I Remember Blundon Orphanage Home, Baton Rouge, La.

I Remember Blundon Orphanage Home, Baton Rouge, La. This is an open community page for former Blundon Orphanage Home
children, staff, family members and friends. The 1962 Cover Photo is of the boys. Haughton Jr.

I'm standing 3rd left,1st row, stripped shirt). -Dr. Claiborne D.

I'm saddened to hear that Mrs. Inez Delores Holts passed at the age of 87 on Nov. 17, 2025. I pray that the hearts of he...
12/08/2025

I'm saddened to hear that Mrs. Inez Delores Holts passed at the age of 87 on Nov. 17, 2025. I pray that the hearts of her family and friends be filled with blessings and wonderful memories of joyful times together as they celebrate a life well lived.🙏
It was by divine grace that Mr. Emerson Price of Rosamond, California spoke at her funeral on December 4, 2025 in Pasadena, California. Emerson and I grew up together with about 70 other children who lived at the Blundon Orphanage Home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
His informative speech educated the audience about the unsung story of Miss Inez, as we affectionately called her, and the role she played in the lives of the children of Blundon. Miss Inez served as Secretary to Miss Marion G. Wells, the Director of Blundon Home (photo-1). To God be the glory for the remarkable Miss Wells, who selflessly served as Blundon's Director for 27 years. Miss Wells was our white matriarch, who loved her Black Children, and we loved her. Miss Inez, admirably served in the 1960s as Executive Secretary for Miss Wells, and we are eternally grateful for her dedication. She was kind, tenderhearted and loved the children of Blundon. Ms. Wells retired as Director in 1985, and returned to her family in New York. We were blessed to have been able to pay and fly her back to Baton Rouge in 1996, for a Blundon family reunion to help celebrate her life on the old Blundon Campus (photo 2). We were overjoyed that Miss Inez flew from California and joined us for this Tribute to Miss Wells.
Over 100 children attended the long weekend ceremony and picnic. We had a wonderful time. Miss Wells is seated on the front row, center seat of the attached photo-3. Miss Inez is on the same row, left isle seat, white dress. Miss Olevia Eppes, who served as the Chair of the Planning Committee, is on the front row, yellow dress. I was humbled and grateful to be Keynote Speaker for the program, and I'm the only male standing in the center of the 2nd row.
Additionally, photos 4&5 are of Emerson Price and me and Miss Inez and me, when I served as Keynote Speaker for National Disability Employment Awareness Month at Edwards Air Force Base, California. I honored them and told our Blundon story. In closing, we thank Miss Inez for the profound impact she had on the lives of her Blundon Orphanage Home family. Miss Inez we loved, cherished and respected you. Rest-In-Peace and Power. 🙏 Rest assured, her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift us all. Sincerely, Dr. Claiborne D Haughton Jr. Former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Equal Opportunity.

10/04/2020

Thank you so much for liking this page about Blundon Orphanage Home. Ms. Marion G. Wells and all the other awesome staff members are unsung heroes who made a difference in the lives of so many African American children in Baton Rouge.

06/12/2020

INTRODUCTION BY FACEBOOK PAGE MANAGER: My name is Dr. Claiborne Douglass Haughton Jr. I grew up under the loving care of the Executive Director of Blundon, Miss. Marion G. Wells. She was a divine white woman, who dedicated 27 years of her life to helping African-American children at the Blundon Home. She drove me to the United Cerebral Palsy Center of Baton Rouge weekly for years of physical therapy that enabled to walk without the steel leg braces and arm crutches.

At Blundon, I learned to anchor my struggle in faith and to develop a victorious spirit. Miss. Wells, her superb staff and my Blundon Home brothers and sisters changed my life forever.

At Blundon, I learned my favorite Bible verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I graduated from McKinley high school in Baton Rouge, La. in 1963. I went on to
Dillard University, New Orleans, La. on a vocational rehabilitation scholarship and graduated with a BA in biology in 1967.
In 1980, I earned a Master of Public Administration Degree from American University, Washington, DC with honors.

I retired as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Equal Opportunity in 2002 after a rewarding 35-year career with the Department of Defense (DOD).

But I never could've imagined that the DOD would name the "Claiborne D. Haughton Jr. Library" in my honor. The Library is located at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

In May 2018, I received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from my beloved alma mater, Dillard University. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

DR. LEO S. BUTLER UNSUNG CHAMPION FOR BLUNDON ORPHANAGE HOME Dr. Butler graduated from Baton Rouge Colored School in 191...
06/02/2020

DR. LEO S. BUTLER UNSUNG CHAMPION FOR BLUNDON ORPHANAGE HOME Dr. Butler graduated from Baton Rouge Colored School in 1918. He was the first male to receive a diploma from what became McKinley high school. He completed both undergraduate and medical studies at Howard University in Washington D.C. In 1926 he began a lifelong practice of medicine and award winning community service. He was know with much respect as the “Dean of Black Physicians."

Dr. Butler was a trailblazer for Blundon Orphanage Home. He served for years as Chairman of the Blundon Board of Directors; and he lead a successful building drive which constructed new dormitories, circa 1965.

As a proud son of Blundon, I know first-hand about his devotion to the children of Blundon. I was born with cerebral palsy and blindness in one eye. I had to wear steel leg braces and had extensive physical therapy for 7-8;years. The loving Executive Director of Blundon, Miss Marion G Wells, took me to see Dr. Butler often to take care of my medical needs.

