Dwayne Taylor Sr, finding his biological roots in Fluker, Louisiana

Dwayne at the Boykin's gravesites.
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Although I did not undergo surgery yesterday, I had an amazing day exploring my paternal roots with my brother Dwayne in Fluker, Louisiana, My two siblings, Zelda and Patrick, and I learned that we had a brother through Ancestry DNA. Embracing our brother and a new branch of our family tree was an exciting experience for us. We decided to visit Fluker, Louisiana, the ancestral home of his paternal ancestors. We visited the Fluker cemetery and church where our father Walter's family is buried. With the help of a kind man named Mr. Evans, he took Dwayne straight to the Boykin's gravesites. Afterwards we then drove around in search of the old house. Dwayne was very enthusiastic about exploring the history of his biological family.  I could not locate it, due to time constraint I had to meet my friend Lynn Dosty in New Orleans.  We met up with Lynn and Don in New Orleans and shared our experiences with them.  Lyn has just visit the St. Louis #2 Cemetery in New Orleans and slo had so much to share with us.  It was a very exciting day for everyone. 

In parallel with this, I was going to meet for the first time my nephew Dwayne, Jr. Despite a small setback, yesterday was a memorable and awesome day spent with family and friends. My goal is to share as much information as I can about the Boykins family history with Dwayne. I am looking forward to our time together and am confident that Dwayne will be interested in learning more about his family's history. I also hope to share some of my experiences with him. I am excited for this opportunity to connect with my nephew.

Left to right: Dwayne Taylor, Sr.,  Dr. Antoinette Harrell,
Dwayne Taylor, Jr., and Lynn Dosty

Genetic testing is used by enslaved descendants on Richardson plantation to determine their family relationships

Carl Richardson Descendants

My maternal grandmother's surname name is Richardson. Throughout my childhood, I was acquainted with my grandmother's siblings. My mother frequently shared stories about her mother's relatives and their history. Josephine Richardson, along with her siblings, was born and raised in Montpelier, Louisiana, which is an unincorporated community located in St. Helena Parish. My research delved into the ancestry of my Richardson family, with a focus on my great-grandparents Thomas and Emma Vining Richardson. Through the United States Census, I uncovered valuable information about their lives. Specifically, I discovered that Thomas and his siblings resided in a household with their parents, Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson.

As I was going through the inventory of the Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson Plantation, I found out that my ancestor Carrie and her son Thomas were among the twenty-three enslaved individuals listed. It got me thinking if any of the other enslaved people were related to Carrie. Could one of the women have been her mother, or perhaps her brother or sister? I know of another Richardson family in Tangipahoa Parish, and their ancestral origins are in St. Helena Parish. According to some, we may be related based on oral history, while others dispute this claim. The only sure way to settle this is to undergo a DNA test. Supt. Jimmy Richardson took the Ancestry DNA to get answers.

  Carl Richardson and Joseph Richardson
Descendants

Thomas, son of Carrie, is my maternal 3rd great-grandfather. It was discovered during the inventory
following Benjamin's death in 1855 that Carrie was only twenty years old at the time. The plantation inventory also listed a young man named Nathan, who was fifteen years old then. Nathan later fathered a son named Andrew Richardson. Supt. Jimmy Richardson descends from Nathan Richardson. Recently, my friend Lorraine Lizana informed me that her lineage connects to Thomas and Rebecca Richardson. Through Lorraine, I discovered that her ancestors Thomas and Rebecca are buried in the same cemetery as my 2nd great-grandparents Thomas and Amanda. All of them have been laid to rest in Rocky Hill A.M.E. Church Cemetery. Lorraine descends from Alfred Richardson lineage. Alfred was on the same plantation with Carrie, and Nathan.

Last year, we had individuals whose ancestors were Richardson from Tangipahoa Parish travel to Louisiana to establish a Richardson connection. Their ancestors Carl Richardson's ancestors descends from Louisiana. Their ancestors had to leave the south and they never returned to call Louisiana home again.  

