Franklin Parish Louisiana

My immediate family begun it's American roots, by way of Lincoln County Mississippi, Franklin Parish Louisiana and finally Seattle Washington.
As a child I attended a one room Church and School in Franklin Parish Winnsboro Louisiana, called Cuba Baptist Church and Cuba Elementary school. The school is no longer in existence and the Church has since been rebuilt and is somewhat larger.

My memories of Cuba elementary school are of having to walk about two miles to get there, the black children had no buses. There were days when the bus transporting the White children would pull over and throw eggs and water on us. One Winter I got really sick from having water thrown on me and having to walk to school drenched. The bus driver was a White man and was someone in authority and he pulled over and allowed the children to do this. I often wondered, what kind of man was he to do this to innocent children? I later learned racism and hatred of an entire race of people was the reason.

I also remember cutting my right hand on the school play yard and being to shy to tell the teacher Mrs. Arthur and when she saw the blood, she lovingly took my hand and bandaged it. Mrs. Arthur was a kind and gentle soul as I remember, and then there was Mrs. Bass who was not and like to use the Leather Strap for punishment.

All in all that one room school and Church gave me foundation as to who I am today. It was built by the black community to served God and to provide education for black children. For me it was Family.

My mother and father were married in this church on May 2, 1948
Cuba Baptist Church, Winnsboro Louisiana.
Elder Adam Nichols a good friend of the family Officaited

 

Ed B Coleman and Ruby Cameron Marriage License

The Cuba Baptist Church sign

My great Aunt Ora Coleman Lee Born Jan 3, 1907 in Brookhaven MS
Died Feb. 12, 1993 Franklin Parish Winnsboro Louisiana

Thanks to my cousin Ivy Lee who is the grandson of Ora Coleman Lee for providing the pictures

taking during The Singleton Family Reunion in 2009

The Cameron’s of Franklin County Mississippi

The Cameron’s of Franklin County Mississippi was a very large  family and through  my research, and oral history, I have found that many of my great grandfather Alex Cameron (b. 1862)and his first wife Ada and second wife Laura children and descendants left Franklin county and did not keep in touch with one another.

To understand this you have to understand that Slavery completely disrupted the notion of the black family because family members could be sold away from one another at any time.The  disruptive force of slavery can still be seen today in the black family.

One of my great grandfather Alex Cameron son's was my grandfather Bryant Cameron and he had approximately 14 brothers and sisters whom moved away and never say each other again. I feel that the Cameron family of Franklin county Mississippi was a perfect example of how slavery continued to perpetuates it self through time. It is very sad that many of these brothers and sisters never saw each again before they died.

I feel that I have a calling to find my ancestors. To somehow wake them up and have them live again, to tell each of their unique and different stories through oral history, the pages of census records, birth certificates, war records, and finally death certificates.

Researching your family history is not just a cold gathering of facts; genealogy is a labor of love. A love of family and family beginnings, and family’s earthly accomplishments. I take pride in learning of my ancestor’s accomplishment, and pain from their losses and tragedies.

I have since located ancestors that still reside in Franklin county and Lincoln county Mississippi and I have located others in Louisiana,  Detroit, and Muskegon, Michigan, etc. and I have provided pictures below.

Henry and Ethel Jackson Cameron

Brother of my Grandfather Bryant Cameron

Henry's offsprings reside in Brookhaven MS, Detroit Muskegon MI.

Below is Rosie Lee Cameron Smith (b.1925 d. 2011) Daughter of Henry and Ethel Cameron



Josphine Cameron Lee Daughter of Isom (Isham) Cameron,

Isom was the brother of my grandfather Bryant . Josphine died

in Detroit Michigan

Below is the son of Josphine Cameron Lee, Willie D. Robinson whom died in February 2012
Willie resided in McCall Creek Mississippi

Above Sterling Cameron, son of my great grandfather Alec and his second wife Laura

and half-brother of my grandfather Bryant. He ran away from home at a very early age and moved to Indiana and changed his name to Robert Ford, he died in 1969 

My great aunt Noda Cameron Byrd gravestone, daughter of Alec and Laura Cameron

Wife of Warren Cherry Byrd

Great uncle Warren "Cherry" Byrd Husband of my great aunt Noda Cameron Byrd

Alonzo Cameron below whom still resides in Brookhaven MS is the grandson of Henry and Ethel Cameron, provided the pictures below and also the picture of Henry and Ethel. Thank you cosuin

Alonzo

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