The History and Legacy of Alice L. Irving Vernon

Alice Luberta was one of eleven children born to Lemuel and Susie Irving.  Her siblings were Lucy, Robert, Thomas, Wilbert, Alma, Ethel, Edward, Lemuel Jr, Ralph and Roscoe. She also had one stepsister by the name of Luvenia, born to Lemuel and Millie Harrell. It has been said that great grandpa Lemuel given name was " Green," but was later changed to his slave name Irving."

Lemuel had 37 acres of land in Roseland, Louisiana where he and Susie farmed and raised their 11 children. He donated land to the Big Zion School and Church where the family worshipped. He was and entrepreneur and he hired help for his farm and had a shipping boxcar business used to ship vegetable up North. His children followed in his footsteps as business owners. Their business included farming, carpentry, seamstress, midwife and school teachers.

Grandma Alice met and married Fred Vernon, Sr., around 1917 in Roseland, La., This union produced five children: Norman, Felton, Fred, Jr., Dorothy and Osborn. Alice and Fred operated a very large farm that required the whole family's participation along with the hired help.

In addition to her cutie on the farm, grandma Alice had a seamstress business. On and old singer sewing machine that was manually operated by a floor foot paddle, she would sew anything and never used a store bought pattern. Instead, she used a Sears catalogue to have customers select a style, and she would used newspapers to design the outfit and cut out a perfect copy. She had amazing sewing talent with a large clientele having to sometimes work around the clock to couple orders and in addition she made her granddaughter's dresses.

Grandma Alice was also musically talented. She used to play the organ at Big Zion Church and directed the choir. She had a natural ear for music and taught her oldest granddaughters how to harmonize. She was a great cook, she made delicious blackberry cobblers, rice pudding and there was always a cake on the dining table. Anyone visiting her home would not leave without a meal, she made certain of that whether you were hungry or not.

Grandma Alice suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes in her later years. She was a lovable  person who always greeted everyone with a friendly smile. Two week prior to her death, she gave me a long talk about life in general. I left her feeling that conversation with her would be my last, and on January 3, 1963, I received a while attending college that my grandmother had passed away. She died at the age of 73 years old.

Written and Submitted by
Jacqueline James Pendleton-Dukes
1st Granddaugther.

Cora Wheeler Temple

TEMPLE, CORA WHEELER 
New Orleans -- Cora "Mama Cora" Wheeler Temple, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at her home. A native of Amite, she was a child nutritionist for the 
Orleans Parish School System. She was a member of Second Zion Baptist Church No. 1, former member of a prayer band, midweek choir, deaconess 
board, chairperson for the church anniversary committee and the Young Women's League. Survivors include one daughter, Betty Temple Steptoe; two sons, Bobbie Temple and Alvin Temple; two brothers, Oliver Wheeler and 
Joseph Wheeler; 22 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Leathe Wheeler; her husband, Stanley Temple Sr.; her children, Shirley Temple Toney, Stanley Temple Jr., Bertrand, Bernard, Burnell, and Stine Temple; her four sisters, Rosie Thomas, Ruby McGee, Doretha Riley and 
Lucille Holiday; four brothers, Johnny, Fred, Henry and Theodore Wheeler; and one grandchild. Visitation will be Friday from 5 until the a wake service at 7:30 p.m. at Second Zion Baptist Church, 2929 Second St., New 
Orleans. Dismissal will be Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Matthew McCray will conduct the funeral service Saturday at New Spiritual COGIC, Amite, at noon. Burial will be at Temple Cemetery, Amite. D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, New Orleans, is in charge. 

Shirley Lee Cross Temple of Kentwood, LA Served George Washington Carver

Shirley Lee Cross Temple was born September 12, 1912 in Coushatta, Louisiana. She passed away  on January 28, 2005. Her parents Nathaniel James Cross and Josephine Yarborough Cross preceded her in death. She married Collis Benton Temple, Sr., and to their union Shirley Collen, Bernita Elaine, Sandra Janice, Valeria Antoinette, Brenda Joyce and Collis Benton, Jr., were born.

Her early schooling was in Merryville, Louisiana were here dad was the principal. During those years, the last of schooling for African-American students in Louisiana was eleventh grade. Upon completing eleventh grade, she entered Tuskegee Institute, completed the twelfth year of schooling and subsequently completed her B.A.Degree.  She was a member of the Tuskegee 100 Choir, serving as secretary for four years.

Shirley often talked about her choir director, William L. Dawson and the fact that one of the choir's most exciting tours was the performance for President Franklin D. Roosevelt White House and the opening of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Music was part of Shirley's life every day.

Among other experiences, Shirley also described to family and friends the opportunities to serve George Washington Carver she worked in the college dining hall. She also recounted the memorable occasion when she and other Tuskegee students attended programs to hear inspiring lectures from such notable as Mary McLeod Bethune. She was the family griot.

George Washington Carver

She moved with her husband Collis, and two babies, Collen and Elaine to Kentwood in 1942. Kentwood was home for her until 1996. She embraced the residents of Kentwood and the surrounding communities.  She became a member of Oak Grove A.M.E. Church where she continued to sing, play and participate in local, conference and national church activities.

Shirley was a phenomenal woman! Her life was filled with doing for others and sharing with other. Even with having to raise five daughters and a son., she took on many tasks. She could do anything! She would do any job from repairing electrical appliances, to sewing her daughters' clothing from feed sack to canning fruit and vegetables to herding cattle. She was always her husband's help mate-writing papers, typing papers, running a store, teaching school, directing school's choir, serving a guidance counselor and earning a Masters Degree from Atlanta University.