Continuing with the genealogy investigation of Thomas Richardson's lineage, we have discovered another Thomas Richardson, Melbourne McNealty's father Joseph often shared stories about his Richardson relatives. After conducting additional genealogical research, it was discovered that Melbourne's ancestor Thomas arrived in New Orleans aboard a vessel called the State. He was sold to a plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana.  

I had a conversation with a young named Fagan Davis who shared with me that his family linage traces back to a Richardson family in St. Helena Parish. I asked him about the possibility of taking the Ancestry DNA test to establish and familial connection between us. He suggested that I test his mother who is the daughter of Willie Richardson instead of him. His mother agreed and took the test and now we are presently waiting for the results to come back. After receiving the DNA results, it is important to thoroughly compare and analyze them. To facilitate this process, I plan to schedule a Zoom meeting for everyone to share their DNA matches. This is especially necessary due to the historical separation of families caused by slavery, which often leads to roadblocks in our search for answers.

Earl Richardson, Sr., Dr. Antoinete Harrell, and Supt. Jimmy Richardson, Sr. 
Taking the Ancestry DNA test

Jeremy's ancestors called his name

Jeremy Taylor-Collins
Photo Credit:Antoinette Harrell

I have studied my maternal family history for decades. I met new relatives on my paternal side after my father passed away in 2019. One of them is Jeremey Taylor-Collins, whose passion for genealogy is deep. Through DNA, he connects with family members from all branches of his tree. His roots extend deep into Pike County, Mississippi and St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. Jeremey enjoys traveling to St. Helena & Tangipahoa Parishes, Louisiana for genealogy research whenever he can. 

As part of this trip, he discussed the Louisiana State Archives for the first time with me. This was his first visit to the Louisiana State Archives.  There could not have been a better time!  At twelve noon, Bernice Alexander Bennett, author of "Black Homesteaders of the South," presented an overview of her book. Jeremy's ancestors were homesteaders in St. Helena Parish. Bernice pulled Jermey ancestors  Homestead  records at the National Archives. He was very excited to get those records. 

We planned to arrive early enough to give Jeremy a chance to gain some knowledge about researching death certificates. He was unstoppable once he learned how to use the new equipment to find the records. Some records was familiar to him because Jane Holiday, a genealogy treasure, posted thousands of records for many people in the Louisiana Florida Parishes. Jane's work in genealogy saved him a lot of time and helped him see how important Jane's work is. 

Our next stop was the St. Helena Parish Courthouse. He had visited the courthouse before. Last year, I taught him how to search for conveyance, successions, marriages, and wills documents. Among his ancestors were Solomon "Saul"  Taylor and America Mills Taylor, who both lived and died in St. Helena Parish. Their graves were located in the Black Creek AME Church Cemetery behind the church.  

Did the marriage take place in the parish? Were they landowners? What other Taylors are there? Who are they? Do any of the Taylors still reside in the parish. Did the marriage take place in the parish? Were they landowners? What other Taylors are there? Who are they? Do any of the Taylors still reside in the parish?

Researching at the St. Helena Parish Clerk's Office may have some answers for Jeremy.  After we

 Jeremy Taylor Collins researching the 
St. Helena Clerk's Office
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

finished researching at the Clerk's office for the day, we drove to Rocky Hill AME Church in St. Helena, Louisiana. He wasn't sure if he had relatives buried there, but we were too close not to check. We walked through the cemetery together. Jeremy recognized many surnames from public member trees and oral histories. A number of vaults and headstones were damaged by Hurricane Ida. To inform the departed family that vaults and headstones had been damaged, I posted the damaged headstones on my social media site. Jeremy visited other cemeteries in the area. On his social media he live streamed his visit to  Big Zion Cemetery in Roseland, Louisiana. He talked about the importance of maintaining those sacred burial grounds of our ancestors and I couldn't agree with him more. 

