I decided to end my Black History Month posts with a connection to one of my first posts this month. In that post, I told you about Ben Allen, who founded the first black school in West Monroe. I mentioned his daughter Gertrude was also a pioneer educator. Let me tell you a little more.
Gertrude was born March 15, 1889 in West Monroe to Ben and Susan Booker Allen. She was their second child. Since education was such an important part of the Allen household, it was natural that Gertrude would go into the educational field. Mrs. Ammons began her teaching career at the age of 16. She taught at Baton Rouge College, Bastrop and Lake Providence. While she was teaching, Mrs. Ammons found time to get an AB Degree from Tuskegee Institute and attended Southern University and Hampton Institute.
Around 1921, Mrs. Ammons was hired to be “supervisor of colored public schools”, which was later called Jeanes supervisor. Her job duties involved recruiting and training black teachers, building schools and act as Liasson between parents, teachers and the Superintendent of schools. she would drive from school to school, sometimes only being able to get to the school in a buggy, so she could inspect and evaluate the teachers and meet with prominent members of the community. It was the black community’s responsibility at the time to raise the money to operate the schools and pay teachers. The money raised in the community was given to the school board, who then gave the schools a little more for operational expenses. This work was exhausting and took it’s toll on her health.
According to a February 24, 1991 interview with her niece, Mrs. Ammons had high blood pressure and the stress of the job added to her health problems. Superintendent T.O. Brown had plans of hiring her an assistant, but she passed away on February 25, 1941 before that happened. She was only 53. She now lies buried in Hasley Cemetery.
No monuments or building carry her name, but her legacy still carries an impact in local education.
Ouachita Parish History Tidbits 