Bernice Knighten Howard of St. Helena Parish Was a Civil Rights Activist

Bernice Knighten Howard

Bernice Knighten Howard was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana to Thomas and Maggie Knighten in 1919. She attended New Star Elementary School. Bernice joined church at an early age and was in church until her health failed. Her beginning membership was at Black Creek A.M.E. Church. She later moved her membership to Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church where she served as Sunday school  Treasurer.

She worked very hard as a Christian in the church were they raised their family. She love the church family and everybody she came in contact with throughout the church. Mrs. Howard worked sided by side with her husband in the community assisting everyone with their problems. She was well known in the Greensburg area. She worked hard with the civil rights activities, assisted in school desegregation and much more.

Bernice ws preceded in death by her father and mother: Thomas and Maggie Knighten, husband; Ellis Howard, Sr., daughter; Mae H. Carlson; one son: Ellis Howard, Jr.; one son-in-law: Carl Carlson; one grandson: Cedrick Howard.She leaves to mourn her 3 sons: Thomas of New Orleans, David of Marrero, James of Marrero: One brighter: Willis Knighten: two granddaughters: Davina Dewitted and Vernise Howard: nine grandson: Jerome, Sanders, Albert, Ron, Rodrick, David, Jr., Thomas, Patrick, James, Jr., Joshua and host of relatives and friends.

Funeral Program Courtesy of Richardson Funeral Home, Inc., Amite

Reprint for the Funeral Program of Bernice Knighten Howard

Joseph Baker and Edna Coleman Marriage License

Joseph Baker was born in St. Helena Parish  in 1893 to Solomon and Elizabeth Baker. According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, he was living in Police Jury Ward 4. Living in the house at that time as; Ray, Joseph, Eliza, Mary Foster, his Mother-in-Law. 

Solomon's Father was named William Baker, and his mother was named Clara Baker.  William was born in 1853. He and his wife Clara were the parents of; Joseph, Crealou D, Elnora, Mora, Frances, Mary, William, Commander, Salester, David, Joe N., Annie, and Solomon, J. Baker.  

According to the 1920 United States Federal Census, living in the house with William and Clara was; John, Clarence, Alfred,  and Josephine Baker.

William's mother, Tammy Pettice (Peltier) were living in the house with them. Tammy was born in 1821.

Ethel Williams Temple

Ethel Williams Temple
1919-1958

Ethel was born to Jim and Emma Vining Williams in 1919 in St, Helena Parish, Louisiana. Ethel died in 1958 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Jim and Emma had four children; Ethel, Jimmy, Arthur, and Dorothy.

Ethel married Walter Temple and they had two sons together; Cleveland and Johnell Temple. Oliver was by her first marriage to Oliver Jackson, Sr.,  Walter and Ethel lived in New Orleans at 2408 St. Andrew Street.

During several conversations with cousin Johnell, he told me that his mama taught her boys how to cook, clean, and how to take care of themselves. She didn't have any girls so the boys had to learn how to help out with the chores. I guess that explains why cousin Oliver and Johnell enjoy cooking so much, 

Her sons Oliver and Johnell were both in law enforcement. Oliver worked for the Amite Police Department and Johnell was a Louisiana State Trooper. They both served until they retired from their departments. Oliver serves on the Board of Directors for the St. Helena Multipurpose Center in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He and the board spent years developing the center.  A country boy at heart, he loves his horses and cows. 

Ethel's mother Emma was married twice. Emma first marriage was to Thomas Richardson. Thomas and Emma had four children also. Emma's children by her second marriage died before all their siblings from Emma's first marriage. 

She is buried in Mount Zion and Greater Refuge Temple Cemetery in Montpelier, St, Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Ethel Williams Temple
Courtesy of Ruth Landrew Jackson

Rev. Lee Woodridge of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Rev. Lee Woolridge
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Kingley B. Garrison

Rev. Lee Woodridge was born in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was born on June June 11, 1889. He was self-employed as a  farmer in Montpelier, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. He was married to Selina Woodridge. He passed away in August of 1976.  Rev. Lee is buried in Bear Creek Cemetery, also known at Mount  Zion and Greater Refuge Temple Cemetery. Rev. Lee Woolridge was the father of Laura Knighten, Irene Lee, Clara Woolridge, Mary Brown, Rosa Lee Brown, Della Mae Woolridge Garrison.

