This is one of my favorite photos of any formerly enslaved persons in Louisiana.

This lovely Ville Platte Creole is Catherine DIXON, commonly called “Kitty.” She was born circa 1854 in Ville Platte, Louisiana to Peter DIXON and Meraya WILLIAMS, all formerly enslaved on the DOUCET plantation. She was married on November 12, 1870 to Valmont BELLARD in Opelousas, Louisiana. Valmont and Kitty are the grandparents of Zydeco famed Douglas BELLARD.

Kitty died on November 25, 1945 in Belair Cove, Louisiana, a community in Evangeline Parish only a rocks throw from old St.Landry Parish.Kitty’s father came from Virginia and her mother came from Maryland which made her a first generation born Louisianan.

Although her parents were both from English speaking states, Kitty’s first and only language was French. This is an example of how the formerly enslaved families from the English speaking states were sold off to the Louisiana planters and were immersed into the Louisiana French and Creole culture.

This is also why you have families with English surnames such as DIXON, WILLIAMS, HARRIS, and MOORE in Louisiana who speak French and connected to the Louisiana Creole culture.When my grandfather and I went to Mamou, Louisiana, he took me to his cousin George RICHARD’s home, commonly called “T-Doo.” When I first met him, I thought he was from East India until he and my grandfather started speaking in French.

Cousin T-Doo said that his father was named Ernest or in his French accent, ERRRRRRRNEST, rolling the R, and his mother was named Mary DIXON or “Ma Reee.” Many of my cousins in Evangeline Parish still speak French………a language their ancestors spoke since the beginning of colonial Louisiana. She out lived slavery and her legacy is now being lived through her many descendants. Thanks for sharing C.G.