Community Spotlights
Tina Johnson, Madison Parish
Date: November 24, 2014
Hometown: Tallulah
Current Town: Tallulah
Colleges/Degrees: B.S. Degree, Grambling State University, Grambling, LA
M. S. in Library Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Further Study: The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
About Tina: Tina is a retired library administrator from the University of the District of Columbia, adjunct professor (librarian) from Howard University, Washington, D. C. and Averett University (main campus-Danville, VA) at Tyson Corner, Virginia. She currently serves as Director of the Madison Parish Tourism Commission. which she assumed in 2005. She is an avid reader, loves people and in her spare time she writes articles for the Louisiana Road Trip Magazine and the Madison Journal Newspaper on the history and attractions of Tallulah and Madison Parish. She serves as superintendent of her churches’ Sabbath school class at the Tallulah First Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Community Involvement: Her civic affiliations include membership in the Tallulah Chamber of Commerce, the City of Tallulah’s Beautification and Revitalization Commission, the Madison Parish Historical Society, volunteer work for the annual Hunting and Fishing Day, sponsored by the Tensas National wildlife refuge, and Chairman of the annual Teddy’s Bearfest Festival: A Historical Celebration sponsored by the Madison Parish police jury and the City of Tallulah. She is a member of the Louisiana North Coalition, an organization which promotes tourism in North Louisiana, a board member of the Louisiana Delta Adventures Inc, a member of the Madison Relay for Life Team, and also serves on the LSU Agriculture Center’s Advisory Leadership Council for the Northeast Region Committee, Miss-Lou Rural Tourism Association. She is a past member on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Delta Resource & Development Area, Inc, and the Louisiana Delta 65 Inc.
What motivates you in your work? My motivation for community service and giving back emanates from the fact that I came from a family who believed in God, family, education, and giving back, especially to those who were/are less fortunate. As a child I was surrounded by educators and achievers whose goal was to succeed, no matter what that task. I was always told to be the best you can be and never, forget from whence you came and the people who helped you along the way. Giving back to my community is a way for me to say “thank you” for the opportunities you gave me and just maybe my involvement in the community can inspire others to do the same.
Favorite Things about the Area: People who visit Tallulah need to know that its citizens, in many instances are friendly, kind and caring even though the literacy rate is not as high or commendable as it should or could be, there is a decency that shines through in terms of compassion for one another in difficult times.
The Best Kept local secrets about Madison Parish:
Date: November 24, 2014
Hometown: Tallulah
Current Town: Tallulah
Colleges/Degrees: B.S. Degree, Grambling State University, Grambling, LA
M. S. in Library Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Further Study: The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
About Tina: Tina is a retired library administrator from the University of the District of Columbia, adjunct professor (librarian) from Howard University, Washington, D. C. and Averett University (main campus-Danville, VA) at Tyson Corner, Virginia. She currently serves as Director of the Madison Parish Tourism Commission. which she assumed in 2005. She is an avid reader, loves people and in her spare time she writes articles for the Louisiana Road Trip Magazine and the Madison Journal Newspaper on the history and attractions of Tallulah and Madison Parish. She serves as superintendent of her churches’ Sabbath school class at the Tallulah First Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Community Involvement: Her civic affiliations include membership in the Tallulah Chamber of Commerce, the City of Tallulah’s Beautification and Revitalization Commission, the Madison Parish Historical Society, volunteer work for the annual Hunting and Fishing Day, sponsored by the Tensas National wildlife refuge, and Chairman of the annual Teddy’s Bearfest Festival: A Historical Celebration sponsored by the Madison Parish police jury and the City of Tallulah. She is a member of the Louisiana North Coalition, an organization which promotes tourism in North Louisiana, a board member of the Louisiana Delta Adventures Inc, a member of the Madison Relay for Life Team, and also serves on the LSU Agriculture Center’s Advisory Leadership Council for the Northeast Region Committee, Miss-Lou Rural Tourism Association. She is a past member on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Delta Resource & Development Area, Inc, and the Louisiana Delta 65 Inc.
What motivates you in your work? My motivation for community service and giving back emanates from the fact that I came from a family who believed in God, family, education, and giving back, especially to those who were/are less fortunate. As a child I was surrounded by educators and achievers whose goal was to succeed, no matter what that task. I was always told to be the best you can be and never, forget from whence you came and the people who helped you along the way. Giving back to my community is a way for me to say “thank you” for the opportunities you gave me and just maybe my involvement in the community can inspire others to do the same.
Favorite Things about the Area: People who visit Tallulah need to know that its citizens, in many instances are friendly, kind and caring even though the literacy rate is not as high or commendable as it should or could be, there is a decency that shines through in terms of compassion for one another in difficult times.
- Hunting and Fishing: Hunting and fishing have been the most popular sports in Madison Parish since the earliest settlers and that popularity continues today. For history buffs, the first enclosed mall in the State of Louisiana, known as Bloom’s Arcade, was built in Tallulah, and patterned after the French malls in Paris and Madison Parish is home to Madame C.J. Walker, the first self-made woman millionaire of any race. Born of slave parents, she created a line of hair products for Blacks.
- Historical Sites and Homes: A driving tour of the parish will reveal Civil War Trail Markers for the Battle of Millikens Bend, Dalkeith Prison Hospital, Duckport Canal, Grants Canal, Crescent Plantation, and the Hermione Museum. You tour can include a tour of the Hermione Museum, a restored Antebellum home saved from General Grant’s March which now houses the history of Madison Parish and enthusiasts may do a driving tour of Grant’s March through Louisiana, brochures are available.
- The Annual Teddy’s Bearfest: Held the second weekend in October, this festival is a historical celebration with the theme, CELEBRATING THE GREAT OUTDOORS commemorates the fact the President Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Louisiana in 1907 and killed the elusive black bear that he failed to capture in Mississippi in 1902.
- The Annual Christmas Festival along the Bayou. Held the first Sunday in December, its showcases area vendor’s arts and crafts, a parade with multiple bands and an evening concert featuring Christmas songs by the Community Choir and at twilight an extravaganza of fire works bring the day’s activities to a close.
The Best Kept local secrets about Madison Parish:
- The Battle of Milliken’s Bend. On June 7, 1863, a Confederate brigade of Texans under the command of Brig. Gen. Henry McCulloch attacked a small Federal outpost at Milliken’s Bend, Louisiana. The Union defenders were a brigade of raw recruits, composed of former slaves officered by whites. A veteran half-regiment of all-white Iowa infantry had just arrived as support. What ensued was one of the most severe – and most overlooked – small engagements of the Civil War. Despite their lack of training, the black soldiers put up stubborn resistance, but were quickly overwhelmed. Two gunboats on the Mississippi River shelled the oncoming Confederates, halting their advance, and the Rebels withdrew about midday.
- The Tensas National Wildlife Refuge: Enjoy hiking trails, hunting and fishing opportunities and programs for children and young people.
- Southern Heritage Air Foundation and Museum: Offers an unforgettable collection of materials on flight aviation in Madison Parish and a flight experiences whether you choose an aerobatic flight in a Warbird airplane or a flight in a vintage airplane.