St. Helena Indians 1962

Wallace Smith, James Hart, Thomas Dudley, Hollis Jackson, Charlie Addison, Jesse Stewart, Vernell Williams, Billy Johnson, Thomas J. Howard, James Ramsey, Sam Green, Luther Hall, Emmitt Kendrick, Lawerence Chaney, Henry Crier, Edgar Brumfield, Silar Geralds, Tom Graves, Chester George, Adolphus Dickerson, James Atkins, Earnest Edwards, George Rankins, Ray Pitts, Dennis Scott, Edward Cornish, George Muse, Mack Jackson, Alfred Reynolds, Alcee Musem Roy Dudley.

Coach; Lea Vern Sims
Principal; B.L.BEnny Wicker

St. Helena Historic Property-Lillian Cry House

Lillian Cry House

The Lillian Cry House, is nearly a ruin. It is a parlor-dole pen of boxes framed with a pyramidal roof, a hipped roof shed porch; and its only fireplace on the right pen. Symmetry is maintained by the window-door-window-door-window (6/6) facade.

Lillian Cry was the daughter of Bill Cry. She come from a large and respected Negro family.

Recorded by: M.B. Newton, Jr.
Date: May 2, 1981

St. Helena Historic Preservation Property-Warren Napoleon Sims

Warren Napoleon Sims

At the end of the nineteenth century, square (or Bill) Cry built the barn also know as the D.D.Day Barn and the Warner Napoleon Sim Barn. Cry is said to have lived in the right two cribs before he sold the land to D.D. Day, who built another house in 1922, Day sold the place to Sims. Cry and Sims were Negroes; Day was white. Sims (96) still owns it, although he has on account of  his age let it rundown.

The older part is the divided, 12 by 19 ft. crib ( 17 logs to the plate). It had been used as two says. It has two plank doors; both with carved, wooden latches (sliding bar). A 12-ft, runway separates the two main parts of the barn. The left crib is slightly narrower and is of larger logs (14 to the plate); its one door is a plank door made with square naisl. These two parts are of saddle-notched, round logs. A huge, gable roof covers the two cribs and,  in the rear, has three stalls, plus some other space devoted to animals. The front shed holds an excellent old house drawn hay rake.

This barn is remarkable in its black-white succession and in its hardware (wrought iron and carved wood).

St. Helena Property and Historic Significance-Blanche Williams Place

Blanche Williams Place

Henry William Johnson, a Negro farmer, miller, and builder, built his house, perhaps about 1900. It is well built, central-hall house with a built in porch, boxes cornices (front and rear), 4 by 6 in, porch posted with built-up capitals and key-holes notches at their bases, and a hood on three sides of the porch. It is of boards-and-battens; it had beaded siding under the gallery; it had one 6/6 window into each pen; its loft is finished; its one chimney is on the right.



The kitchen ell-now in ruin-also has a chimney.
This is a remarkable house, all things considered.

Recorded by M.B. Newton, Jr.
Date: May 15, 1981
For: Comprehensive Planning Assoc.
Devision of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

Obsequies of the Late Sister Mattie Lee Stewart

Mattie Lee Stewart
1916-1987

Mattie was a devoted wife and mother, on who always put the interest of her family first. She saw to it that her children were given the best that she could provide in loving care, spiritual nourishment, and material comforts.

Mattie, was the fifth daughter of Robert E. and Ella Bennett Lee. She was born in St. Helena Parish on January 19, 1916. She became a christian at an early age and was member of Greater Turner Chapel until death.

