O.D. and Maggie Lee Brumfield Dudley of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

O.D. Dudley
Photo Courtesy: Roman Richardson

O.D. Dudley was born in 1916 to Mose and Idella Williams Dudley, he died in 1980  at home in Amite, Louisiana. He married  Maggie Lee Brumfield Dudley, the love of his life." O. D. loved him some Maggie, says Roman." They were the parents of Shirley Mae Griffin,  Ann Deloris Williams, Mildred Ann Ricard, and Norma Jean Richard. 

Maggie was born around 1918 and died in 1999 in Amite, Louisiana. She was one of the cooks at West Side School in Amite, Louisiana. That was the days with food was home-cooked by grandmothers and mothers who knew nothing about process food. I remember as a child, smelling the food cooking in the cafeteria. We couldn't wait until lunch because we knew we were end for a treat. Homemade peach cobbler, cake, red beans and rice, greens, vegetables, meat loaf, freshly made yeast rolls just to name some of the good foods we had.

Mr. Dudley was a custodian and bus driver. Matter of fact,  I rode his bus and remembered on Fridays after school he  purchased ice cream cones for all the children on the bus. Mr. Dudley was a nice person with a welcoming smile and hello as we got on the bus every day.  He worked in the lunchroom at Westside School and managed the candy vending machines at the school. Mr. Dudley was a member of Little Bethel Baptist Church in Amite, Louisiana. He was one of deacons at the church. 

Roman was reflecting on so many memories of his grandfather and how he was a stern and fair man. My grandpa kept guns  in very corner of every room of the house. That came about from his childhood. When grandpa was a young man, a white girl accused him of looking at her. He ran home as fast as he could. When he made it back, he told his father and the Dudley men what happened. The white men came to the house and wanted them to bring out my grandpa. My grandpa said all you could hear in the house was the sounds of shotguns and guns clicking. My great-grandfather told the

Maggie Lee Brumfield Dudley
Photo Courtesy: Roman Richardson

white men that they weren't sending O.D. out of the house. One of the white men said we'll see you later and they all left. My grandfather O.D kept guns in the corner of each room of his house  after that incident.

Grandpa was a strong man who took care of his family and grandchildren until he passed away. When grandma Maggie got sick, grandpa wanted to do everything for her, although he was ill himself. My grandma was much taller than my grandpa, and that didn't mean anything. He stood tall and did what any man who called himself a man would do for his family and the community. 

He uses to go hunting and bring the wild game home, and grandma would cook it, nothing but love went in those pots. "One day grandpa had so friends to come over to the house, and the men were sitting outside, and grandpa pulled out her best china to serve them coffee. That's the kind of woman she was," says Roman. We all miss them so much.

West Side Jr. High Girls' Softball Team

Back Row: left to right, back row Coach Mrs. Katie Simms, Lynell Thompson, Valarie Thomspon, Emma Thomas, Tidie Litton, Stella Battiste, Gloria Tillis, Kathy Trabona, Gladys Nagy, Sonia Battiste, Ora Spears, and Becky Cox. 

Front Row: left to right, Madelyn Walker, Sharon Noto, Janice Bennett, Willie Mae Lee, Cheryl Huges, Helen Gaston, Joyce Curry, Georgia Warford, and Sandra Coleman.

Source: Tangi Talk Newspaper: 1975

West Side High School Graduating Class of 1958

Both of my parents graduated from West Side High School in Amite, Louisiana in 1958. While researching at the Amite Genealogy Library, I found the Commencement Exercise Program. I can't wait to show my mother the program. I can only imagine the memories it will bring back to her. This program is 55 years old and I am grateful to Mrs. Gracie Perry for preserving this history. My mother is Isabell Harrell Cook and my father is Walter Boykins. My cousin Samuel Richardson graduated in the same class.

The History and Legacy of Reginald Cotton, Sr.

 Reginald Cotton was born to the late Joseph and Lillian Cotton in Morgan City, Louisiana on November 14, 1923. He served as head coach of Kentwood High School from 1949-1954. He coached at West Side High School from 1954-1960. He also coached at Amite High School from 1969-1980. He served as assistant principal at Amite High School until he retired in 1980. He was a respected, dedicated teacher,  principal and, coach for 31 years. He was loved by his student, teachers, principal and the community.

Mr. Cotton served three years as and corporal in the U.S. Marines. He was honorably discharged in 1946. In 1980, he was elected School Board Member of District B which encompassed the Velma and Kentwood area. He was serious about the educational plight, not only in his district but the entire parish. In the last election, he ran un-opposed and was therefore elected for a second 6-year term. He passed away on December 5, 1986.