It wasn't quite the end of our day yet. In 1873, the first African American appointed as mayor in Ponchatoula, Louisiana was Rev. Arthur Tasker. I was scheduled to speak about placing a Historical Marker near his gravesite before the Ponchatoula Council. We ended our day with a meal and a cup of Jasmine tea. I felt as if I was passing the torch to a young man who is passionate about his family history. It seems likely that he will do more research and visit the places where his ancestors once lived to find out more about them. 

Rocky Hill AME Church Cemetery
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

Buried between two cotton fields on Locust Ridge Plantation

Dr. Antoinette Harrell
Photo Credit:  Annie Harnett

Annie Harnett and I was  introduced several years ago by a mutual friend, Steve Godfrey.  Steve is well aware of my passion for genealogy and thought it would be nice for me to connect with Annie.  I can't recall whether we spoke by phone or by email, it was  a while ago. We finally were able to meet, so that is what's significant here. In search of her ancestors, Annie took a genealogy road trip to Tensas Parish.  Louisiana's Tensas Parish is located in the northeastern part of the state. The parish is bordered by the Mississippi River. Approximately 4,147 people live in the city according to the 2020 census.  St.Joseph, Louisiana, is the parish seat. 

On that cold Saturday morning, I awoke at 6:00 a.m. to drive the two and a half hours to Tensas Parish.  My  GPS directed me to 1-55 North and the Natchez exit. In the back woods, the rolling hills and flat land were still covered with early morning frost. From the road, I  could see fog hovering over ponds giving it that ghostly look. Like that in a horror movie scene.  The beauty of these landscapes made me want to grab my camera and take pictures. In the end, I managed to take a few pictures. Besides, I didn't want to be late to meet Annie.  Annie's ancestors were the owners of Locust Ridge Plantation owned by her ancestor named  McGrudger Adams. She began researching her family's involvement in the slave society of the South in the Spring of 2021.

I was scheduled to arrive at 9:30 a.m.  This gave me an hour to explore the area. Waterproof, Louisiana was my first stop. After driving around the area for a while, I came across the cemetery that Annie and I would venture back to on our adventure. Annie and her guest walked the cemetery in search of her guest ancestors while I sat in the car saving my strength for the expedition ahead. After a delicious lunch at the "Walking Pig" restaurant, in St. Joseph,  a bowl of spicy collard greens, mac and cheese, with a nice cold glass of freshly made tea with a twist of lemon gave me an extra boost. 

Annie took me to visited a cemetery between two cotton fields on Locust Ridge Plantation.  We walked  a distant to get the thickets where the Wrights, Hatton, and Lewis families are buried. By this time the sun had warmed up and I didn't need the sweater I was wearing. I had to started shedding the layers of clothing due to the increase of heat.  It wasn't easy walking on crutches in the mud as an amputee. My crutches sank three and a half inches in mud. The thought kept repeating in my mind, "you can't quit" those fleeing for freedom couldn't quit. I heard a voice inside me telling me to keep walking. As I walked, I kept an eye out for cottonmouths and rattlesnakes. Not to mention hoping that we wouldn't run into wild boars. I was constantly reminded that this was the reality for those enslaved. 

The thought of the enslaved on the plantation trying to escape with someone with a disability like myself was on my mind at the same time as Annie and I were talking. The mere thought of staying behind to avoid slowing others down meant that my family may never see me again. As I thought about the dogs on the trails and the slave catchers pursuing them, I would have slowed them down. I was frightened, anxious, and sorrowful just thinking about them. A greater appreciation for those who escaped to freedom took over after processing the many thoughts about getting caught and the consequences of running away. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell's Ancestor Charm Guider

Once we reached the cemetery, I had to cross over falling trees, avoid branches and endless wild vines to get the graves. Annie went on a head and scoped out the area while I made my way to where she was. After I saw the first headstone, the excitement grew stronger. I looked around for other between the palmetto trees and bushes. My eyes scanned the area carefully and I made my way to read each one. I always carry my good luck piece in my pocket when I'm searching for my ancestors or other ancestors. I waiting for the mystical moment to take it out. When I got to Rena Lewis Hatton grave it was time to take it out and place it on her headstone. I was reminded of Ezekiel 3: 1-10 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, "Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you come to life.  

