Mattie Lou Gullatt Alford (1887-1976), who went by her middle name, was originally a resident of Simsboro, Louisiana. In 1907, a newspaper social column noted she was first assistant at her hometown high school and a graduate of Peabody Normal School (now part of Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, Tennessee. She remained on the Simsboro faculty at least through the 1909-1910 school year, and in the summer of 1911 was named to teach in the central Louisiana community of Lecompte. She attended summer school in New Orleans (presumably at Newcomb College) in 1912. In 1915, another social column refers to her again being a Simsboro resident visiting relatives in Shreveport that year.
Source: Ancestry.com Contributor
Her first connection to Mooringsport was mentioned in 1916 in in yet another social column, recapping news about residents and events there, that noted she had been "home" (Simsboro) over the weekend. Another teacher, Hazel Merrell, was reported to also have visited her home in Robeline.
The following year she was listed as Mooringsport principal. Below is an article about the opening of the school term that year.
Times 08-Oct-1917, Page 2
Lou was identified on numerous occasions over the years as Mooringsport principal: for examples in 1918, 1919, 1921, and 1926. Most were again mentions of her returning to hometown Simsboro, or notices of faculty assignments published on or before the start of the school year.
Times 18-Sep-1921, Page 7
She also actively pursued continued education herself, noted attending summer school at Louisiana State University in 1919, 1922, and 1924.
The last found mention of her associated with Mooringsport was a list of attendees of a sophomore-senior banquet held at the school in May 1927.
An Ancestry.com researcher records her marrying Joseph Henry Alford (1873-1947), a fellow educator and school principal, on 08-Jun-1927. No documentation is provided to support this, however in September Mr. and Mrs. Alford of Baton Rouge were said to have spent their vacation in Simsboro.
That fall, Lloyd E. Walker (1901-1951) became principal and would serve in that capacity for the next 24 years.
1923 Louisiana State Normal (now Northwestern State University) Potpourri
No subsequent mention of her later serving as principal or teaching elsewhere was found. In 1930, the obituary of her brother, John S. Gullatt, again identified her as Mrs. J. H. Alford of Amite. The 1947 obituary of John Henry Alford noted she was his second wife. He and first wife Elizabeth (nee Addison), with whom he had five children, and who passed away in 1939; presumably divorced. He and Lou apparently had no children.
Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 14-Mar-1947, Page 9
She again dropped off the radar, receiving little mention, except for more incidental instances of her visiting family in Simsboro as a resident of Franklinton, her late husband's home town. No further mention in the press until passing away in December 1976. Her obituary noted she had been one of the first woman principals in Louisiana.
Interment: Ellis Cemetery; Franklinton, LA
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