Mary McLeod Bethune

Source: The Funeral Program of Shirley Lee 

Cross Temple. 

As the only African-American and female among a filed of nine candidates for state representative, Shirley was one of the first primary winners. Her opponent was a former educational supervisor. She also represented Louisiana as a delegate to the International Women's Year Conference.

We have many outstanding women and men in Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana who had made great contributions to our Parish, State and Nation. If we do not educate our youth about women and men who fought for the civil rights, education and other human and civil rights in our parishes the, question is who will? What an honor to write blog about an outstanding woman who served our parish and state.

The History of Rocky Hill A.M.E. Church

Rocky Hill A.M.E. Church in St. Helena, Louisiana

On December 29, 1874 at the St. Helena Parish Clerk of Court's office in Greensburg, Louisiana (15) fifteen acres of land was donated to erect a church and a colored school by (1) Rebecca K. Richardson (2) S.D. Richardson (3) K. Richardson (4) J.J. Kemp (5) G.C. Kemp (6) W.B. Kemp (7) John Tate (8) Martha Tate who were represented by W.H. McClendon and Rev. James Reese.

It was accepted by William Woolridge, Richmond Terrill and Madison Prescott. Rev E.D. Singleton started the church with a small group of members which was built by Willie Ginn who was a carpenter. The church was finished by Rev. Thomas Tucker.

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black Sr.
Rocky Hill A.M.E. Church Cornerstone

The following are ministers that also pastored here at Rocky Hill A.M.E Church:

Rev, S. J. Fisher, Rev L. Luchen, Rev. L.R. Fisher, Rev J.K. Washington, Rev. W.W. Hunt, Rev. Coleman, Rev H.A. Belin, Sr., Rev. J. K. Holiday, Sr., Rev Cecelia M. Brown, Rev. H.B. Davis, Rev. Ray Jackson, Rev. Nelson Dan Taylor, Rev. Robert Huntley, Rev. Ranches Hall, and Rev. S. G.R. Tickles, who did extensive remodeling on the church such as painting, installing windows, doors, and gave the first lights for the church. He also built on parsonage.

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.
Thomas Richardson Headstone
Rocky Hill Cemetery

My maternal great-great grandparents Thomas and Amanda Breland Richardson and other family members are buried in Rocky Hill Church Cemetery in St. Helena Parish.  My great-great grandfather Thomas Richardson was born in slavery in 1853 in St. Helena Parish. His wife Amanda Breland Richardson was born one year in slavery in 1862 in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. There are other Richardson's buried around the graves of Thomas and Amanda. At this time I have no idea who they are.

Mass School Reunion of St. Helena Parish Training School 1946-1952

Class of 1947

James Rynold Cook, Lula Louise Dunn, Roberstine Martin, Laura Dean Woolridge, John Albert Corbett, Bernice Johnson, Ermy Trude Amita Overton, Ada Mae Williams

Class of 1948

Lela Mae Bell, Elmera Butler, Berth Hazel Green, Helen Lee, Bessie Lewis, James Matthews, 

Yvonne Delores Sutton, Ruth Burton, Rosa Lee Dixon, Johnnie Jackson, Alice Iona Johnson,

Ora Lee McClendon, Levell Steptoe, Elevelyn Wright

Class of 1949

NO CLASS

Class of 1950

Marjorie Carter, Hynethia Jones, Lenrod Jones, James Douglas, Katy C. Bryant, Clara Bell Lee, 

Ruth Melton, Charle Overton, Emmitt Muse, Bessie Womack, Martha Dunn, Evelyn Sheridan,

Helen Wright, Leola Wright, Rena Mae Gordon, Conella Jones, Leroy Gordon, Edward E. Lee,

Lucille Lee, Alice Mae Mason, Catherine Miller, Lucille Overton, Wilie Redden, Jr., Thelma Watson,

Dorothy Stewart, Evirda Womack, Beatric Wright, Mildred Sutton

Class of 1951

Lawrence Woolridge, Dorothy Higgibbothham, Phyllis Bell, Ida Lubertha Matthews, Priscilla Pope, Bertha Overton, Iola Hitchens, Yvonne Chaney, Bessie Rae May, Ora Lee Spears, Shirley Stewart,

Dillion Yancy, Gladis Odeal Steptoe, Flora Cook Matthews, Jahazel Johnson, J.S. Hitchens, James Higginbotham, Mildred Glaspy, Lylie Bell Johnson, Joseph Coleman, Ella Mae Jackson, Creola Turner, Lena Mae Vining, Jessie Mae Johnson, Joseph Wicker, Claudia Williams, Ella Mae Myles, 

Margaret Woolridge, Peggy Torrence, Roosevelt Steptoe, Isiah Powell, Corlean Bennett

Class of 1952

Hazel Dunn, Mandy Crosby, Walter Johnson, Thelma Coleman, Ester Cook, Emmitt Tillery, Joseph Coleman, Eural Clark, Viola Porter, Ruthe Torrence, Earline Lee, Helen Powell, Gustavia Millery, Catherine Bell, Velma Hurst, Georgia Wright, Clarence Branch, Johnnie Higginsbotham, Rebecca Johnson, Wilmeta Butler, Joseph Overton, William Baker, Audrey Bell Lee, Ivy Tillery, 

