilary of C.C.S.D.& E.M.B. Association, officers and employees of Purple Shield Insurance Co., Eureka Consistory No. &. Employees of Carver's Service Station, and Fraziers, Motor Sales and Services, and employees of V-8 Cab Co., are respectfully invited to attend the funeral on Tuesday, June 26, 1962, at 2:00 o'clock p.m. Turner's Chapel A.M.E. church, Greensburg, La. with the Re. Rev, David H. Rims presiding prelate of the Eighth Episcopal District Officiating.

Wake services on Monday night, June 25, at the above named church. Interment in Pitkin's Chapel Cemetery.

Capital Funeral Home in charge, Baton Rouge.

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Joseph Deamer, Sr. & Louella Richardson Deamer of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

Joseph Deamer
Photo Courtesy: Lorriane Lizana

Joseph (Joe) Deamer was born  in September 1887 and died in 1965. According to his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card, he said that his birthplace was Garyville, Louisiana.  His wife Louella Richardson Deamer was born in January of 1892 and died in April of 1979.

They were the parents of nine children: Leslie, Ernest, Clara, Ella, Joseph, Jr, Leroy, Pearl, Thelma, and Bertha. They lived in St. Helena Parish early in their marriage. Joe was and, entrepreneur and Louella was a homemaker. Joseph was a contractor of wooden ties for the railroad. The family later moved to the Neola Farm off Highway 51 in Amite and later purchased forty-acres in Fluker, Louisiana. 

He grew cotton, sugar cane, and a variety of vegetables. He made homemade syrup and packaged it in tin cans. As a truck farm, he often drove to New Orleans to sell his produce in the French Markets. Most of his children didn't like working on the farm and pursued their education. Four of their children earned their Master Degrees and one a PhD in education.  I was happy that E. Lorriane Lizana, MBA, share the Deamer's history with me to share with others. Lorriane is a Certified VA Real Estate Professional and Certified Pricing Strategy Advisor. Lorraine and her husband Chuck are the authors or Authentic Southern Cooking with Chuck and Miss Lorriane: Home Cooking with New Orleans.

Louella was the daughter of Thomas Richardson. Thomas was born about 1866 in St. Helena Parish,

Louella Richardson Deamer

Louisiana. He was listed as a mulatto, and his wife was deceased. Thomas's  mother's name was Rebecca Richardson. Living in the house with him was his children and mother: Louella, Nettie, Willie, and Ernest Richardson. His mother, Rebecca Cubard was living with him as well.

I found  both of his parents in the 1870 United States Federal Census. Tom's father was named Alfred Richardson. His sibling was: Wilson, Albert, Jr., Delphine, Josephine, William,  Minnie, and Tom Richardson.

My maternal 3rd great-grandparents Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson, are buried in Rocky Hill AME Church Cemetery. I've seen the headstone with Rebecca's name on it and, I thought to myself, are Thomas and Rebecca related somehow. Rebecca was born around 1831 and died in 1916.

Now, I must research a little deeper to see if my Richardson family is related in any way to Tom Richardson and Rebecca Cubard Richardson. The one thing about small communities everyone is connected somehow, through marriages, distant cousins, are community families. 

Rebecca Richardson
Source: Find A Grave

Home Going Service For Sister Bertha Vining Oden

1932-2015

Bertha Vining Oden was born on June 9, 1932 tot he late Monroe Vining and Louise Hill Vining in St. Helena Parish. God decided that he needed a beautiful flower to add to his garden so on the morning of September 29, 2015, he called her home where the sweet fragrance of her blossom could be enjoyed by Heaven's Host. Her family and all who knew her have been left with a vid caused by the pain of such a great loss of one who was so loving and dear to them, yet through it all we give thanks to God for having allowed us to share in a life that was beautiful and loving as her's.

