The young lady standing in the front center of the photo above with her hands locked together is little Miss Sybil Haydel, the daughter of Dr. Clarence Clement and Mrs. Eudora Arnaud Haydel. She would later become the wife of New Orleans’ first black mayor, Ernest “Dutch” Morial, and the mother of its third black mayor, Marc Haydel Morial. Her accomplishments include serving as an educator, dean, and Vice-President of External Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana, as well as an author and community activist.
But in 1937, she was just a little girl surrounded by nearly 100 other children as she celebrated her 5th birthday. Her mother, Mrs. Eudora Arnaud Haydel, opened their home that Friday afternoon, November 26, 1937, for the festive affair. With so many young people in attendance, Mrs. Haydel, of course, needed additional adult supervision. Assisting her were: Althea Belfield, Lovida Hardin, Rosemary Stewart, Audrey Dumas, Camille McCann, and Leona Leon.
Party activities included four dance numbers performed by members of Miss Audrey Dumas’ dance school. All in attendance were given souvenir gift bags which contained rubber balls, harmonicas, jacks, and whistles. The rooms were decorated with green and pink streamers, toy balloons, and a very large birthday cake (in the shape of the number ‘5’) which was placed on the dining room table.
For those interested in who attended the birthday affair, the names have been listed below. Many of you may recognize family members, neighbors, or friends from long ago.
If any names are spelled incorrectly, please send a comment with the correct spelling and the changes will be made.
George & Shirley Allain – Phyllis Armand – Wellington, Adoria & Verdun Arnaud – Leah Barnes – Loretta, Claude, Mary & Jacqueline Beaudoin – Wendell Belfield – Helen Bibolet – Shanette Boutte – Lester Jr. & Theus Braden – Joan Brown, Beverly & Lawrence Camp- Myrtle Charbonnet- Shirley Chargois- Ronald & Larry Chenier- Anna Louise & Ernest Cherrie- Jacqueline & Claire Daste – Grace Dedeaux – Janice Dejoie – Ella, Elaine, & Claire Dejoie – Tommy & Ben Albert Dent – Sylvia Detiege – Muriel Ann Duverney – Henrietta Edmunds – June Epps – Donald & Euclid Frank – Elvina Gabriel – Jean & Germaine Gardina – Barbara Gonzaque – Booker & Edgar Griffith – Fred Hall Jr. Virgil Hardin – Sylvia, Patricia, Belmont, Byron, Hortense, Verna & Melba Haydel – Henry & Ann Marie Jones – Elyria & Melvin Jourdan- Frieda Kohlbatz – Justine Labat – Joyce Lyman – Maurice Martinez Jr. – Joyce & Jeanette Maury – Raoul Maurice Jr. – Isaac McMorris – John Meine – Wydell Misshore – Ferdinand Montegut Jr. – Arthur Neal Jr. – Pete & Alfred Priestley Jr. – George Rieras – Yvonne & Angela Rousseve – Ronald, Roland & Yolande Rousseve – Taylor Segue Jr.- Lydia Sindos – Gloria & E. Belfield Spriggins Jr.- Sophie Marie Watts – Carolyn White – Valda Wicker – “Bunky” & “Snuffy” Wright – Andrew & Walter Young.
Source: The Louisiana Weekly, November 26, 1937
Lolita Villavasso Cherrie
Your CreoleGen articles are intriguing,informative and bring back memories. I await your next one. Sybil’s brother Clarence Jr. and I were classmates at Xavier U. The last time I saw him was at a ballet performance at the Mahilia Jackson Auditorium. All the names of the guests are familiar to me and eight of them I knew personally. I see Sybil at social and civic activities occasionally.
Wonderful picture. I saw my aunt’s name, Sylvia Detiege
This is awesome! My mother’s name is on that list! Muriel Ann Duvernay. I can’t wait to show this post to her! Thank you for posting!
Wendell Belfield and I have much in common. We both are graduates of Xavier University NOLA in science and followed to matriculate at Tuskegee Institute to earn the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree.
My sister, Elyria Jourdan name was misspelled as children attending the party for Sybil Haydel. I enjoyed reading the article and pictures. My sister passed away two years ago.
Hi Linda, I have corrected the spelling of your sister’s name. Thank you for bringing this to my attention…Lolita
It is possible to repost the picture? My father in law and brother are both listed as attendees but I’m unable to “open” the photo. Thank you.
Keeanya, Thanks for drawing my attention to the fact that the photo of the kids at the party was missing. It is there now. If you have any other problems, please let us know…Lolita