Beatrice Knighten, Bettie Torrence, Ethel Self, Mary Turner

Class of 1953
Eugene Baker, Kattie Mae Banks, Elnora Banks, Ella Rose Banks, Same E. Bank,  Velma Banks, David Beans, Deysie Beans, Primrose Bennett, Velma Ceola Brown, Thelma Lee Campbell,
Sidney Cook, Jr., Mildred Crier, Ernest Dixion, Leon Donald, Fred Douglas, Jr., Samuel East,
Ollie Bell Freeman, Clarence George, Mary Leise Gordon, Ralph Higginbotham, Alcee Hurst,
Fred Hurst, Jr., Lillie Mae Irvin, Charles Jackson, Leola Jackson, Irene Johnson, Helen Kendrick,
Elgine Lewis, Helen Pikes, Levora Pope, Joseph Howard Pope, John Redden, Jr., Susianna Robertson,
Naomi A Seals, Vern Lea Sims, Ebbie Stewart, Jr., Shirley Stewart, Dan Thompson,
Thelma Lee Vining,  Dora Lee Wicker, Leroy Huey Wicker, Warren Wicker, Clara Mae Woolridge,
Bernice Edna Womack, Green Womack, Jr.

Tony Bush and His Heirs of Amite, Louisiana

I was cleaning out files as usual for the repository and I came across so many pictures and other documents that I had forgotten about on the Bush family history. My maternal great- grandmother Emma Mead Harrell was the step daughter of Tony Bush. Emma was a mulatto woman who was born in 1864 in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana. I often wondered how she and my great- grandfather Alexander Harrell met. Her parents were John and Emily Mead.

I found a "Warranty Deed" dated December 6, 1923 in book 99 page 290 of the clerk records. Tony Bush of lawful age, married twice first to Mamie Temple, who was deceased, secondly to Pearly Clark who was living the time. His children Alice Bush married twice first to John Dorman, who was dead, second to Amos Perry who was also dead, Hannah Leonard married to Arthur Leonard, who was living, Emma Harrell married to Alex Harrell, who was deceased. All of them were residents of the Parish of Tangipahoa, and Peter S. Bush of lawful age, married twice first to Ida Butler, divorced second to Olevia Hicks who is living and residing, a resident of the City of New Orleans.

A certain tract of land known as the homestead place of our mother Emily Bush, deceased in the town of Amite City, Louisiana and is full described in the survey made by T.A. Tycer, Parish Surveyor of copy of which is hereto attached and made part of this deed, and thy take and accept as follow, to-wit.

Warranty Deed by Tony Bush, 1923

Heirs of Tony Bush: 

Tony Bush, Lot Five (5) as shown on said plat of survey
Alice Bush, Lot one (1) as shown on said plat of survey
Maggie Perry, Lot (3) as shown on said plat of survey
Hannah Leonard, Lot (4) as shown on said plat of survey
Emma Harrell, Lot (6) as shown on said plat of survey
Peter S. Bush, Lot (2) as shown on said plat of survey

My Great Grandmother Emma Mead Harrell Owned Land

Kneeling down: Antoinette, Thomas, Michael and Reginald
Standing: Right to Left-Palmer Harrell, Bertha Harrell,

Photo: Standing from left to right-Palmer Harrell his sister Bertha Harrell, his niece Gertrude Love, standing behind Gertrude is  Jasper Harrell, Jr., and his wife Primrose Bennett Harrell. 

My brothers and I enjoyed growing up in Amite, Louisiana. We played all day on Emma Mead Harrell's twenty acres of land in 1896 and 1902, which she purchased for herself and all her heirs. My maternal grandfather Jasper Harrell, Sr., was the youngest of his siblings. It was decided by my grandfather that he would raise his family right there on the land. Often, my mother told me, he would walk the land thinking and meditating. 

A blacktopped road divided the land, so he decided to build his house across the road from his mother's.All kinds of fruit trees grew on the land, including fig trees, peach trees, lemon trees, pecan trees, walnut trees, plum trees and pear trees. On those hot summer days, Reginald, Thomas, and Michael and I would walk across the road to pick plums and peaches. The fresh plums and peaches were just a special treat. Whenever we got thirsty, we would pump out some of the most delicious water from the old water pump. We also had access to a water spring that provided cold water to cool us off. There was red clay dirt where we lived, and we used to play in the dirt until it stained our clothes. We would pretend to be mountain climbers. Our patience was put to the test as we waited patiently for the slow-moving beat-up green truck of my great Uncle Palmer to arrive. Finally, our uncle "Palmer" arrived and we walked with him across the street. We would help him pick the beans and other vegetables he planted.

We enjoyed his company and he enjoyed our company as well. With our help, he filled the hampers to the brim with snap beans, butter beans, purple hub peas, cucumbers, and squash. We always came home with fresh produce for our mother to cook for dinner, both white and yellow. We all enjoyed his company and he enjoyed our company as well. With our help, he filled the hampers to the brims with snap beans, butter beans, purple hub peas, cucumbers, and squash. We always came home with fresh produce for our mother to cook for dinner, both white and yellow.

When you know what the land has provided for you, you have a special attachment to it. Having learned the history of the land and how hard my great grandmother Emma Mead Harrell worked to buy it for her heirs, it is very difficult for me to stand by and allow someone to misuse it.

