Friday's Faces From the Past - Sicily Island Cheerleaders, 1949

Courtesy of Karen Barron Egloff

Friday's Faces From the Past - Sicily Island Graduates, 1948

Sicily Island High School Class of 1948

(LtoR):  

Freddie Cooper, Tim Cupit, Johnny R. Martin, Joyce Bird, Ray Golmon, Joyce Marie Hensley, Vernon Dennis, Erma Dean Dampier, Edward Enright, Jr., Barbara Jean Pearson, Lyndol "Sonny" Guice.

Photograph is courtesy of Pam Twiner Thompson, niece of Tim Cupit.

Friday's Faces From the Past - Sicily Island Cheerleaders, 1950s

SI Cheerleaders - Early 1950s

Seated on the Hood (LtoR):  Mickey Salter and Bobbie McKay
Standing (LtoR):  Sarah Gambrell, Joy Miller and Virginia Pearson
Children (LtoR):  Peggy Krause and Judy Krause


Photograph is courtesy of Karen Barron Egloff

Friday's Faces From the Past - Keystone Lodge No. 213 Celebrates 100 Year Anniversary, 1972

Front Row (LtoR):  Marvin B. Nolen, Sr., Larry Barron, Harwell L. Allen, Maurice Saltzman

Second Row (LtoR):  Freddie Cooper, Lonnie Franks, Aubrey B. Chisum, Sr., Clarendon Peck, Jr.

Third Row (LtoR):  J. W. Barron, Claude Tarver, Floyd Cole, Stewart Chisum, Johnnie Crawford, Marvin B. Nolen, Jr., Bruce Edmonds

100 Year Anniversary Program Cover

100 Year Anniversary Program

A special thanks to Karen Barron Egloff for sharing the photograph and the program.

Note:  If others would like to share old photographs or documents pertaining to Sicily Island or other communities within Catahoula Parish, please email me at rootsfromthebayou@gmail.com.  

Friday's Faces From the Past - S. I. Elementary School Teachers, 1968-69

El Tigre, 1968-69 edition

Mrs. Joy Vaught (1st Grade) - Mary Joy Miller was born on December 12, 1934 to the marriage of Mary Artie Garrison Miller and Byron Kingston "B. K." Miller, Sr.  She married Henry Gordon Vaught and had one daughter, Mary Eva.  She died on June 26, 2012.

Mrs. Deleta Peniston (4th Grade) - Deleta Furr was born on November 10, 1909 to the marriage of Levi Wray Furr and Emma Cordelia Girault.  She married Homer Ellis Conn.  Following her first husband's death, she married John Willard Peniston.  She died on November 3, 2003.

Mrs. Irma Enright (2nd Grade) - Julia Irma Stutson was born on December 16, 1904 to the marriage of Zebulon York Stutson and Lottie Johnson.  She married Clarence Edward Enright, Sr. and was the mother of Clarence Edward, Jr., James Wilmer, John Richard, Julia Eleanor, Charles Allen and Thomas Leslie, Sr.  She died on July 18, 2000.

Mrs. Anita Oliphant  (3rd Grade) - Anita Bondurant was born on August 20, 1905 to the marriage of Yelverton Bondurant, Sr. and Pearl Ensminger.  She died on May 14, 1995.

Mrs. Sophie Lee Haley (5th Grade) - Sophie Lee Crawford was born on October 24, 1910 to the marriage of Samuel Cooke Crawford and Rachel Victoria Seal.  She married Claude Benton Haley and was the mother of one son, Charles Michael.

Mrs. Bernice Taylor (6th Grade) - Bernice was the wife of Reverend Luther W. "L. W." Taylor who served as pastor of the Sicily Island United Methodist Church.  Their children were Joy, Mike, Keith and Wayne.

Mrs. Mae Cruse (Special Education) - Mary Grace "Mae" McKay was born on January 13, 1909 to the marriage of Thomas Columbus McKay and Annie Adelot Punchard.  She married Joseph Clarmon Cruse and was the mother of David, Joe Keith and Marcia Ann.  She died on October 15, 1994.