We feel as if Rena is guiding us on this journey.  She is speaking to us in some spiritual form. The purpose of my search is to help Annie locate Rena's descendant. I used Ancestry. com to help me locate  Rena's descendants. I left a message for one of her descendants name Latoya. Latoya' mother Mattie  responded to my call and I couldn't contain my excitement. The news was a dream come true for Annie, I couldn't wait to share it with her. She wanted to meet the descendants of those her ancestors enslaved. I arranged a phone call and help to facilitate this meeting. It end up with information sharing and a plan of action to meet each other. 

Rena's descendants saw their ancestors' headstones for the first time through photographs Annie shared. They didn't know where their graves were located. Annie has given the Lewis and Hatton families the gift of knowing where their loved ones are buried. They received photographs of the headstones from Annie. To some, it may seem insignificant. Consider for a moment that the bushes and trees are growing new leaves as spring approaches, making it impossible to visit the sacred burial grounds. Snakes, bugs and mosquitoes will keep you from entering the sacred place they share with those buried there.  They worked the cotton fields and are buried in the cotton fields like so many in Tensas Parish and other plantation through out the United States. 

The Watt family of Tangipahoa Parish

Photo Courtesy of 
Karen Hart Stewart

Front Row: Earl Watts, Ed Watts, Clara Hollins Watts, Celeste Watts Wagner, Adouloh Watts. Back Row: Alfred Charles (AC) Watts, Clara Belle Watts White, Ruth Watts Hart, Fannie Watts Muse.  

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. 

Amanda Breland Richardson and Great granddaughter Isabel Harrell Cook

Amanda Breland was born in 1862 and died in 1937 in St. Helena Parish.  Her  husband was Thomas Richardson, Sr.,  There were five children born to them: Sophia, John, Thomas, Jr., Golene, and Annie Richardson. The picture shows my mother Isabell Harrell Cook when she was about seven years old. Her picture standing with her maternal great grandmother was photoshopped. My mother was born on December 25, 1939 and died on March 30, 2020.

The Children of Emma Vining Richardson Williams

Emma Vining was born on October 1, 19886 in St. Helena, Louisiana to Allen Vining and Rosa Hart Vining. Emma Vining died in Amite, Louisiana in 1864. Allen and Rosa had three daughters together: Judy, Emma, and Bernice. 

In the years that followed the death of Rosa, Allen later married Pheoby Self of St. Helena, Louisiana, and as a result of their union, they had several children together.  According to the 1900 United States Federal Census, Emma was living with her paternal grandmother Martha Green Vining, aunt Elizabeth Vining, and her sisters Bernice and and Judy. Judy was eleven and Emma was thirteen at the time. Also living in the house was a 10 year-old girl named Mamie. I recall talking several years back to a cousin named Sandra Brown, who is a descendant of Bernice lineage. Her grandmother told her that Mamie was her sister. Consequently,  Allen and Rosa may have had four daughters.

Emma's grandmother Martha Green was married to Frank Vining in 1874 in St. Helena, Louisiana. Their children were: Allen, Julia, Caleb, Sarah, and Frank Vining. 

Emma's first husband was Thomas Richardson. The couple had four children: Josephine, Alexander, Rosabel and Alma "Mandy" Richardson. After she and Thomas divorced she later married Jim Williams they had four children: Ethel, Jimmy, Arthur, and  Victoria "Dot" Williams. 

It was after reading a comment from one of our younger family members, who stated that she she was unaware that Grandma Emma had other children from a second marriage, that I decided to write and post this blog. "Several members of our family have passed away, " including my mother Isabell Harrell Cook, Cousin Earl Lee Richardson, Sr., Cousin Nathaniel Richardson, and Jo-Ann Lewis Frazier who recounted and shared the Richardson and Williams family history. Our history must be preserved and passed on to the generations, as exemplified by the character of Kunta Kinte in the 1977 television series Roots. 