The Land 

by Antoinette Harrell

The land gave me food to eat

The land provided wood to make a fire to keep me warm

The land gave me water to drink when I was thirsty

The land provided a shelter for my family and I

This Black Gold 

Provided and Income

This Black Gold

Can't be Sold

This Black Gold

Have many stories that remains to be told

117 Years Later

The Black Gold still remains in the Harrell Family

Thank you Grandma Emma

Crop Lien System

The crop lien system is a credit system that became widely used in the United States in the South from the 1860s to the 1950s. Sharecroppers and tenant farmers who didn't own the land they worked to obtain supplies and food on credit from the local merchants. At one point my great uncle Palmer borrowed against his crops. Many farmers both black and white loss their land by these crop liens.

St. Helena Parish Training School Mass Reunion 1934-1988

Photo courtesy of Dwayne Cook

This is part of history that require more research from records kept in the Louisiana State Department of Education, research papers at area universities and churches in Tangipahoa Parish, especially Kentwood, where many earlier St. Helena scholars received their high school education. Education was also received in homes, churches and schools that were built by people within certain Black neighborhoods, to provide schooling in grades 1-6 or 1-8. This was done because in St. Helena Parish, there was no high school facility for African (Blacks, Negroes, Colored, Slaves, etc.) At the same time, formal state/parish supported education was only available for European Americans ( Whites, Cajuns, and Slave Owners, etc.)

Julius Rosenwarld -(1862-1932) became interested in the welfare of Negroes established the Julius Rosenwald Fund, which had to be spent within 25 years of his death to better condition for Negroes through education. More than 5,000 schools for Negroes in 15 southern states( including Louisiana and especially St. Helena Parish).  He became known as the father  of the Negro Parish Training School, a school for Negroes, located in a Negro community, usually a mile or two from a town.

1947 was the first year the parish sponsored school bus transportation was for available for Blacks. The first drivers were Alva Campbell, Willie Overton, Taylor Miller, Foster Hall and Florence Henry

Therefore  Dr. Alfred Steward, Dr. Elmira Bulter, and Dr. Eunice A. Paddio-Johnson extend thanks to Dr. Willie Gene Johnson, librarians, clerk of court and the many former students of the St. Helena Parish School System for their help.  The land was the first high school was located was once owned by Isaac B. Gordon, who was born a slave.

I would like to thank the board for putting the reunion class book together for the years of 1934-1988 for the following schools: Crossroad, St. Helena Parish Training School, Helena High, St. Helena High. Also I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Bernice Alexander Bennett for giving me a copy and Mrs. Delia  Garrison for providing the book.

Class of 1934

Mable, Wicker

Class of 1939

Samuel Burton, Evelyn Gordon, Percy Hall, Blanch Hampton, Thelma Hampton, Mildred Jackson,

Iona Jones, Ola Montgomery, Alenia Nutter, J.D. Morris, Lille Mae Robinson, Gloria Stewart, 

Lester Yancy

Class of 1940

John Allen Chaney, Charles Hall, Sherman Gordon, Rebecca Tucker, Morgan Andrew

Class of 1941

Susie Bell, Clara Douglas, Leola Hall, Lillie Mae Jackson, Louise Muse, Joseph Rudison, 

James Bradford, Henry Gordon, Beatric Jackson, Mary Etta Melton, Mittie Muse, Mary Elsie Sutton,
Ollie Tillery

Class of 1942

Anna Donald, Louise Gordon, Gladys Gordon, Moran Jones, Charles Matthews, Emmitt Matthews, Matthew McKines.

Class of 1943

Ora Lee Henry, Willie Ramsey, Lottie Mae Huff, Willie Rudison

Class of 1944

Estelle Bell, Allen Wilson Jones, Ida Lee Gordon, Ida Bell Kendrick, Willie Mae Sutton

Class of 1945

Pearly Bennett, Rebecca Jackson, Shirley Hampton, Celistine Wicker, Dorothy Denna Douglass, 

Mildred Jackson, Lille Mae Muse, Imogene Williams

Class of 1946

Mayola Dixon, Bernice Johnson, Vera Vastee Matthews, Almer Rether Gordon, Clyde Yancy,

James McCray, Sophie Evely Martin, Alma Augustine Montogomery, Irene Burton

Nurturing Our Root and African Roots Television Programs

Producer and Host Antoinette Harrell is pleased to announce beginning November 2013 Nurturing Our Roots and African Roots Television Programs will be featured on Access Producer Network (APN). You will be able to watch full episodes of both talk shows. The award winning host has interviewed an array of family historian and genealogists ranging from Leonard Smith III,  LS3 Studios, LLC an award winning multimedia production company that offers a variety of services that include images and audio editing, Bernice Alexander Bennett Blog Talk Radio host of "Research at the National Archives and Beyond." Antoinette's show " Nurturing Our Roots Talk Show" has been featured on Nightline News and in many other media publications

She has engaged in conversations and discussions with many authors and other people who has travel and lived in Africa or people who are just conducting genealogy research. She is grateful and very appreciate for the professional services of NOA-TV for helping her to bring her television shows online.

African Roots with host Antoinette Harrell

Nurturing Our Roots with host Antoinette Harrell

Preserving African American Cemeteries

When my brothers and I were children, my mother use to take us to "Big Zion Cemetery" in Roseland, Louisiana to help her clean up the graves of her parents Jasper Harrell, Sr., and Josephine Richardson Harrell. We would cut grass and pull the wild weeds from around their graves and place fresh flowers.