She leaves to mourn in her passing: her husband, J. W. Stewart, Sr; one son: Superintendent J. W. Stewart, Jr.; one daughter: Lillie Mae Tillery, both of Greensburg, LA.; four sisters: Caretha Bulter, Lillie Stewart, Mary Lee Wicker, and Velma Lee all of Greensburg and Tom Lee Silver City, Ms.; one foster brother: Emmitt Perry of New Orleans; on e daughter-in-law: Levoria Pope Stewart: Willie Tillery of New Orleans, LA.; four brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, three grandchildren, four great grandchildren and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The Obsequies of Brother Hollis Tillery

Hollis Tillery
1913-1992

Brother Hollis Tillery was born to the union of Willie and Nora Tillery, August 10, 1913 and departed this life January 19, 1992 in St. Helena Parish Hospital in Greensburg, LA at 2:00 a.m., He was a member of Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church. He taught school in St. Helena Parish.

Hew as united in wedlock to Ruby Gordon and to this union one daugther was born: Donnal T. Wilson. Later years he married Mrs. Lillie V. Tillery. He leaves to mourn his devoted wife, Mrs. Lille V. Tillery; sister, Mrs. Elnora Wall of Fluker, LA; one step daughter, fours step sons, 8 sisters-in-law, one brothers-in-law, and a host of relatives and friends.

Source: The Obituary Collection of Cletius Gordon, Sr.

The Obsequies for Fred Overton

Fred Overton
1897-1968

The quiet manner and useful life, the gentle speech in the life of Brother Fred Overton attracted people to him, and his conscientious service as a trustee, community worker, class leader and benevolent president won the hearts of both races.

He lived a very useful and peaceful lie. He was a devoted husband and father. He was interested in the well-being of his children and everyone in the community. In times of work, indecision, confusion and strife, and in progress, he was looked to for guidance in advice.

On January 15, 1968 the angel of death came and bore the bright spirit of Brother Overton away to the land that is free from the heartaches of this earth. Fred Overton was born to the union of Mrs. Jane Gordon and Overton and Rev. William Overton on September 11, 1897 in Greensburg, LA. in 1918 he was united in holy matrimony to Miss Daisy Stewart. To this union thirteen children was boon. He was reared with a love for God, people and progress.

To mourn in passing he leaves his wife, Mrs. Daisy Stewart Overton; five daughters- Mrs. Lucille Jackson and Mrs. Viola Hurst of Greensburg, LA., Mrs. Izola Millican of Oakland, Calif., Mrs. Bertha Montgomery of Marina, Calif., Miss Doris Overton and Mrs. Ermentrude O. Sheard of Philadelphia, Pa.,  a foster daughter Mrs. Margurite P. Overton of Greensburg, La.; five sons, Charlie and Joe of Greensburg, La., John of Metairie, LA., Fred, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA., Rev. Edward Overton of Ardmore, Pa; one brother, Willie Overton of Greensburg, La.; five sisters, Mrs. Alma Douglas, Greensburg, La., Mrs. Martha Overton, Mrs. Lillie Emerson, Mrs. Pearl Spark of New Orleans, La., Mrs. Candaisy Donald of Pine Grove, La., thirty-three grandchildren, six great grandchildren, a host of in-laws, other relatives and friends.

Source: The Obituary Collection of Cletius Gordon, Sr.

Joshua Williams of Amite, Louisiana

Joshua Williams standing

A reprint from the Dixie newspaper 1963.  A new wing of Southern University's natural science building. An electron microscope, one of the new research tools now available at Southern, is operated by Dr. James J. Prestage. Looking on is student Joshua Williams of Amite. Microscope was acquired through a grant.

The Obituary of Thomas Tucker, Jr. of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Dr. Thomas Tucker, Jr. 

Reprint from  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, pastors and laymen of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, 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 Star, 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. 

The Death Certificate of Thomas Tucker, Jr. 

In Remembrance of Enslaved Africans of St. Helena, Louisiana

As January 1, 2014 approaches, I couldn't help but think about what my ancestors and all the enslaved Africans and prisoners of war thoughtout Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes went through on January 1, 1863. They were held as slaves for four hundred years under the brutal evil acts of slavery at the hands of their white masters. It was on Thursday, January 1, 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The 2015 News Years Day falls on Thursday.

There were a different type of fireworks that sparked the air. The sparks of freedom filled the air for hundreds of thousands of newly freed Africans who were held as slaves in both parishes. My ancestors being some of the enslaved Africans who cried tears of joy because the freedom bell rung. The Richardson, Vining and Harrell's were slaves in St. Helena and East Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana.

