CHURCH HISTORIES    Terrebonne Parish, LA 

LOUISIANA SOUTHERN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
 
Submitted by: Cynthia Daigle
 
Source:  The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press, Houma, LA. 

Last modified: 10 MARCH 2008
 
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NOTE: Most histories were submitted by the church to the Houma Daily 
Courier and The Terrebonne Press as part of the newspapers 
Sesquicentennial Edition. Not all churches submitted histories.

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BAPTIST - LOUISIANA SOUTHERN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

The Houma Daily Courier and The Terrebonne Press 
Houma, LA, Oct. 8, 1972, Sunday, Section E

LSBA FORMED BY CHURCHES IN 1876
By Larry Charles

By 1876, there were enough black Baptist churches in Terrebonne Parish and 
the surrounding parishes to warrant the formation of an organization of 
black Baptist churches. 

Representatives of the many black Baptist churches from Terrebonne, 
Assumption, Lafourche and St. Mary Parishes attended the organizational 
(meeting?) held in 1876, only thirteen years after the Civil War. Present 
were Reverends Isaiah Lawson, Thomas L. Rhodes, I.C. Stewart and R. 
Coleman.

A resolution to the formation of the "Louisiana Southern Baptist 
Association of the Fifth District" was adopted by the attending ministers 
in representing the thousands of black Baptist in the quad-parish area.

The Louisiana Southern Baptist Association of the Fifth District has been 
noted for its work in education and charity for the people of south 
Louisiana. Particularly since the presidency of Dr. H.C. Cotton (1890 - 
1913) has the Association played a strong role in the important task of 
education among black people. Dr. Cotton led in the opening of two 
academies, schools under the administration of the Association, making 
elementary and junior high school education available to the black youths 
of south Louisiana.

Prior to the Civil War, only private education was available to the black 
youths in this area. Those young blacks that displayed exceptional promise 
were sometimes taught in the home of his master at his master's expense.

After the War, practically no opportunity of a qualified education existed 
for the blacks of the four parish area until the academies were opened.

One of the two academies built by the Louisiana Southern Baptist 
Association of the Fifth District is located in Houma. The Academy played 
a significant role in the education of the black people of Terrebonne 
Parish.

Public schools for black students became reality by 1930. The academy 
continued to operate until 1940 when the public school began to relieve it 
of the task of educating the blacks of the parish. 

Today, the Academy, located at 918 Roussell, is used as an Extension 
Center for the training of ministers and lay workers.