Walter C. Black, Sr., for the Harrell Family

She said the headstones that were on the graves of my great-grandfather Alexander Harrell and his father Robert Harrell were made by her father Jasper Harrell, Sr., She said that she was a little girl when her father made the headstones for all of his deceased sisters, brothers and parents.

After he poured the cement to form the headstones, he told my mother not to move them until they were hard. Although my grandfather couldn't afford to purchase headstones for his deceased loved ones, he made them.  When I started conducting genealogy research on the Harrell side of my family, I had to visit several cemeteries in Amite, Louisiana and St. Helena Parish, Louisiana.

Palmer Harrell headstone made by Walter C. Black, Sr.

   I can recall the days when people took pride in maintaining the cemeteries of their deceased loved ones. Today you can find overgrown grass, abandoned, neglected cemeteries, and sunken grave pits. Ten years old my youngest son Bernard and one of my friend recorded nine African American Cemeteries in St. Helena and Tangipahoa Parishes, they are online for anyone who are researching their family history.  We found many cemeteries that need a lot of tender loving care.

Manilla McCoy Harrell headstone 

Our cemeteries hold precious memories of people we love dearly. Many cemeteries are located behind the church and some are private family cemeteries. I would like to thank my friend and colleague Walter C. Black, Sr., for making headstones for headstones for my deceased loved ones.I would like to dedicate this blog to the late Min. Kojo Livingston who wrote about these abandoned cemeteries. http://www.louisianaweekly.com/foundation-digs-up-buried-history/

 Why Are Cemeteries Abandoned?

1. Abandoned because the family has moved    
    away or "died off."
2. No budget to maintain the cemetery.
3. Un-concerned family members.
4. Ownership can't be determined by county
    or parish assessor.

Please help maintain your family cemetery. You can volunteer to cut the grass, white wash graves, replace falling headstones, and pickup any debris that is on the ground.

http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/tangipahoa/cemeterya.htm

http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/tangipahoa/cemeteries/bigzion.txt

http://www.blackcemeteries.com/

Robert " Free Bob" Vernon of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana

When I started researching my own family history in Tangipahoa, I met other people who also had a unique family history in Tangipahoa Parish. One of the people that caught my attention was a man named Robert “Free Bob” Vernon. Three of his great, great granddaughters: Glyniss Vernon Gordon, Jackie Dukes and Ferry Hannibal, shared knowledge of their rich and unique Vernon family history with me.

Robert "Free Bob" Vernon

Robert was born in 1832 in Rankin County, Mississippi as a slave. He died July of 1915 in Tangipahoa Parish. He was the father of seventeen children: Willie, Riley, Georgia, Lula, Jim, Nancy, Isaac, John, Florence, Emma, Guy, Sam, Owen, Toby Stamp, Anna, Lettie, and Robert Vernon, III.

He watched as his first wife and sons were sold off as slaves on a plantation in Mississippi. Robert worked hard to purchase his freedom. He later moved to Louisiana where his father Robert Vernon lived. He built a cabin on one hundred and sixty acres; his father told him that if he worked hard to cultivate the land for five years, he could become the owner of the land. Robert took the challenges on and began working hard on two plots of land.

Robert got word from someone that his first wife who was sold away in slavery had died and   their two young sons were alone in Mississippi. Robert did what any concerned and devoted father would have done, he made his way to Mississippi to get his two sons to bring them back to Louisiana  to live with him and his new family. After returning back from Mississippi, Robert began growing and cultivating cotton. He enlarged his land holding by purchasing more land at just four dollars an acre. He soon accumulated a total of twenty-three hundred acres of land. He donated four acres of land to centralize a church for the colored folks in the community. The old log cabin on the land was converted to a church on Big Creek. The church, organized in 1869, was named Mount Canaan.

Free Bob's descendant conducting genealogy
research at the Amite Genealogy Library

He joined church and became an energetic and dedicated worker for his church and community. Although he couldn’t read or write, making only his “X” he possessed the God given wisdom, which he used wisely to provide for his family, the church, and community. Robert had a great love for books. He had his own personal book collection.

He gave each of his children one hundred acres of land as they married and established their own homes. This area became know as Vernon Town. Many of his descendants are still living in Vernon to this day. What an legacy left to his descendants?

 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/antoinette-harrell/2012/01/16/free-bob-from-slavery-to-free-in-        tangipahoa-parish-la

The History and Legacy of Joshua O. Williams, Sr.

Mr. Joshua O. Williams, Sr. was a native a Wilmer, a. He was a former teacher and retired principal of Burgher Elementary and later high school in Independence, La. He was first black person elected to the Amite City Council and also served on the Sewerage and Water Board.

The History and Legacy of Monore Perry, Sr.

Monore Perry, Sr. 

Monore was born on September 9, 1895, to the late Mr and Mrs. Grafton Perry in St. Helena Parish. He was a man with very little formal education, but had an obsession of making sure that his eight children got the best education possible. He was the father of six girls and two boys.

Because of his concern for his children's future, he was successful at helping each of them graduate from high school. Five of his children completed college what a bachelor's degree or above. Two of his children completed trade school.

James Baker was taught how to make
syrup by Monore Perry, Sr.

He managed this fete by working a forty acre farm with mules and antiquated tools. In modern day terms he would have been considered a small truck farmer. He grew strawberries, corn, black valentine beans, peas, cotton, cucumbers, squash, and other vegetables for shipping and sale at the local markets  in  the  area. During the off season he made sugarcane syrup at Battles' Syrup Mill on Bennett Road, for the local farmers. Monore's philosophy was that a person can do anything that he or she wants to do, if they dedicate themselves to doing it. He also instilled in his children that any job that is worth doing, is worth doing the best that you can to do it well.