I'll be forever grateful to Stephanie K. Martin-Quiatte slavery database records for St. Helena Parish. Her extensive slave database can help many African Americans find their enslaved ancestors.

I found a man named "Wash" in a sheriff's sale in St. Helena Parish, Bailey Chaney vs. William Whitten on August 4, 1860 in the database she published.

State of Louisiana
Parish of St. Helena
Eigth Judicial District court  #2,40(?)
Bailey Chaney vs William Whitten

By virtue of a writ of Fieri Facina (?) issued from the honorable court aforesaid, in the above entitled suit, and directed to the Sheriff of St. Helena Parish, and State aforesaid, I have seized on and will offer for sale to the highest bidder at the courthouse door in the town of Greensburg on Saturday, the 4th day of August 1860, between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm of said day.  It being the first Saturday in said month all the rights title, interest  and claim of the defendant R.P. Lee in and to the following named property to wit:

A certain Negro named Wash, age of about 25 years and black in color.

Property pointed out by the plaintiff to satisfy the above writ and all cost.
Terms of sale, cash with the benefit of appraisment

J.J. Wheat, Sheriff
Greensburg
June 30, 1860

For more information please visit her databases at

http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/african/afamer-slaves.htm

We Share The Same Surname In A Small Town? Are We Related?

Minnie Nolan Harrell

Many African-American people, whose ancestors were slaves, carry the surname of the last slaveholder or the one they chose after the emancipation proclamation ended slavery in America to this present day. 

Children were sold away from their parents, and fathers & mothers were taken away from their children. Many a times they were sold to other plantations. Sometime the children who were slaves were given to the daughter or son of the plantation owner as a wedding gift to them, often time never to be seen by their family member again.

One of the first things that some newly freed slaves did, when they received their freedom was to started searching for their lost family members. Mothers walk miles looking for their children. Some men started an all-out search hoping to find their wife and children.

Point in case; if there are several people in a small community that carries the last name Hudson, and you ask them if they’re related to the Hudson’s in the same town. They may say to you that they aren’t. The first question that I ask them is “how do you know that you aren’t related to them?” They can’t answer that question because they don’t know if they are related to them or not.

As a genealogist, I hear that quite often.  One piece of advice I can give them is that i they would conduct their family history they would be certain of their history.  I always advise them to speak with the oldest person in the family and find out what he or she knows and if they are willing to share their family history with them. Ask questions about the family and sit back & listen to the answers.

My grandfather Alexander Harrell had other siblings that no one in my family knew anything about.  His siblings were John, Anow, and Marietta, and we know nothing about them or their descendants.  So my point is John, Anow and Marietta could have had children. So if someone asked someone in my family if they are related to the Harrell’s in Roseland, Louisiana, they just might tell you no. They could be the descendants of my great grandfather’s brothers and sister.

That is why it is important to conduct a research to find out if there is any kinship involved.  Especially, if they live in the same area as that of your family. Although, slavery was abolished in 1863, effects of it can still be felt today.  Some genealogists and family historians are still searching for their long lost relatives. I am one of those genealogist’s who is still searching for my great grandfather Alexander Harrell’s sibling descendants.

My mother often said that her father Jasper told her that his father was from Clinton, Louisiana. Jasper was only two years old when his father Alexander Harrell passed away in 1914 in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Jasper knew very little about his father Alexander and his other siblings.

Could this be where we got another set of people that share the same surname us and our family have? Should we conduct a genealogy research to find out whether these are the long lost family members that our ancestors were looking for?

When I am conducting my family history on the Harrell’s side of the family, I know that any Harrell in Clinton, Louisiana could be a relative.  It was recently that I met a police officer in New Orleans, Louisiana by the name of Stephen Harrell who knew that his father was from Clinton, Louisiana.  Although we haven’t confirmed that we are related, we haven’t dismissed the thought either.  We are still conducting a research to find out whether there is a connection or not.

After all everyone on a plantation carried the last name of the slaveholder. I looked at the slave inventory list and at the 1870 U.S. census to answer some of the questions about our ancestors’ life after slavery.  The 1870 U.S. census is the first census to record the names, gender, and race of African-American people unless you were a free person of color, or an African-American slaveholder.