Friday's Faces from the Past - Birdie Talbert Krause

Birdie Talbert Krause

Birdie Talbert was born in Bienville Parish on August 30, 1898 to the marriage of Benjamin Harris Talbert and Mary Elizabeth Jones.

She came to Sicily Island in 1923 where she taught Home Economics in the newly constructed three-story school.  She taught the girls to sew on three treadle machines.  Cooking was taught on six two-eyed gas burners that were placed on tables.  The ovens, 12x12 inch metal boxes with doors, were set over the burners for baking purposes.

After arriving in Sicily Island, she met and married Oscar Krause.  Mrs. Birdie and Mr. Oscar never had children of their own.  However, when Mrs. Birdie's sister Benola passed away shortly after giving birth to a son, she and Mr. Oscar took their nephew and raised him as their own.  This nephew was Ben Westerburg.

Birdie Talbert Krause died on March 18, 1984 and is buried alongside her husband in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Courtesy of FindAGrave member, Karen Klemm Pinckard

Below is a letter Mrs. Birdie wrote to my grandmother back in January of 1969.  In this letter, she mentions her neighbors, Vivian [Martin] Enright, Olga [Knight] Seal and Willie [Evans] Knight. She also mentions the birth of her first grandchild, Ben, Jr.

This letter was written while my grandmother was in the hospital and several months before she passed away.  She mentions me, my siblings and my father.  She also goes on to tell my grandmother that she loves her and reminisces about the good times they shared back in the early 1920s.  

Mrs. Birdie encourages my grandmother to get well and hurry home so that she can take her for a drive in her new Chevrolet Nova.

I often wonder if my grandmother ever recovered enough for Mrs. Birdie to take her for that drive.

Friday's Faces From the Past - Johnnie Crawford

Mr. Johnnie Crawford was born on October 24, 1919 in Enterprise to the marriage of Addie W. Crawford, Sr. and Frances Edith Williams.  His siblings were Eddie Purvis, Addie, Jr., Mildred, Lloyd and Floyd.

Following his marriage to Thelma Franklin of Olla, Louisiana, Mr. Johnnie moved to Sicily Island where he ran Crawford's Barbershop.  They also raised their two sons, Bill and Johnny, in Sicily Island.

Many a little boy had their hair cut in Mr. Johnnie's barbershop.  I loved going in the barbershop and was fascinated with the old theater seats that lined the side wall.  

My mother and two brothers heading inside for haircuts

Mr. Johnnie passed away on August 14, 2013.  He is buried alongside his wife in Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

Friday's Faces From the Past - Willie D. Kirby

William D. "Willie D." Kirby

(1942-1997)

Son of

James Monroe Kirby, III and Bernice Taylor

Brother to

Jimmy, Flora Mae and Albert

Husband of

Margaret Wells

Father of

Kay and Amy

"Willie D." taught math at Sicily Island High School for a number of years alongside his wife, Margaret who taught English. He was known by his students as a someone who enjoyed teaching and interacting with them.  He was also a familiar sight on Friday night home football games where he always worked the admission gate.  

Willie D. Kirby...an all-around good man who is still missed by many.

Friday's Faces From the Past - Sheriff Thomas L. "Sonny" Jackson

Photograph is courtesy of Kathe Jackson Price

Thomas Louis "Sonny" Jackson

Born on August 7, 1932

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Son of

Enos Jackson and Lela Tarver

Brother to

Helen Louise and Windell

Husband of

Lila Augusta "Patsy" Smith

Father to

Steve and Kathe

Died on January 14, 2005

Buried in the Highland Park Cemetery

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Life of Service

Veteran of the United States Air Force during the Korean War

Louisiana State Trooper for twenty years

Sheriff of Catahoula Parish for sixteen years (1976-1992)