Source: History Album of Mrs. Grace Walker Perry

Notes: Album can be found in the genealogy section of the Amite Branch Library

Legal Rights to Heirship Property

Emma Mead Harrell and her daughter

Between 1892 and 1902, my maternal great grandmother Emma Mead Harrell acquired 20 acres of land. After purchasing eleven acres, she purchased nine more several years later. Growing up, I remember the old homestead on the hill across the road. Like my grandfather, who lived on the land, I have an attachment to it as it provided for my family and me. .

No one family member had the authority to keep an heir off the property and take possession of it, as this property belonged to all Emma Mead Harrell's heirs. I can't understand why anyone in the family would try and stop heirs from accessing the property. The law prohibits locking the gate to keep other heirs out.  

The Emma Mead Harrell Estate

A number of family members asked me several years ago to help divide up the heir property. I wasn't prepared for the uphill battle I would face from some family members. To make this land available to her children and grandchildren, my maternal great grandmother worked her fingers to the bone. I am heartbroken to see what is happening right now. Emma's descendants do not live on the land, and the property shouldn't be rented. 

Currently, the land needs to be cleared and divided equally, so if any Harrell descendants are interested in helping to settle this estate, please contact me. It is not a land that only belongs to one person and their family, but to all descendants of that person.  An attorney should be consulted by the Harrell offspring to settle the dispute of the land being rented out.  

The terms heirs, next of kin, and distributees usually refer to the persons who by operation of law—the application of the established rules of law—inherit or succeed to the property of a person intestate on his or her death. Statutes generally confer rights of inheritance only on blood relatives, adopted children, adoptive parents, and the surviving spouse. Line of descent is the order or series of persons who have descended one from the other or all from a common ancestor, placed in a line in the order of their birth showing the connection of all blood relatives. The direct line of descent involves persons who are directly descended from the same ancestor, such as father and son, or grandfather and grandson. Whether an adopted child can be regarded as in the direct line of descent depends upon the law in the particular jurisdiction. The collateral line of descent involves persons who are descended from a common ancestor, such as brothers who share the same father or cousins who have the same grandfather. Title by descent differs from title by purchase because descent involves the operation of law, while purchase involves the act or agreement of the parties. Usually direct descendants have first preference in the order of succession, followed by ascendants (persons in the collateral line of ascent), and finally, collateral heirs. Each generation is called a degree in determining the consanguinity, or blood relationship, of one or more persons to an intestate. Where the next of kin of the intestate who are entitled to share in the estate are in equal degree to the deceased, such as children, they share equally in the estatehttp://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Rights+and+Liabilities+of+Heirs

The heirs are as followed: Shelton Harrell, Sr., Edgar Harrell, Jasper Harrell, Sr., Bertha Harrell, Theodore Harrell, Palmer Harrell, Henry Harrell, Warner Harrell, Ella Harrell, Alec Harrell and Arthur Harrell and all of their offsprings.

I can be reached at 504.858.4658.

http://www.appleseednetwork.org/wp-

content/uploads/2012/05/Protect-Your-Property.pdf

October is Family History Month

Leonard Smith III

Did you know October is Family History Month? Several states and cities have designated this month Family History Month. U.S. Senate has adopted similar resolutions in the past. It is estimated that there are over 80 million people researching their family histories. If kicked off Family History Month by donating my Harrell, Gordon, Vining, and Richardson Family History collection to the Amistad Research Center.

Nurturing Our Roots Television and Radio Talk Shows would like to recognize the author of the book entitled " A Beginner's Guide to Searching Family History" Leonard Smith lll. Leonard is the owner and president of LS3studios-an award winning multimedia production company. LS3 Studios offers a variety of services that include images and audio editing, production of broadcast quality video and multimedia presentation, custom photography and web development. For more information about LS3 Studios please visit http://www.LS3studios.com

LS3 Studios won two AVA award on March 13, 2013 in New York, NY There were 2,000 entries from throughout the United States, Canada and several other countries in the 2013 competition. Narrative Network and LS3 Studios were winners of the AVA Digital-Gold Award, for co-producing documentary trailer " From Shanghi to Harlem." in the category of Creativity Video and Production Editing.

New Orleans Musuem of Art(NOMA) presented a screening of LS3 Studio's " A Legend in the Classroom: The Life Story of Ms. Yvonne Busch, born in New Orleans in 1929 and raised in the historic Treme section of the city. Ms. Busch who mastered several brass instruments and wood chimes, became a touring professional by the age of 12, crisscrossing the United States as a member of the critically acclaimed "International Sweethearts of Rhythm" and the "Swinging Rays of Rhythm," two all female bands sponsored by the Piney Woods Country Life School, an African-American boarding school located in Piney Woods, Mississippi.

A Beginner's Guide to Searching Family History is a common-sense approach to you researching your genealogy. I share with the reader the benefit of the many years I have spent interviewing relatives, digging through courthouse records, traveling to historic sites, searching websites, and rediscovering the stories of those who came before us. I reaffirm the value of oral histories while also cautioning the reader to listen for contradictory narratives.

Get your copy today at http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Searching-Family-History/dp/1479144851

Leonard Smith III will be a guest on Nurturing Our Roots Blog Talk Radio Show with host Antoinette Harrell on Tuesday, October 15,  at 8:00 p.m. CST. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/antoinette-harrell

Harrell Family Papers Donated to the Amistad Research Center

Harrell donating family files: Photo Credit-Walter C. Black,Sr.