Being three generations removed from slavery, I can see why many genealogists and family historians are still searching for their missing family members. After all that is the first thing that some of the new freed slaves did, they searched for their family members who were sold off. Some walked miles and miles searching for their relatives.

Further studies using DNA testing should be used in studying African-American people, who came off the same plantations with the last surname. Some may find that they are related to each other. My grandmother Emma Mead Harrell had thirteen children by her husband Alexander.  Alexander had children by another woman who lived in the same town. The older family members didn’t say how many children he had with the other woman and this I found out at my grandfather Jasper’s funeral.

It was revealed when someone asked the lady who was sitting on a bench that was earmarked for the family to sit. The lady responded by saying that she was his sister. This is how my mother and other family member found out that my grandfather Jasper had other siblings outside of his parents, Alexander and Emma.

This wasn’t at all an uncommon situation. There are many similar situations in various small towns across America where slavery took place.

Records In The St. Helena Parish Vault

St. Helena Parish Courthouse

One of my favorite places to research is the St. Helena Parish courthouse in St. Helena, Louisiana. There are so many document and records that can help you when you’re researching your family history. Although you can no longer go into the vault to pull the records for yourself, but one of the employees will gladly pull the records for you.

I found the succession records of Benjamin Richardson and my ancestors Carrie and her child Thomas were listed in his inventory as well as  how much they appraised for. Some of the records are crumbling up and are in bad shape and need to be preserved. There are records such as: the Asylum Records, Crop Lien Records, Marriage Records, Land Records, and Court Records housed in the vault.

If your ancestors were slaves in St. Helena Parish, the inventory list can be very vital to anyone who is researching their family history, especially if they come from St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.  Researching the history of the slaveholder family might give you some answers you were looking for.

I got a full understanding of crop liens when I found the application of those who were borrowing
money to plant their crops. The application named the person who applied for the services. They also gave you a legal description of the property and how much money they borrow against the crops.

When I first opened the drawer to access the files in the vault, my eyes filled with tears of excitement when I found my ancestors in the succession records. I was pulling their files for the very first time, I found them and who owned them.

Bernice A. Bennett and Antoinette Harrell inside the vault

I couldn’t help but wonder what was that day like for Carrie and her child Thomas Richardson who appraised at $1,100 dollars. As I continued to review the succession and inventory list, I wanted to know if the others people on the inventory list were related to Carries in some way.

Standing inside the vault and looking at old file cabinets that I had seen on the television series "Gunsmoke" wondering how long it had been since anyone opened these files outside of the employees who are employed there.  Pulling the files for the first time and opening them to look at the records was like freeing my ancestors and letting them know that I came back to learn more about their lives as slaves in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

I took the files and sat at the desk with my fingers cross in high hopes that I would find more of my ancestors.  Reviewing the succession records of Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson and looking at all the slaves they own on their plantation. I wanted to know if any of the other slaves were related to Carrie, could one of the women on this inventory list be her mother?

I wanted to know more about Carrie. Where did she come from? Who did they purchase her from? Was she one of the Africans’ who was kidnapped and sold into slavery? Who were her mother and father? Did she have other siblings? What cemetery is she buried in?

As I continued to look inside the vault, I found the crop lien records of people who borrowed money to grow their crops. I found my maternal grandmother Emma Mead Harrell and her son Jasper in those files. Jasper’s brother Palmer Harrell’s application was there also. 

Scanning the room looking at the old books, the policy jury records, criminal records, and the asylum records, my curiosity has gotten the best of me and I wanted to look at those asylum records.  For what medical reason was that person  sent to East Louisiana Mental Hospital?  I knew my maternal great-grandfather Thomas Richardson spent many years in the asylum and I was hoping that I would have found his medical records, but I was out of luck here.

When I visit the St. Helena Clerk of Court office to conduct genealogy research, I can stay all day. There is so much to see and so many records and document to look at. The marriage records are indexed in books and if you would like to see the original marriage license you can tell the clerk and she would be glad to pull them for you.