We are blessed to have images of six of her eight children. If anyone has a photograph of Grandpa Emma, Grandpa Thomas and Jim Williams,  Arthur and Dot, please share with me so I can share it with others. Please don't just hold on to it for yourself, share it with the family. 

A Tribute to Our Mother Isabel Harrell Cook

Robert Vernon, Jr., Weaved Baskets and Chairs

Robert was born in 1854 in Rankin, Mississippi. He was the the seventeen children born to  Robert "Free Bob" Vernon, Sr. He was married twice and had children with both of his wives. One of his wives was Elizabeth Stokes. Robert and Elizabeth were married on January 20, 1887, in Tangipahoa, Louisiana. Elizabeth was born on February 11, 1866, in Roseland, Louisiana, and died on March 18, 1938. They were parents of;  Ely, Willis, Hugh, Nellie, Jannie, Nancy, Lettie, Ruby, Mary, and Linsey Vernon.

Robert died in 1949; he's buried in Mt. Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery. Robert was a preacher, and he enjoyed weaving baskets and chairs. I went to Mrs. Grace Belvins Walker for an interview about the Vernon family. Robert was her great uncle, her grandmother Georgiana and Robert were sister and brother.  When I got to her house, she had a few family heirlooms to show me and her cousin Glyniss Vernon Gordon. One of the  family heirlooms was a syrup pitcher and baskets.

She told Glyniss that her 2nd great-grandfather Robert weaved the baskets. That was Glynis's first time seeing the baskets. Mrs. Walker made sure she let her know that you look but, you're not taking them out of this house. Mrs. Walker is one of the Vernon family griots. I can sit and listen to her very detailed family stories. 

Robert like his brothers was very talents and had creative skills. His son James Robert Vernon was a blacksmith and he made casket. Every time I meet with Mrs. Walker and other Vernon descendants I learn so much about their history. 

Finding My Enslaved Ancestors in the Inventory Records of the Slaveholder

Slavery Inventory of Jesse and Martha Vining
Dr. Antoinette Harrell ancestors, Courtesy of the St. Helena Parish Clerk's Office

It's very hard for me to comprehend why African American History is still a subject that most people do not like to talk about in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes in 2020. My genealogy adventure has taken me down many dusty roads and busy interstate to learn about my direct family history. While driving down the dusty, lonely roads, my mind seems to drift off in a time and period. Looking on both sides of the road and looking at the trees and old wooden building is now falling. 

I can almost feel the stories that these trees and lonely roads want to tell me—driving on the land where formerly enslaved people of St. Helena Parish once worked from sun up to sun down in the blistering summer heat and the cold winter whispering days. Somehow I feel like Alex Haley felt when he went to Gambia, Africa tracing the "Roots" of Kunta Kinte. Kunta Kinte was born in 1750 in Gambia and kidnapped and sold into slavery in America. Kunta Kinte died in 1822.

My Richardson, Vining, and Bates family research ties to St. Helena Parish. There is something that pulls at me always to research their history. "Who was the first person in my family that touch the soil of America?" I know I had to search the Clerk's office records until I could find them. The painstaking research wasn't easy; I realized that. The pain causes the tears to stream down my face until I could see a

Dr. Antoinette Harrell
St. Helena Parish Clerk's Office

clearing. 

After going inside the vault and looking at the many files that seem to be at least fifteen feet tall, I look up and down, and somehow, I knew I would find them because they wanted to be found. The first slave records I found were Carrie and her child Thomas who was owned by Benjamin and Celia Bankston Richardson. I was looking at their names in this cursive writing, and a deep saddest hit my heart. "'I realized that on this day," my Carrie and her child was being sold. Who are the other people listed on the inventory? "Could this be people that are related to Carrie?

Soon afterward, I started looking at my Vining family and found that they were owned by Jesse and Martha Vining in St. Helena. I discovered my ancestors; One Negro named Frank age 18 of yellow color valued at $700.00, One negriss named Thursday age 20 years old and her child valued at $700.00, one negro woman named Judia age 25 years value at $600.00, and one negro man named Ben age 22 years old, yellow color valued at $700.00.