The Amistad Research Center is the nation's oldest, largest and most comprehensive independent archive specializing in the history of African Americans and other Ethnic Minorites. It was in the year of 2001 that I made the decision to donate my family papers to the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, LA.

For the past two weeks I've been very busy preparing additional files to be donated for preservation. I getting stress how tedious that work is. I worked long hours organizing the files and going through every single sheet of paper, pictures and books. I have a long way to go yet

Harrell-Miller, Antoinette Family papers, 2000-2001 | Amistad Research Center

Scope and Contents: Antoinette Harrell-Miller of Amite, Louisiana, is a prolific activist who created a grassroots organization called Citizens for Change. Her papers consist of her book, You are My Shadow Gone But Not Forgotten: TheHarrell Family History with news clippings and family memorabilia that may have been used for her genealogical research and her book. The collection also contains photographs, leaflets, correspondence to local and state officials, and VHS videotapes.

Harrell-Miller, Antoinette Family papers 2004 addendum, 1939-2002 | Amistad Research Center

This addendum to the Harrell-Miller Family papers contains ledgers for the Petty AME Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, funeral books, and school books. The school books include a 1939 McDonogh High School autograph book and a 1976 St. Augustine High School yearbook. The church ledgers contain board and parishioner contact information, as well as financial records. The funeral books are for Isaac Stewart (1923-2002) and Michael Stewart (1958-1991).

Harrell-Miller, Antoinette Family papers 2005 addendum, 1925-2005 | Amistad Research Center

Scope and Contents: This addition to the Antoinette Harrell-Miller Family papers documents members of the Harrell and Stewart families of New Orleans. Prominent names include: Isaac Stewart, Juanita Stewart, Michael Stewart, Clarence Harrell, Minnie Harrell, and Edgar Harrell. Also included is documentation of Antoinette Harrell's activism on topics from affordable energy to reparation lawsuits, her work on African American genealogy, and information on Petty A.M.E. Church.  The collection contains correspondence; military, school, financial, voter registration, and property records; photographs; programs; flyers; news clippings, and other documents.

Harrell-Miller, Antoinette Family papers 2012 addendum, 1910-2011 | Amistad Research Center

This addition to the Antoinette Harrell-Miller Family papers documents members of the Harrell and Stewart families of New Orleans. Prominent names include: Isaac Stewart, Juanita Stewart, Michael Stewart, Clarence Harrell, Minnie Harrell, and Edgar Harrell. Also included is documentation of Antoinette Harrell's activism on topics from affordable energy to reparation lawsuits, her work on African American genealogy, and information on Petty A.M.E. Church and Fluker A.M.E. Church, both in Louisiana.  Of note are materials related to peonage cases in the South from the 1920s-1960s, information regarding Ballground Plantation (Mississippi) and Algodon Plantation (Madison Parish, LA), images of the Lawson family of Amite, Louisiana, and of Choctaw decent, and a 1910 letter regarding fundraising for the World’s Panama Exposition Company in Louisiana
The collection contains correspondence; military, school, financial, voter registration, and property records; photographs; programs; flyers; news clippings, and other documents.


                                       http://www.amistadresearchcenter.org/

The Obsequies of Church Mother Rosabell Moore

Rosabell Richardson Moore was born to Thomas Richardson and Emma Vining Richardson on October 3, 1907. As her life flowered and bloomed married to Mr. Eddie Jackson, Sr., and to this union was born one son Rev. Eddie Jackson. She later married Alvin Moore.

Mother Moore, as she was fondly called was converted and baptized at the age of 12 by the late Bishop S. Lazard. Her church life was the continuous mainstay of her life and she became a member of Gordon Church of God in Christ pastored by Rev. E.C. Pounds.

From there she served in Amite Church of God in Christ pastored by Elder. W. K. Gordon, Sr., After moving to New Orleans she faithfully worked as a dedicated member with Elder. H. M. Evans, pastor of the St. Phillip Church of God in Christ until her son was ordained as minister and became pastor. With love, she then united in fellowship with "The Whole Truth Church of God in Christ" New Orleans, La., with her son as her pastor. She served as Church Mother and  President of the Bible Band. Her examples of the fruits of the Spirit; love, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith and meekness will endear for ever to all those who were blessed to come in contact with her.

To mourn her departure she leaves her husband, Mr. Alvin Moore, a son Rev. Eddie Jackson, Sr., and his wife Mrs. Cason Jackson,  two sisters: Missionary Alma Gordon and Mrs. Viola Payne of Amite, LA; three brothers: Rev. Alex Richardson, Sr., and Mr. Ed Williams, Amite, LA, Mr. Johnnie Williams of Oakland, Californi; two aunts, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends of the family.

All information was pulled from her funeral program.

Harrell Preparing to Donate Family Files to a Repository

Antoinette Harrell preparing files for repository
Photo credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Genealogists and family historians spend a lot of time collecting photographs, family papers, letters, audible and videos recordings for our family history collections. I spent two decades collecting and it seems like I am going to spend at least ten years preparing the collections for repositories. I made my first repository to the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, La., years ago. Last year I made a repository to the Southeastern Louisiana University " Center For Southeast Louisiana Studies" that collection is named the "Antoinette Harrell Tangipahoa and St. Helena African American History Collection." The collection at the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans is named "Harrell-Miller, Antoinette Family Papers." I am scheduled to meet with an archivist at the Louisiana State Library this coming Thursday to discuss donating files to the library.

