Mastering Syrup Making with Floyd Womack with St. Helena Parish

Floyd Womack
Photo Credi: Antoinette Harrell

The season for making syrup is a very short one. It may last two to three weeks and it's over until the next year. For the past two weeks the Womack brothers have spent long days and hard hours grinding and making cane syrup. It took me a couple days to learn the routine of each person. Floyd is somewhat a quiet man and the master cook as far as I'm concerned. He is the one who get the pans and the fire ready for cooking,

When the juice from the sugar is pumped into a 55 gallon barrel, he is ready to light the fire. Using fat pine from aged pine trees. Older people call it lighter knots. I know it works very well at getting a fire started because I used it in my fireplace. Floyd works for approximately five to six hours cooking, skimming the foam that accumulates on top of the syrup as soon as he gets the cane juice into the pan. I was amazed at how he knew how much wood to use and how he operated all three pans. He didn't stop until the job was finished and no one 

By looking at everything, he gauges everything. I asked him how he maintains the temperature of the second pan. The pieces of wood are thrown under the second pan, he explained. The same thing for the third pan. I also asked him if he ever messed up any syrup while cooking it. "Yes! Many times", replied Floyd. Through trial and error, you learn to become better he said. 

Floyd Womack making syrup
Photo Credit: Antoinette Harrell

He reminds me of a master chef - a man who knows his craft well. As soon as he gets the heat under the pans right and they start boiling, he's working over the hot steaming pans. At that point, everything is in his hands. He wants to ensure that the syrup batch is good. Not too thick and not too watery. Hats off to the chef, as they say. Hats off to the master syrup maker in this case. He spent years and learning to master his skills. 

 My attention was drawn to the fact that he was the only one cooking. It is my hope that someone will learn syrup making from him so that this cultural preservation can continue for as long as possible. There aren't many people left in St. Helena Parish who still make cane syrup. 

The importance of preserving and highlighting these types of crafts cannot be overstated. Quilt makers, basket weavers, wood carvers, and other crafts that people enjoy. The Womack men enjoy making syrup as a hobby.  There are a lot of areas in Louisiana that are known for their culture, food, music, and crafts. The Strawberry Festival, the Oyster Festival, and the Sicilian Festival are held every spring in Tangipahoa Parish. The Dairy Festivals in Kentwood, Louisiana were often mentioned by others. As far as I know, St. Helena Parish does not have any festivals. Through video and photography, I documented the process this season. It is my second time documenting the process. When I first visited a syrup mill about five years ago, James Baker was the master syrup maker. He has stopped making cane syrup, I was told.

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.