Memberships

Sicily Island First United Methodist Church

Masonic Lodge Keystone #213

Louisiana Sheriff's Association

Louisiana State Trooper Association

American National Trooper Association

Tombstone photograph taken by Gayle Price Evans

Friday's Faces From the Past - Willie Evans Knight

Willie Evans Knight

Born on May 17, 1910

Daughter of

William Estus Evans and Lou Alpha Smith

Sister to

Susie Belle, Joseph Denman, Mary Lucille,

Evelyn Alpha and Aubrey Malcolm Evans

Wife of

Rufus Knight

Mother to

Billie Sue Knight Yancey

Died on January 22, 1996

Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Friday's Faces From the Past - Junior High Classmates

Junior High Classmates

Martin Junior High

1973-1974

(Front to Back)

Johnny Goodwin

Darryl Seal

John Bowman

Bruce Cole

Friday's Faces From the Past - Barnie Lee Cloy Stubbs

Barnie Lee Cloy Stubbs

Born on May 15, 1924

Daughter of

Richard Harris Cloy and Pinkie Paralee Bowman

Sister to

Mary Nellie, Richard Frank, John Edward, Anna, Jerald Houston,

Wallace, Charles Clay, Jarvis Roan and William "Billy" Cloy

Wife of

William Perry Stubbs

Mother of

William Perry, Jr. and Thelma Diana Stubbs

Died on May 26, 2006

Buried in the Highland Park Cemetery

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Friday's Faces From the Past - Henry Clarendon Peck, Sr.

Henry Clarendon Peck, Sr.

Born on June 21, 1919

Son of

William Smith Peck, II and Barbara Estelle Woodward

Brother to

William Smith, III and Barbara Jane Peck

Husband of

Mamie Dell Cruse

Father of

Henry Clarendon Peck, Jr.

Died on January 24, 2004

Entombed in the Highland Park Mausoleum

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

Friday's Faces From the Past - Deleta Peniston

Deleta Furr Peniston

Born on November 10, 1909

Daughter of

Levi Wray Furr and Emma Cordelia Girault

Sister to

Roy Girault, Jennie Bell [Hoggatt], Clyde Meredith, Dennis Bryan, 

Marietta, Garland Lyell and Virginia Lee "Virgie" [Bird]

Wife of

Homer Ellis Conn

John Willard Peniston

Died on November 3, 2003

Entombed in the Highland Park Mausoleum

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

  

Friday's Faces From the Past - Class of 1978

1978 Graduates of S. I. High School at our 20th reunion.  Coach Gus Watson joined us to celebrate.  

Friday's Faces From the Past - Aubrey L. Brooks

Aubrey Leonidas Brooks

(1908-1980)

Son of

Rev. Leonidas Hill Brooks and Lillie Eloise Randall

Brother to

Kerfoot Graves, Ann Hasseltine, John Madison, Julian Dodd,

Richard Shadrack and Paul Elkins Brooks

Husband of

Thelma Mitchell

Father to

Pat, Craig and Nan Brooks

Aubrey Brooks served the Catahoula Parish school system for forty-two years.  His first ten years of service were spent as a teacher, principal, coach and supervisor.   He served as the Catahoula Parish Superintendent of Education for the remaining thirty-two years. 

Other areas of service included membership on the AASA Executive Council of Louisiana Teachers Association, two terms as president of the Fifth District School Superintendents Association, and membership in the Sicily Island Rotary Club.

Friday's Faces From the Past - Birthday Number One

Johannah Steele Peck

Celebrating her first birthday with cousins Mary, John, Deb-Deb, David and Al

Friday's Faces From the Past - Edmonds and McGuffee

Bruce A. Edmonds - Catahoula Parish Registrar of Voters

George Orville "G.O." McGuffee - Catahoula Parish Tax Assessor

Friday's Faces From the Past ~ Brother Nolen

Marvin Bishop "Brother" Nolen, III

(1947-2006)

Son of

Marvin Bishop Nolen, Jr. and Catherine "Kitty" McNair

Brother to

Mary Kate

Husband of

Candy Stewart

Father of

Heather, Missy and Jessica

Friday's Faces From the Past ~ Betty Florence Peck

Betty Florence Peck

1944-2010

Daughter of

William Smith Peck, III and Lena Juanita "Nita" Steele

Sister to

William "Will" Smith Peck, IV

Wife of

Jack Shaffer

Mother to

Russell and Missy Shaffer