The Two Families presented below are the 4th Installment in our “Faces From the Album” Series.

The Moore Family [1954]

Front Row:  Charles and Elma Moore.

Second Row:  Anthony, Mr. Frank Moore, Sr. holding Gerard, Mrs. Augustine Boudreaux Moore with Baby Juliette, Marion.

Third Row: Philip and Raymond Moore.

Top Row: John, Augustine, Frank Jr., Consuela Marie and Marie Moore.

It is a common fact in genealogy that exceptional talent is often found in the children of large families. It seemed to have worked out that way with this group.

In 1927, Augustine Boudreaux graduated from Xavier Prep High School where she was chosen salutatorian of her class. In 1929, she received a teacher’s certificate at the completion of a two-year Normal program from Xavier University. She taught for several years in Port Arthur, Texas where she was remembered for the influence she had on her students. She married Frank Moore, Sr. in November 1934 and together they raised 13 children who were taught at an early age to love each other and to serve God.

Many demands were made on Mother’s patience with such a large family, but she always found time to give her children a teacher’s help in the evenings and serve as a guide during many of their study periods.

Frank and Augustine Moore came from Creole communities both rural and city-based. Mrs. Moore’s family was from New Roads and Marksville, La., while Mr. Moore’s lineage was from New Orleans. Frank Moore and his dad owned an ice and charcoal business in the city but were wiped out with the invention of the refrigerator. As a result, Frank was forced to become a day laborer.

The family grew up in ½ of a shotgun just off Elysian Fields Avenue. As you can imagine, there was never a dull moment! Here they would hold their own annual Christmas pageant – staged, directed, costumed, and presented by all.  In the year pictured above (1954) Charles (aged 2) dressed in a bathrobe, was St. Joseph. Elma (aged 4) with her big sister’s 1st Communion dress trailing the ground, a blue veil on her head, was Our Blessed Mother. Juliette, the baby, was carried into the stable by Marie and placed gently on a pillow on the floor between her parents. Gradually, all the children dressed in bathrobes, sheets, and homemade costumes came in as the kings and shepherds and took their places around the Nativity scene. As their mother played the piano, the entire family sang Christmas carols.

Little John Moore, pictured above, grew up to become “Deacon John” Moore, the legendary New Orleans bandleader, vocalist, guitarist and bass plus banjo player. He often speaks fondly of his childhood.

“My mother was a devout Catholic and she said she’d have as many children as God sends, and he kept sending them. Music and religion were two influential aspects of our lives. Mom listened to classical music and opera on the radio. She played the piano, was the choir director of Holy Ghost Church and the first lay teacher of the school.”

Musical talent was from their mother’s side also. Augustine’s father, John Boudreaux, was a banjo player. Their dad’s sister, Elma Moore Booker, operated the first dance studio owned and operated by a woman of color.

Growing up in the family home on Tonti Street, young John Moore would turn his radio low when his brothers and sisters went to bed. He listened to the music that whispered to his soul and that his mother forbade: Bo Diddley, Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf, etc.

All the Moore kids were exposed to music and grew up playing various instruments. Anthony and Raymond Moore played classical and flamenco guitar. Philip played jazz and R&B guitar. Consuela was a vocalist who played the viola, guitar and piano while their sister Juliette and brothers, Frank and Gerard, played percussion instruments.

Education was also extremely important in the Moore household with many acquiring advanced degrees. Consuela (also known as Sybil Kein) became a scholar, writer and Creole linguist while Marie was a noted educator and Juliette made contributions in the field of Recreation. (see comment below by: Denise Moore) 

As he once said, “It’s just a genetic affinity- when you come from a musical family, there is just a genetic pre-disposition. It’s passed on…God gave everybody a talent.”

 

4 Generations of Randolphs [1955]

Standing (back row): Shirley Randolph LaBranche, Elizabeth R. Cyrus, Agatha R. Jones (holding Baby Kim), Edna De Landro Randolph, Mary Johnson Randolph, Zenobia Randolph Lieteau, Dorothy Sturken Randolph (holding Baby Vaughn), Dorothy Randolph R. Guichard, Esther Randolph Roberts.

Middle Row (left to right): Toya Jones, Julien Guichard, Keith Beachum.

Front Row: (left to right): Kathy—-, Judith Cyrus, Daphne Guichard, Penny Randolph, Ann Randolph, Sydney Cortez, Allison Randolph.

The photo above shows 3 generations of Randolph women with many of the 3rd generation’s children making up the 4th generation.

Mrs. Mary Johnson Randolph (1st generation and matriarch of the Randolph family), the daughter of John B. Johnson and Louise Jones, was a native of New Orleans and graduate of New Orleans University. She taught several years in private schools and held the distinction of being a member of Xavier’s first PTA, where many of her descendants (shown above) attended high school and college. In 1898, she married Louis Birchard Randolph at St. Katherine Church on Tulane Avenue. He was the son of Alexander P. Randolph and Mary Simonie Goudeau.

Together, Mary and Louis Birchard Randolph raised 7 children: Louise, Mary, Bernadine, Rita, Austin, Philip, and Allison Bernard Randolph Sr. Louis made his living as a self-employed painter and paper hanger. They raised their children in the 11th Ward of the city at 2835 South Rampart (now Danneel Street). Unfortunately, Louis passed away on January 23, 1930, leaving Mary to care for the family. Mary lived for another 35 years. She died in 1965 at the age of 87.

It is Allison Bernard Randolph’s six daughters who appear in the photo above, along with his wife Edna DeLandro Randolph, their mother. 

Aside from being a father to the six girls shown above and two boys, Allison Sr. was a postal worker who rose through the ranks to become a Postal Claims & Inquiry Officer. He remained there for 43 years having started in 1942, shortly after graduating from Xavier Prep.

Allison was also active in various civic and religious organizations. He co-chaired the Sisters of the Holy Family Expansion Program in 1952, was chairman of the Advisory Board of Lafon Boys’ Home, held local and national positions in the Knights of Peter Claver and served as the first National Lay Board Member. He was the 1st chairman and founder of Holy Ghost Credit Union and the recipient of the St. Louis Medallion in 1976 presented to him by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He passed away in1993.

His wife, Edna, was a homemaker who devoted her life to her family. She passed away four years after her husband (March 4, 1997). Together, they left behind 25 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and 7 g-g-grandchildren; a number that continues to grow over the years.

 

Sources:  Xavier University of Louisiana Archives, (photos) “Spotlight” Yearbook Of Xavier University Preparatory (1927-senior class); The Times-Picayune Obituaries, July, 1984+ October 8, 1965 +March 5, 1997; Ancestry.com– various federal censuses, births + marriages; www.npr.org “A Hero at Home, Deacon John Moore in New Orleans- Best Kept Secret . www.ClarionHerald.org, March 8, 2019

Lolita Villavasso Cherrie