Favorite Character from Louisiana’s Past: Marie Laveau

In her early twenties, Marie married Jacques Paris, a free person of color. He died mysteriously shortly after the marriage. She then became a hairdresser who catered to wealthy New Orleanians, and she began a longstanding relationship with Christophe Glapion, with whom she had fifteen children. Marie lived to be ninety-eight years old and was eulogized extensively in publications throughout New Orleans. She was a devout Catholic who also is credited with being one of, if not the first, the Voodoo Priestesses to gain fame and a following among the many disparate cultures inhabiting the city.

Jay Dardenne was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State of Louisiana in November 2010. He’s also a popular speaker who regularly conducts a presentation entitled “Why Louisiana Ain’t Mississippi,” a lively and colorful look at Louisiana’s culture, demography, history, music and politics.

Other nominees were:

Dudley J. Leblanc

Huey P. Long

Pete Maravich

Eddie Robinson