I'm so grateful to Alex Haley for the book called "Roots" and teaching African-Americans like me who are thirsty for knowledge of self and the history of family history. I feel enriched knowing that I have studied my own 

New Found Relatives in My Family Tree

Mayor Rochell Bates and Dr. Antoinette Harrell
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

I moved back to the Parish, where my ancestral lived in 2005. I was happy with the move; after all, I didn't have to travel from New Orleans two to three times a week to conduct my maternal and paternal genealogy research in Amite County, Mississippi or St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. I focus my attention and research energy, mostly on my maternal side of the family, until 2019. It was after the death of my father that I decided to look deeper into his family tree. My father's mother's name was Mary McKay, was born to Charlie and Florence William McKay in 1904 in Pike, Mississippi.

Florence's parents were Alexander and Rebecca Ann Williams. Rebecca was born around 1857 in Mississippi. According to the 1910 United States Federal Census, she was listed as a mulatto. Rebecca was able to read and write. She and Alexander had nine children. 

Rochell Bates is the mayor of Kentwood, La., and the principal of Kentwood Magnet High School. I would have never imagined that there could be any relations to us at all. Well, I was in for a surprise. I found his Sim Bates on in a family tree where my Rebecca was found. I wanted to look a little deeper into the Bates family lineage. 

I learned from Rochell that the Bates started somewhere in Amite County, Mississippi. I started looking for the first white Bates in Amite County, Mississippi and found a man named Richard Bates, who owned hundred and six enslaved people. Richard was born in 1796 in Barnwall, South Carolina, and died in 1867 in Amite, Mississippi. I would like to know the names of everyone he owned on the plantation.

Mayor Bates and I were just and surprised to learn that we are related. Sometimes you never know who you are related to. There is more to come to this story. 

A History Road Trip with Family

Bernard mailing his African Ancestry DNA in
Virginia

When my youngest son Bernard was a child, we visited many, archives, libraries, and museums.  By the time he turned twelve years old, he had traveled to twenty-two states. Tasting different food and meeting new people along the way. Sometimes we flew, and for the most part we would drive so that we could stop and visit some of the major attractions. 

With a big smile and his luggage packed he was all ready to travel on our summer adventure.  We made plans to take a road trip for two weeks driving up the East Coast and ending up in Washington, D.C, at the National Archives.  He was too young to go into the National Archives, so my ex-husband took him around College Park while I did some genealogy research.  I don't know how much of the history lessons he was retained at that time. I know I had to teach and expose him.

It was one of the best summer vacations we can remember. We purchased a map for him to follow along. We packed books and some of his favorite things he enjoyed playing with and hit the road headed  east.  During that time they didn't have a GPS to guide us on our trip. We made sure to purcahse postcards in each state to send back to the family at home. 

Reading records 

Years later we took another road trip with Moussa Albaka, a well known Tuareg silversmith to meet other Tuareg people from Niger, Africa who moved to Greensboro, North Carolina.  We're welcome with big smiles and hugs by the Tuareg people. We had dinner and wonderful conversation before head to the Atlantic ocean so that Bernard could take his African Ancestry DNA test.

He faced the ocean and imagined the ships coming to the Americas with his ancestors on it. We held each other in hopes that he will find out where in Africa his paternal ancestors come from. Six weeks later he finds out that his paternal lineage connected him to Nigeria, West Africa. 

Learning about our family history had taken us many beautiful places to meet some wonderful people and new family members along the way. As I write this blogpost, I can't help but think about the time Bernard and I drove to Chicago to visit our Harrell family member with my Uncle Raymond.  Bernard has just met his 3rd maternal cousins. He met cousins that his maternal grandmother hasn't met. I was happy that we took this trip that summer.