Sister Bertha joined Little Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Willard Vernon. She later attended Butler A.M.E. Zion Church with her niece and great nieces, most recently during her time of illness, she insisted on going to New Hope Baptist Church with her great great nieces until she was hospitalized. Sister Bert leaves to cherish her precious memories: one sister, Mattie Butler of New Orleans, Louisiana; four children she raised as her own, Latoya, Daniel and David Butler all of Amite, Louisiana; Kim Muyaka of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; five God-children, Fred Vining of Pontiac, Michigan, Carolyn Watts of San Diego, California, Tyrone Butler of New Orleans, Louisiana, Melvin Martin, Jr., of Baton Rouge, Louisiana., Bradley Nichols of Fort Drum, New York; great/caregiver whom she lived with Mertrell Butler of Amite, Louisiana; great niece, Sheila Addison and great-great nieces, Nikalya Battiste and Nicole Butler who also cared for her as she endured good and bad days; two uncles, Wesley and Charles Vining of New Orleans, Louisiana; one aunt, Betty Jean Nicholson of Houston, Texas. A host of sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Sister Bert was preceded in death by her husband, Allison Oden, Jr., her parents, Monroe and Louise Vining, six brothers: Adam, Vercey, Ercey, Johnny, Willie and Monore; four sisters, Georgia, Lillie, Ethel Mae and Ruby and a beloved niece and nephew, Dorothy Dell Addison and Raymond Vining.

The Death Certificate of Thomas Richardson

Thomas Richardson is my maternal great grandfather. He was born on April 28, 1886 in St. Helena Parish, La.,  to Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson. He was married to Emma Vining Richardson. They were the parents of Josephine, Alexander, Rosa, and Amanda Richardson. Thomas is buried in Rocky Hill Cemetery in St. Helena Parish, La.

Please click on the link below to see if your family member death certificate is listed. Thank you Jane Holiday for your contribution.


http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/sthelena/photos/documents/death/death.htm

Tom Richardson Death Certificate
August 22, 1958

Preserving and Maintaining Our Cemeteries in St. Helena & Tangipahoa Parishes, Louisiana

Rocky Hill Cemetery

It's has been over ten years ago since my son Bernard, my friend Ilona Lyttle and I recorded nine African American cemeteries in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. When I was a small child—my mother would take me and my brothers to Big Zion cemetery in Roseland, Louisiana were my maternal grandparents and other family members are buried. She white wash the graves and talk to us about maintaining the family cemeteries and graves of our ancestors. “ You should always keep the grass cut and graves white washed, “ said my mother. She always found a way to share the story about the headstones my grandfather Jasper made for his parents and siblings. She said she watched her father make them. My grandfather’s pride led him to make headstones for his deceased family members. Looking at the inscriptions on the headstones that he made over fifty-years ago is an historical part of my families’ genealogical research. 

I often wondered why are so many African-American cemeteries are being abandoned, neglected or without headstones!  In the early church history—some of the deacons of the church would maintain the church cemetery.  Taking care of the cemetery were part of the churches agenda. Insufficient funds or lack of a policy to maintain and manage the cemetery could be some of reasons that many African American cemeteries are abandoned and neglected. 

It should be our primary goal and objective to educated the community, church members and young people about the importance of maintaining the cemetery. These cemeteries hold special memories of our deceased family members. When cemeteries are neglected or just allowed to deteriorate, we all should be embarrassed. We stand a chance of losing important historical genealogical information that can be vital to our family history research. Not to mention dishonoring our deceased loved ones who have passed away.

Headstone made by Walter C. Black, Sr.

Several years ago, I purchased two headstones for my grandparents, because the thought of having them in a grave without headstones greatly disturbed me. I found that several others of my deceased family members didn’t have headstones. So I did what my maternal grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., did— I asked my colleague Walter C. Black, Sr., to make them.

These cemeteries contain the remains of WWII Veterans, church and community leaders, newly freed slaves, family members, and in some cases United States Colored Troops.  Last summer I met a woman named Myrtle Johnson who organized a non-profit organization to help preserve some of the cemeteries in St. Helena Parish. She took me too a slave cemeteries in St. Helena, Louisiana.  There are so many cemeteries and graves that are hidden in the woods, “ Johnson said. We need to notify the family members and community about the neglected cemeteries, Johnson said. “ These cemeteries are a big part of our history and they are our deceased love one.  Please volunteer your time to help maintain the family or church cemetery.

Myrtis Johnson unearthing slave cemeteries in St. Helena Parish