90 Plus: Francis Melba Braud
ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- Francis Melba Braud, 95, of St. Martinville just celebrated her birthday.
According to the family, Ms. Braud helped to establish the African American Museum inside the St. Martinville Cultural Museum.
Moreover, Braud is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and has achieved diamond status, which recognizes 75 years of service with the organization. Braud was born and raised in Rayville, Louisiana, just outside of Monroe. At one point, Melba's family moved to Houston.
"I went from Houston to New Orleans' Xavier, and from Xavier, I got married. We came here to live and I've been here ever since," Braud explained.
Melba lives in the house she and her husband built. "They were going around school talking about how Ms. Braud and Mr. Braud are building a castle over there."
It took them 20 years to complete the house. "I've been married to you 20 years now, and you haven't built this house, so I'm leaving. That's when he struck the line to build this house," she said.
Melba attended USL, currently the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Melba and her husband had four children. Her husband, Newman, served in World War II. Plus, her husband was an educator. "I was the first African American teacher at USL."
Melba recalls when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was marching for equal rights, the federal government allocated funds to cities and parishes for initiatives related to cultural history.
She was appointed to the committee for that by the mayor. "I did a lot of research with other college professionals and USL to do the historical background for the creation of the museum that we now have today in St. Martinville," Braud noted.
She also offers advice to parents on how to reverse the path that many children are currently following and falling victim to today.
"A long time ago, the old folk used to have to be buried by the young people. Today, the older people have to bury the young folks because so many of them are being shot and killed and falling towards drugs. It's true. We need to get our families together and get back together towards those goals our ancestors had," Braud added.