Maggie Thornton Renfro's Passing...

The oldest and last of the Thornton sisters passed away last night peacefully in her sleep. Maggie Thornton Renfro was 115. Although the cencus reported her as 114, we will respect Maggie's memory of when she was born. Maggie will now join her sisters Rosie and Carrie who all died within days of one another.

Maggie, Carrie and Rosie were honored November 8th of 2009 at a Centenarian Celebration in Minden as part of the North Louisiana Triumph Over Tragedy commemoration of the Great Depression. The Thornton Sisters were the oldest African American siblings in the nation. Maggie Thornton Renfro held the distinction of being the oldest Louisiannian, the 4th oldest person in the nation and the 6th oldest person in the world.

Following the historic celebration in November at the Minden Civic Center, the Thornton family said that Cultural Crossroads was a real blessing to them.

On behalf of the board of directors of Cultural Crossroads, I must say that they were our blessing! We will miss their optimistic outlook on life, their sweet smiles and

their contagious laughter. And we will forever remember that they left us all with a special parting message: "Just love one another!"

--Chris Broussard

Making History in Minden

We will fondly remember the day that Minden celebrated the oldest African American siblings in the nation. The Thornton sisters will live forever in the stories they told. A documentary, a book and a play have been produced that include the Thornton Sisters. Upcoming events will showcase the new art that was created out of "Triumph Over Tragedy."

Carrie Thornton's Passing...

Another sad day in Webster Parish. "Aunt Nonnie" passed away early this morning.

She had been fighting pneumonia for several months. Her younger sister, Rosie Thornton Warren, "Aunt Squate," passed away on December 18th. Carrie is survived by her older sister, Maggie Mae Thornton Renfro who turned 115 in November.

Please remember this sweet family in your prayers. We respectfully mourn the passing of one of our Elders from the Greatest Generation!

CARRIE LEE THORNTON MILLER
April 9, 1902 – January 5, 2010

Spring Arts Festival 2010

Get ready for this year's Spring Arts Festival on April 22-24, 2010. Keep up to date in the future on this blog and at www.artsinminden.com.

Rosie Thornton's Passing

(photo by Neil Johnson)

We respectfully morn the passing of one of our Elders from Greatest Generation!
ROSIE LEE WARREN THORNTON
January 6, 1906 – December 18, 2009

Synopsis of The Thornton Sisters

(Rosie, Maggie, and Carrie Thornton)

MAGGIE MAE RENFRO THORNTON

Nick name: (Aunt) "Sugar"

Maggie Mae Renfo Thornton was born on November 14, 1894 according to the U.S. census but if you ask her, she was born in November of 1895. She is of African/American decent. She finished the 8th grade and went on to become a commercial and private cook. She was born in Athens, Louisiana, Claiborne Parish to Dellie and Wylie Thornton, Sr. She was the 4th of 11 children. Maggie Mae left home at the age of 19 to become a cook. She joined a crew that traveled the south earning money to buy her own truck and transporting works to job sites in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Maggie married Rudy Renfro in Texas. They had no biological children but Maggie adopted her niece, Mattie when she was only 9 months old. Maggie was 35 when the stock market crashed. Maggie is the oldest living person in Louisiana, the 5th oldest person in the United States and the 7th

oldest person in the world.

CARRIE MILLER THORNTON

Nick name: (Aunt) "Noonie"

Carrie Lee Miller Thornton was born on April 9, 1902. She is of African/American decent. She finished the 8th grade and went on to become a sharecropper with her husband and later in life worked as a housekeeper in private homes. She was born in Athens, Louisiana, Claiborne Parish to Dellie and Wylie Thornton, Sr. Carrie married at the age of 16 to Arthur Miller who is now deceased. Carrie moved to Minden in the late 40’s and early 50’s. She had one son, Milton Miller, who is also deceased. Carrie was 27 when the stock market crashed.

ROSIE LEE WARREN THORNTON

Nick name: (Aunt) "Squate"

Rosie Lee Warren Thornton was born on January 6, 1906. She is of African/American decent. She finished the 8th grade and went on to become a sharecropper and also worked in private homes. She was born in Athens, Louisiana, Claiborne Parish to Dellie and Wylie Thornton, Sr. Rosie married Tom Warren who is now deceased. They had seven children. Two are deceased, Bertha Capers and L.C. Taylor. Her other children are Retha Brown, Lovie Warren, Ella Warren, Lillie Phenix and Eddie Warren. Rosie moved to Minden in 1953. Rosie was 23 when the stock market crashed.

Art Show & SALE: The Chris Broussard Collection

Come see and have the opportunity to purchase the many wonderful works of art by Chris Broussard. Join us Friday, December 4th at 5:30pm at Easley Fine Art & Photography on Main St. Works featured will be art from the past and works that have been more recently produced.

100% of the proceeds will go to the arts to directly benefit our children and our community through the efforts of Cultural Crossroads. Support Your Future!

Drinks and fine food will be featured. So come and know that your purchases will come back to you seven-fold through the hard work of Cultural Crossroads.

Chris Broussard is a co-founder of Cultural Crossroads and founder of Webster Parish's first after school enrichment center. She taught children's art for more than 22 years and is currently the art enrichment teacher for Glenbrook School. Chris received the Governor's Award for "Promotion of the Arts in Louisiana" for 2006 and received the "Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award" for Louisiana in 2008.