Additional information
by Leona W. Smith (Author)
Note: This isn't another Mississippi Burning or another Roots!! It's a true family legacy!! (Find it on Goodreads.com) From a child, Leona W. Smith was always intrigued by family stories told to her by her parents, grandparents, and close family friends. Birthed out of the intense desire of her mother (Shirley Mae LaVergne Williams) to discover more about her paternal roots, Leona set out on a journey to research her family's history and discovered some amazing truths about her ancestors. Told through family records and stories handed down through many generations and through the use of true -to -life accounts obtained from Federal Slave Narratives set in Louisiana, St. Landry - Up From Slavery Then Came the Fire!! is an epic story deeply rooted in historical fact that spans over 300 years of the LaVergne and Williams families. From the shores of Africa to the rice fields of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana and beyond, St. Landry - Up From Slavery Then Came the Fire! explores the hardships, struggles, defeats and triumphs endued by the families through the cruel injustices of slavery, classism and racism. Most importantly, it also explores the families' resolute faith in God and gives documented accounts and firsthand testimonies of the amazing, miraculous power of God at work in their lives down through the generations that has left a legacy of hope, courage, and success that still endures today.
Author Biography
The author, Leona W. Smith, is a lifelong resident of Louisiana and has been residing in New Orleans for over 30 years. She was born in Lafayette in the heart of Cajun country and reared in the small town of Lecompte in Central Louisiana. She graduated from Carter C. Raymond High School with honors and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an tAccounting major from Grambling State University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Leona is a lover of people and began her work in ministry at a young age. As a minister, she has been active in her home church, missionary work and in the care of the elderly. She has always been interested in history and storytelling. Thus, after 5 years of intricate research and interviews, she brings you the story of her ancestors - from Africa to the shores of Louisiana and beyond.
