History of Black Women/Cameron Women and Hats

My mother Ruby Cameron-Coleman Loves her hats, she is on her way to Church

about 2006

Who knew that a Bible commandment could come in so many colors? When the Apostle Paul declared that women must cover their heads during worship (1 Corinthians 11:15), African American women took his decree, attached feathers and bows to it, and turned it into something beautiful.

My aunt Ruth Cameron Turner with her grandson Marcus

About 1990

For many African-American women, looking your best from head to toe is important when going to church, and the hat is one of the most crucial features. The act of covering your head during worship has its roots in scripture. Since, it has become a tradition for many women who want to show respect to God while adding some pizzaz to their presence.

My aunt Ruth Cameron-Turner on the right greeting then senator Barack Obama

in 2008 when he gave a speech to her church congregation

It is imperative for many African-American women to look their grandest when going before God. Today, it is most often the older women who dress elaborately on Sunday mornings.

My mother without the Hat and her youngest sister

Annie Bell Cameron-Washington at funeral service

for their sister Ruth Cameron-Turner

For many of these women and their ancestors, dressing up for church was one of the few opportunities they had to remove domestic aprons and house dresses. These drab garments were replaced by bright colors, fancy shoes and elaborate hats that would stand out in a crowd. Style and sophistication would rule the day.

My mother and her sister Ruth Cameron-Turner in 1999

The Coleman’s Christmas Story

Coleman Women

Sister Ruby, Ruthie Lynn, Mom and Me Lela

I was born in Winnsboro Louisiana in 1954; my parent Ed Coleman and Ruby Cameron Coleman had ten children.  

My father was a Sharecropper. Webster’s defines sharecropping as “A tenant farmer who is provided with credit for seed, tools, living quarters, and food, who works the land, and who receives an agreed share of the value of the crop minus charges”. My father worked in the fields from dawn to dust, with my older siblings helping him after school and during school break. The plantation owner would never pay him correctly for all his hard work and he knew if he made waves he would run the risk of not getting paid at all.

We were very poor, so poor that during the Holiday Season my parents could not afford to buy gifts for ten children. Living on a farm had its advantages; my mother had a big garden and grew all the greens, sweet potatoes, onions, etc. We also had chickens and hogs.

The night before Christmas my mother and all the children would read the Bible Christmas story in Luke the 2^nd chapter of how Jesus was born.

On Christmas Day our gifts were Apples, Oranges, Nuts and Peppermint Candy, we all look forward to these tasty delights each year. Christmas afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by my mother.

Although I did not receive gifts, I always felt loved which is the greatest gift of all.

The true meaning of Christmas is love. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of this incredible act of love.

Barriers to African American Family Research

Learning about your family origins is a wonderful journey. But, for black families with Southern States slave ancestry, there are many stumbling blocks that enter into genealogy research. African American genealogy research for Southern families goes well back to 1870. But, earlier than 1870, the research becomes really hard for most amateur researchers. This can be very frustrating and  places barriers on learning who our true relatives are.

Thanks to technology and oral history researching has become much easier.

Edgar Washington

B. 1892 Franklin County Mississippi

As a child in Winnsboro Louisiana I had heard of Edgar Washington, he and his wife Myrtis O'Steen Washington lived next door to my mother's sister Annie Bell Cameron Washington, who was married to Edgar and Myrtis's youngest son Louis Washington. I always thought of Edgar and Myrtis as in-laws and of no real relation.
Researching family history beginning in the 90's has allowed me to learn many things about my family and family I did not know I had. I have learned that Edgar is the brother of my Grandfather Henry Coleman Mother Florence Washington Coleman. Edgar is my great grand uncle.

Myrtis O'Steen Washington

B. 1892 Franklin County Mississippi

D. 1977 Winnsboro Louisiana

Myrtis O'Steen Washington and Edgar's wife is the daughter of Rosa Stewart O'Steen born about 1874, Rosa is my 2nd great grand aunt.. Rosa is the sister of Augusta Stewart Coleman who is my 2nd great grandmother.





Elizabeth "Lizzie" McDaniel Bryant: Midwife Union Church, Jefferson County Mississippi

Elizabeth "Lizzie" McDaniel Bryant Headstone

Lizzie was born a slave April 1812 in Virgina. Lizzie was purchased about 1834 by John McDaniel of Veto, Mississippi, probably at the Fork of the roads slave market. Lizzie was the mother in law of my 2nd great grandfather Dock Coleman born about 1858.

In a affidavit Lizzie gave on behalf of Amanda Mack on March 4th 1889, she stated that she had been a Midwife for over 20 years, and had attended the birth of  Amanda's children's, Twins Read and Luverta on the 15th day of May 1871, John on the 5th day of May 1873, Preston April 15, 1877, Cameron on the 1st day of may 1878 and Melville on the 1st day of September 1880 all whom were living when she gave the affidavit.