Uncle Raymond played one of his old-time gospel songs again and again. It seems like he played that song from the time we left Louisiana to we arrived in Chicago. Bernard asked him why did he keep playing the same song over and over again?  During our stay in Chicago, Uncle Raymond wanted us to meet the descendants of my great-uncle Warner Harrell.  So the three of us drove up to Wisconsin and met new family, and we really enjoyed our visit with cousin Dan Harrell and his family.

One week the white lines on the highway were calling me again. I asked Bernard if he wanted to go and visit the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee? He said yes and was eager to go. We packed our luggage on a sunny Friday afternoon and drove the five-hour trip. We went west to visit Alex Haley House Museum in Henning, Tennessee first.  We took the guided tour and took pictures before traveling back to Memphis to get dinner and checking in the hotel. 

The next morning after breakfast we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum and spent the day touring the Museum. What better way to teach a child about the history? He had a lot of questions to ask about the Civil Rights Movement.  I hope when he becomes a father, he'll take road trips with his children and teach them their history. One thing for sure the road trip we took by driving meant that we could stop all along the highway and get some good tasting food and site see. 

I hope he holds these memories dear to his heart like I hold them in my heart. This was our time spent together. Now that he is an adult we haven't taken a road trip and just because he is all grown-up, doesn't mean we shouldn't.  My grandchildren are taking road trips with me now.   They'll soon  become teenagers and they will have other plans. But the beautiful and sweet memories I hope will never be forgotten. 

I enjoyed taking him places with me and having him to be a part of the many events we went to. The only thing I regret is I wish that we could have had more time in his formative years. The time went by quickly that once little boy is now twenty-five years old. 

I want to make it a family tradition that we all take a road trip to visit museums, antique shops, fun attractions, and enjoy family time spent together. 

The Theodore and Gladys Chapman Dunn Family Reunion

Theodore and Gladys Chapman Dunn

This years Dunn family reunion was organized by Paulette Gilmore Sims, the daughter of the late Charlie Gilmore and Ruby Lee Dunn Gilmore. Paulette and her committee organized a one day event that displayed family photographs, the Dunn History, a slideshow presentation and family fun. This years theme was " We Are Our Brother's Keeper".  The reunion was held as Jellystone Park in Robert, Louisiana. 

Theodore Dunn was born in 1906 in Amite County, Mississippi to Hezekiah and Gertrude Atkins Jackson Dunn. According to the oral history of his oldest son Leon Dunn, Sr.,  his father Theodore moved his family to Kentwood, Louisiana in the 1940s. 

Theodore was killed in a truck accident in 1957 in Easlyville, Louisiana. He was a farmer and logger by occupation. He worked hard to save money to purchase the land that is still in the Dunn family today.  To their union of Theodore and Gladys Dunn, eight children was born; Leon Dunn, Sr., Willie Mae Dunn Williams, Gertrude Dunn Perry,  Gena Mae Dunn Chapman, Will Henry Dunn, Charlie Dunn, Theodore Dunn, and Ruby Lee Dunn Gilmore.  Three of their offsprings has passed away: Gertrude Dunn Perry, Charlie Dunn, and Gena Mae Dunn Chapman.

Leon Dunn, Ruby Lee Dunn Gilmore, Theodore Dunn

Hezekiah Dunn and Gertrude was the parents of Bernice Dunn Hampton, Elouise Dunn Collins, Everlee Dunn Clark, Leon Dunn, Theodore Dunn and Otis Dunn.  Gertrude has children by her first husband. The children ware Rufus Jackson and Laura Jackson Banks according to the Dunn Family tree that was complied in 2009. Hezekiah was known by family members as Hizzie.  Leon said that his father Theodore passed down a lot of oral history to him about the Dunn family. He also said his father Theodore told him that that Hezekiah was of Indian descent. 

Hezekiah is the son of Andrew Dunn, no one knew the name of Hezekiah's mother. I checked U. S. census to see if I could locate her. Andrew was listed as a widower. Hezekiah's brother and sisters were listed as Maggie, Malinda, Mary, and Madison. 