For the past two weeks once again I've been preparing files to be archived. I've been through boxes of photographs, letters, personal and professional letters, funeral programs, brochures, flyers, and videos. I promised myself I will never again collect this much material. Between an early morning cup of coffee and back to work again until late evening with a glass of wine or a cup of hot peppermint tea with a twist of lemon to relax me and help me to get through the rest of the day's work.

Antoinette in the middle of her picture collection

Reassuring myself that the end will come and  this is the legacy that I want to leave my children, grandchildren and those yet unborn. Sitting in the middle of the floor looking at old pictures and reflecting on the moments, events and people in the pictures. Some of people who were a part of our lives or loved ones have long or recently passed away. Leaving only memories behind of their life and presence that they shared with us.

I am assuring this history and genealogical heritage collection will be a part of our community's collective memory for time to come. Some of my friends who were genealogist passed away and I often wonder what happened to their collection?  Just recently my friend Kojo Livingston, a contributing writer for the Louisiana Weekly and Shreveport Sun Newspapers passed away. I know he had years of articles he wrote for the two newspapers in his collection. I hope that some of his writing will be archived by the family.

After a hard week of going to through boxes, photo albums, newspapers, brochures, funeral programs, etc., I am saying, "calgon take me away" so that I can relax.  We can learn from other people who have prepared and preserve their collections and other who passed way and left the collections to children, grandchildren and other family members who may not know what to do with it.

I didn't want to leave this burden on my children. Besides the collection may not mean to them what it means to me. I know that one day they will look back and appreciate what I left for them. Their grandchildren can visit the archives and universities to see the collection that their great grandmother left for them.

If your family history has genealogical connections Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes, Louisiana and you would like to talk with me about your family history collection please contact me at: 504.858.4658 or email me at afrigenah@yahoo.com

Please click on the links below for more information about the collections.

 http://www.amistadresearchcenter.org/archon/?p=accessions/accession&id=1089

 http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs104/1101492877409/archive/1112502271984.html

https://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/csls/historical_collections/archival_collections/h   _k/harrell_collection.html

http://tangilena.com/view/full_story/22626248/article-NURTURING-OUR-ROOTS--As-you-gather-family-collections--consider-donating-to-Tangi-Library-or-SE-Louisiana-Studies-Center?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

https://www.facebook.com/PreservingOurHistoryinTangiandStHelenaParishes

Teaching Grandchildren Their Family History

Baking Time Together

As a family historian I get the opportunity to teach my grandchildren their family history and build family traditions of our own. Every month we set aside one Sunday for "Big Mama" dinner. The grandchildren come over and spend the weekend, we cook together, look at family photographs, take in a movie and sometimes we visit the local library. There are so many things that you can do to help build a stronger bond with your grandchildren through genealogy

I wanted to give my grandchildren a gift, the gift of knowledge of their paternal lineage. I was inspired to write and publish  a genealogy coloring & activities book for children making my grandchildren the characters in the book. Every child would like to see themselves in a book. In the coloring and activity book the children travel with their grandmother to the genealogy library, the state archives, family cemetery and the local museum. They get to go on a treasure hunt looking for family treasures, photograph and family heirlooms. This is a great way to spend time teaching them about their family history.

Genealogy For Kid Tips

• Help them to Record Names of their Family Members
• Create A Group Sheet
• Create a Pedigree of Family Tree Charts
• Draw a Family Tree
• Have them to write Family History Questions   

It is never to early to start teaching your grandchildren about their family history. Almost every grandparent starts with family photographs. Often time we share family stories with our grandchildren and they enjoy listening. We should always find a way to teach our grandchildren about our loved one who are no longer with us.

Teaching your grandchildren about their family history is so important. If your family own land, it would be nice to take your grandchildren for a walk on the land where their ancestors once lived. Teach them about the person who purchased the land or property. If we recognize and honor the family member or ancestors who purchased the land so will our grandchildren.

I've written about the land my maternal great-great grandfather Robert and his son my great-grandfather Alexander Harrell purchased in 1888 for 50 cent an acre. I am very proud of my ancestors and I want my grandchildren to know the history of their ancestors.

Reading time with grandchildren

I can't explain the joy I felt publishing a genealogy coloring and activity book for children.  My grandchildren are paying close attention because they see themselves in the book. This is one way that we can make history come alive for our grandchildren. Have your grandchildren or child to draw pictures of the family and write little notes and turning them into a book. These books would make great presents to give to their parents for keepsakes. There are many companies you can choose from to have your grandchildren books printed.

Connor and Chase Map Reading

I know we are living in the age of increasing technology, iPads, CPS, and other hand held devices. I find that teaching my grandchildren how to read maps is very important. Map reading is an important skill that your grandchildren will enjoy. Ok! Here is a where I added a little fun an excitement. I told my grandchildren "Big Foot" was found in China so they are looking at the map to see how many states and what oceans he had to cross. Well, if that what it took to get them to read the map it worked.

When we are traveling out of state, we always stop at the rest area and get a map so they can read. Learning how to read a map can help improve their reading, science and math skills.

Nothing like a kiss for a grandchild
Carter

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Family_History_Activities_for_Children:_3-11

http://tangilena.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Nurturing+Our+Roots-

++Genealogy+for+Children%20&id=19893777&instance=secondary_stories_left_column

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4809828