Lizzie was a midwife for her children and for other neighboring families. She lived to be 100 years old.. She was a very STRONG women. Buried at Hickory Block in Union Church. Her headstone inscription reads "She died as She lived, Trusting in God"

Lizzie was one of many African American women in the souths post Civil War era whom provided a much needed service in the African American communities. Thank you Lizzie for your dedication to your community.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Remembering September 11, 2001 This page is a simple tribute to the many innocent people who lost their lives the day the world changed. It is a remembrance of what was taken away from us and of the many heroes that it created. I can still remember that day very vividly, September 11, 2011. I was at home in bed; I had surgery and was to stay in bed for a few weeks. My phone rang at approximately 6:00 am Pacific Standard Time, it was my baby brother Michael, and he said they are bombing New York. I said right Michael, he then said "turn the TV on"; I did and sat for days, watching the scenes that was unfolding, not believing what I was seeing and this was happening in America. Terror in the Sky The day was Tuesday The year 2001 The date 911 Silent was the Hudson And Lady Liberty stood tranquil in the foreground For she did not foresee the terror in the sky The terror that would strike her city and Nations would pity! As loved ones kissed each other goodbye They had no idea of the terrible fate coming their way And would forever alter many lives and placed them at bay! This terror from the sky would be like no other When other looked on they would shudder At the force this terror from the sky would bring Causing some nations to dance and sing This terror from the sky would forever change the Destiny of all our lives! Lela R. Coleman Copyright© September 21, 2001

A Tribute To Mertis O’Steen-Washington, " Midwife Of Winnsboro Franklin Parish, Louisiana"

Mertis O'Steen-Washingotn

1892-1977

I was born in Winnsboro Franklin Parish Louisiana in the year of 1954, The Jim Crow laws were well enforced at this time

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, including hospitals, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans. In reality, this led to treatment and accommodations that were usually inferior to those provided for white Americans, systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages. In the southern states white nurses could not tend to a black patient in hospitals.

In the small town where I was born, Mertis O’Steen-Washington was the Midwife that assisted thousands of African Americans families in delivering their children for over forty years. She worked to ensure that women received high-quality and dignified care before, during and after childbirth, and experience safe, healthy deliveries.

Aunt Mertis was born in Meadville, Franklin County Mississippi on May 25, 1892. Mertis was the daughter of Benjamin O’Steen and Rosalie Stewart-O’Steen. She was married to Edgar Washington my great-great uncle and died in Winnsboro Franklin Parish Louisiana in 1977.

Aunt Mertis delivered all ten of my parents children. The first one of my parent’s children that Aunt Mertis delivered was my oldest sister Ruthie Lynn Coleman born in 1949 and last was my youngest brother Michael Glenn Coleman born in 1962; I am sure she faced many challenges, in the end, she delivered fine healthy children and would often remain in the home with the family for days after the children were born. Had she been born at a different era or time, I am sure she would have gone to college and become a Pediatrician or a Gynecologist.

I would like say thank you Aunt Mertis O’Steen – Washington for assisting in bringing myself,  my siblings and thousands of others into the world. You provided a service that was much needed during the Jim Crow Era.

A Tribute To My Aunt Ruth

Ruth Elizabeth Cameron

January 6, 1929 - July 13, 2011

Ruth E. Turner, 82, of Las Vegas, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2011. She was born Jan. 6, 1929, in Gilbert, La., and was a 52-year resident of Nevada. Ruth retired from the Clark County School District. She was preceded in death by her parents Bryant Cameron and Carrie Bell-Cameron husband, Mack M. Turner, sisters, Lula R Cameron, Josie Lee Cameron-Washington, brothers, Enoch Cameron, Bryant Cameron Jr (BC), Julius "Jack" Cameron. Ruth is survived by her stepdaughters, Bertil Turner of Henderson, Lucy J. Turner of Las Vegas, and Alice Dockery of Baltimore; sisters, Ollie Mae Cameron-Bass of Las Vegas, Ruby Cameron-Coleman of Seattle, and Annie Bell Cameron-Washington of Winnsboro, La.; brother Willie Blockson Sr. of Chicago; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Friday, July 22, at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 23, at Pentecostal temple, 1117 N. F St. Burial following at Palm Memorial Park.

Ruth Turner "The Phenomenal Woman"

My aunt Ruth was in my eyes The Phenomenal Woman.

She was beyond what is ordinary or usual.

She was exceptional and remarkable.

Her extraordinary achievements made her a standout.

Her Beauty inside and out was beyond measure.

She enjoyed extraordinary popularity.

Most all she puts God first, took care of her family and did not live with a selfish focus on herself. Proverbs:31

A Phenomenal Woman is not determined by a woman’s beauty or whether a woman looks like a model, but whether she has her head on her shoulders, confidence, grace and the ability to not let anything bring her down and most of all she keeps her eyes on the prize which Jesus Christ in Heaven.

Aunt Ruth you have achieved the prize.

Your Loving Niece

Lela R. Coleman

2011

To Our Aunt Ruth

As we count our blessings we can't help but think of you

Dear to us in childhood days and all our whole lives through!
Everything seems sweeter just in knowing that you were there
Always feeling you were sincere in showing that you care.
Remember all the happy times, remember all the laughter?

A fairy tale of never ending happily ever afters.
Until we meet again, we know we're always close at heart
No one else could take your place, we knew that from the start
Together we hope all the dreams you've dreamed all have come true

God blessed us with a special gift
because He gave us
you.

Your Nieces and Nephews

By Lela R. Coleman

2011

My Aunt Ruth had no birth children, however, she had 46 nieces and nephews whom she assisted in their upbringing. She was the most wonderful aunt you could imagine. Goodnight aunt Ruth.