Central Louisiana African American Cultural Heritage Center opens

Six artists painted the portraits. One of her girlfriends, Fanietta Johnson, helped show audiences the works of artists Morris, Taft, and Thomas, who helped plan the center.

The portraits and their artists are:

• Arna Wendell Bontemps, a native of Alexandria who became part of the Harlem Renaissance. He was a writer, historian, and archivist. His poetry won awards, and he later became dean of the library and director of university relations at Fisk University in Nashville, where he developed the African American collection. He died in his 1973 at the age of 70. His portrait was painted by Johnson.
• Natalie Dessell Reed The Alexandria native graduated from Peabody Magnet High School and went on to become a successful actress. She started with her “Family Matters” episode, and she went on to appear in movies like “Set It Off” and “BAPS.” She passed away in 2020 at the age of 53 after a battle with colon cancer. Her portrait was painted by Kaylene Guilbeault.
• david faxton isles He attended Peabody Training School in 1918 and returned to Alexandria in 1934 to teach at the new Peabody High School. He eventually became principal and remained in that position for 35 years, transforming the school from a training school to an academic one. His portrait was painted by Dr. Clarence Tully Sr.
• John Baptist “JB” LaFargueAn editor and newspaper publisher, he was born to an enslaved woman and a white man. He was adopted by the LaFarge family of Avoyelles Parish, who founded the school that became Peabody Magnet High School. His portrait was painted by Guildborg.
• Colonel Katrina E. LloydA Peabody Magnet graduate of Grambling State University, she is the second Black woman to hold the rank of colonel in the Louisiana National Guard. The Alexandria native is the first African American and woman to serve as National Guard Surgeon and 61st Army Commander. Her portrait was painted by Guilbeault.
• Oliver “Ollie” OvertonHe is currently a member of the Rapides Parish Police Department’s jury and is originally from Alexandria. Mr. Overton, a graduate of Peabody High School, has served on and served on local and national boards. His portrait was painted by Joseph Anthony Pearson.
• Juan PierreHe graduated from Alexandria High School and played over 14 seasons on the Major League Baseball team. He stole 614 bases during his career playing for the Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. He retired in his 2015 year. His portrait was painted by Guilbeault.
• james jordan prestige jr.He was a biologist and educator who grew up in Alexandria. He graduated from Peabody High School and later taught at Southern University, which he attended before being drafted into the United States Navy during World War II. He led the creation of Southern University’s Department of Computer Science. His portrait was painted by Guilbeault.
• Jewel Limar PrestigeAn educator and author with a Ph.D., she grew up in Alexandria and later married James Jordan Prestige Jr. The two met while attending Southern University. Prestige was the first to study black women’s involvement in politics. She co-authored a book on the subject called Portraits of Liminality. She was a founder of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists in 2002. Her portrait was painted by Edward Burns.
• larry douglas smith A native of Alexandria, he was the first African American to serve as president of the Louisiana Criminal Justice Council and director of the C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center. He was assigned to provide supplies to stranded New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina. He retired as pastor of Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Alexandria in 2020 and has since become pastor emeritus. His portrait was painted by Guilbeault.
• clarence talley jr.Ph.D. is a graduate of Peabody High School and is currently an art professor at Prairie View A&M University. He is a Fulbright-Hays Scholar to Africa and a Phelps-Stoke Fellow to the Caribbean. He is also a writer and has recently exhibited his work in group exhibitions in India and China. His portrait was painted by his daughter Crystal Ann Talley.
• amos wesley jr.An artist, educator, and pastor, he left Alexandria at the age of six after the death of his father. When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps in Tuskegee, Alabama. He then became chief inspector for the 99th Fighter Squadron, responsible for determining which planes flew and which did not. In over 400 combat and escort missions, the squadron never lost a bomber. After the war, he founded the Wesley Auto Repair Company and became the first Black Lapize Parish Sheriff’s Deputy. His portrait was painted by Pearson.
• Dr. Romell Christopher WrenThe cardiologist and author moved to Alexandria when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Bolton High School in 1971 and returned to Alexandria after serving in the U.S. Army. He worked in private practice at Friedman Internal Medicine Clinic and later moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, to become medical director of Porter Cardiovascular Center. His portrait was painted by Burns.