Well over a hundred descendants of Theodore and Gladys attend this years family reunion. Lot of home cooked food, homemade ice cream and prizes was given out.  Everyone was so happy to see each other and to meet new family members. Two of Theodore's brother and sister offsprings also was present.

Elouise Dunn Collis and Odis Dunn offsprings express their desire to learn more about their family history. There were discussions of organizing an upcoming event of all eight branches of Hezekiah and Gertrude Dunn.

Looking at the younger generation work to make this years family reunion a success was beautiful.  Some of the family was reflecting on the days when the family reunions was held in grandma Gladys front yard under the two oak trees in Kentwood, La.

Now the younger generation are stepping up to the task and organizing the family reunions to keep the family together. It was so good to see family respecting and sharing love with each other.

Photo Credits
Walter C. Blacks, Sr.

Robert and Willie Pearl Temple of Amite, Louisiana

Robert and Willie Pearl Temple

Source:

The Collection of the Late Coltidle Aaron Zanders and the Late Deloris Levy.

Submitted to Preserving Our History in Tangipahoa &  St. Helena Parishes Blog and Nurturing Our Roots Educational Television Talk  Show by Rev. Raymond Foster, Sr.

In Touch With Our History in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

Antoinette Harrell and Bernice A. Bennett researching
family history in St. Helena Clerk's Office

Whenever I visit the St. Helena Clerk of Court office to conduct genealogy research, I prepare myself to spend the entire day. There are so many records and documents to read. The marriage, conveyance and other indexed books are very helpful, if you would like to see the original documents you can tell the employees and they would gladly pull them for you.

After finishing my research in the courthouse I went to the St. Helena Parish Branch library. There isn't many African American genealogy family history books in the library. I made copies of all the family records that I could find of my family members on all side of my family, and any other record that's vital to my family research.  Once I left the library, I visited Rocky Hill A.M.E. church were my 2nd great grandfather Thomas and his wife Amanda Richardson are buried. Their graves were easy to find because they have headstones. Amanda Breland Richardson was born in Livington Parish, Louisiana in the mid 1800s. 

Rocky Hill Cemetery, St. Helena Parish

Several branches of my family roots are deeply connected in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. The Richardson, Hart, Burton, Boykin and Harrell records can be found and I still have relatives that reside in St. Helena Parish. 

My plans is to go back and look at other records that had been buried in the dust. Since I've been traveling back and forth conducting genealogy research, I found one other African American person researching their family history and that is a woman by the name of Myrtis Johnson. Myrtis was looking for slave cemeteries, and I'll never forget the first time she took me to a slave cemetery in St. Helena Parish. There were over forty unmarked graves. She managed to get the graves cleaned off and add some head and foot markers put on the graves. 

I asked her did she know the names of any of the people in the cemetery,  she said that someone gave a few names. I wanted to know if Carrie Richardson was buried in that cemetery. I would like to find other information about Carrie. I do know she was sold to the Kemp family in St. Helena and that's all I know about Carrie.

St. Helena Parish has beautiful land. If you live close by and are looking to take a country scenic ride, St. Helena Parish is the place to visit. I often stop and talk with elderly people who were sitting on their front porch. I enjoy sitting a spell as they would say to talk with them, I soon learn that I'm talking to a walking library so I sit, listen and take notes, especially when you are talking about people they know and events they can recall.  If I'm lucky they will pull out a photograph of their loved ones.   

Sometimes I feel like I stepped back in time, a time when life was much simpler.  My ancestors who were slaves saw the harsh treatment of the slave masters and planters. But they remained in St. Helena and called it home. As a matter of fact, some will tell you that there is no other place they would rather live. The smell of the morning fresh air, trees whispering, birds chirping and the morning dew can be found on the green grass and beautiful meadows.

Most of the people who live there wouldn’t trade the beautiful and quiet parish for life in a busy city.  They will stay their until they are called on to “Glory” as they would say. Genealogy has no ending, I can only research and document what I found until the next genealogist or family historian comes along and pick up where I left off.