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In the second episode of season 2 of the Laura Plantation Podcast, Joseph chats with Dr. Brittany Cochran Jones.
Dr. Jones is a member of the Laura Plantation Descendant Community. Here, she shares the journey of discovery that led her to her ancestor Madison Gray, an enslaved carpenter on the Habitation Duparc-Locoul.
Dr. Jones describes herself "as a curious little girl, always asking questions" about her family's past. A school field to Laura Plantation for the Br'er Rabbit Festival in the 1990s also inspired her to dig deeper into the story of her family's resilience, successes, and dedication to education.
Her great-grandfather, T.D. Noel, was an entrepreneur who ran a shoe repair shop called the "Vacherie Shoe Hospital."
Mr. TD. Noel; photo courtesy of Dr. Brittany Cochran Jones
The Vacherie Shoe Hospital; photo courtesy of Dr. Brittany Cochran Jones
Ms. Vondra Etienne-Steib, Dr. Cochran's mother, is the first woman elected to the St. James Parish Council and is also its Chairwoman.
Photo credit: St. James Parish Council website