A little known Black History fact is Dr. Butler was the personal physician (free of charge) for all of my 60-80 Blundon brothers and sisters during the 12 years (1951-1963) my brother August Haughton and I lived there. Miss Wells would load us into a Station Wagon for our annual physicals. Dr. Butler did them year after year free of charge. May he Rest-In-Heaven with God and the ancestors in perfect peace.
Sincerely,
Dr. Claiborne Douglass Haughton Jr

BLUNDON ORPHANAGE HOME AND MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL. Blundon Orphanage Home was located on large campus at 650 W...
05/31/2020

BLUNDON ORPHANAGE HOME AND MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL.
Blundon Orphanage Home was located on large campus at 650 West McKinley St. about a half mile from McKinley high school and LSU.
I lived at Blundon during the period 1951-1963. The Executive Director of Blundon was Miss Marion G. Wells for over 27 years. She was a white woman who was often ostracized for her divine work on behalf of African American children who resided at Blundon over the years. We all went to McKinley.

We had our own basketball court with lights. Blundon had some of the very best ballers in Baton Rouge. Dudes came from all over to compete on our court against us, including some white players from LSU. Our guys were superstars on McKinley high school basketball teams.

The great Don Chaney who played basketball for McKinley and went on to play for the Boston Celtics honed his skills on the courts of Blundon. And our guardian, Miss Wells, loved to attend games to see her sons play. Two of McKinley's most talented players were my Blundon brothers Leslie "Showboat" Scott and Frederick "Dirty Red" Hilton.

Scott led McKinley to a La. State high school basketball championship in 1962. Another Blundon brother, Darrow Price was also a first team player on that 1963 team. Darrow went on to play for Gramblimg on a basketball scholarship

By many accounts, Scott was the greatest player in the history of McKinley high school basketball. He was a high school All American and broke all kinds of La. high school records. He went on to play for National Collegiate Champion Loyola of Chicago on scholarship. He was later drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. He almost made the team but his career was cut short by a nagging knee injury he got playing baseball at McKinley.

Fred Hilton adored Leslie who was his mentor and big brother at Blundon. He credits Leslie with teaching him the game of basketball. He was about five years younger and they spent a lot of time playing together on the Blundon court day and night. Just like his hero, Fred became an awesome player and went on to lead McKinley to a La. State Championship in 1967. Reverend Marvin Turner, another Blundon standout, played a key role on that 1967 championship team. He, too, went on to play basketball at Gramblimg.

Hilton quickly became a superstar at Grambling and was drafted by Buffalo in the NBA; and he enjoyed a successful NBA professional career. He credit his success to God and Leslie Scott, whom he calls the greatest ball player he ever met, bar none! I second that emotion. Our brother Leslie died from cancer about 20 years ago. May he Rest-In-Heaven with God and the ancestors in perfect peace.❤(First picture is Scott and Hilton and 2nd is Hilton)

Some years ago I was the keynote speaker for a National Disability Employment Awareness Month Lucheon at Edwards Air For...
05/30/2020

Some years ago I was the keynote speaker for a National Disability Employment Awareness Month Lucheon at Edwards Air Force Base, California. I was blessed to be reunited with my Blundon brother, Emerson "Bo Bo" Price and Ms. Inez Smith, who served as Miss Wells' Secretary. Emerson had finished his exemplary service in the Navy and earned a Silver Star for bravery in Vietnam. He and his lovely bride, Betty graciously invited me to be a welcomed guest in their lovely home. I'm most grateful for their wonderful hospitality.

The Blundon Orphanage Home for African-American children was located at 650 West McKinley Street. About 70-80 children a...
05/30/2020

The Blundon Orphanage Home for African-American children was located at 650 West McKinley Street. About 70-80 children and teenages lived at Blundon at any given. I lived at Blundon for 12 years (1951-1963) before being reunited with my family in Thibodaux, La. The great African-American trailblazer, Dr. Leo Butler served as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The Executive Director of Blundon was a white woman named Miss Marion G. Wells. She dedicated her life to Blundon for over 27 years. She would take a Sation Wagon full of us, trip after trip, to Dr. Butler's office to get our annual physical exams or medical attention whenever needed, free of charge. Often Miss Wells was ostracized and demonized for her divine work for hundreds of African American children who resided at Blundon over the years. But she never gave up her quest to do God's will in her life. She enforced weekly Bible study and most of us gave our life to Jesus and developed victorious spirits.

We were among the best dressed at McKinley high school and excelled in sports and all school activities. The great Leslie Scott and Frederick Hilton, led McKinley high school basketball teams to State Championships in 1963 and 1967. We always had each other's backs.

Blundon also had an outstanding Team of dedicated African American House Mothers and Fathers and support staff who helped take care of us. These pictures (circa 1995) are of the Reunion Ms Wells Blundon Home boys and girls held on the old Blundon to honor her. We paid her airfare and lodging. A delicious barbecue took place on the old Blundon Campus. I served as Keynote Speaker for the special "Thank you Program" in her honor. Many of her boys and girls attended and celebrated her. ❤May Miss Wells Rest In Heaven with God and the ancestors in perfect peace.

The Blundon Orphanage Home for African-American children was located at 650 West McKinley Street. About 70-80 children a...
05/30/2020

The Blundon Orphanage Home for African-American children was located at 650 West McKinley Street. About 70-80 children and teenages lived at Blundon at any given. I lived at Blundon for 12 years (1951-1963) before being reunited with my family in Thibodaux, La. These pictures are of the girls and boys who lived at Blundon during my years there.

The great African-American trailblazer, Dr. Leo Butler served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Executive Director of Blundon was a white woman named Miss Marion G. Wells. She dedicated her life to Blundon for over 27 years. She would take a Sation Wagon full of us, trip after trip, to Dr. Butler's office to get our annual physical exams or medical attention whenever needed, free of charge. Often Miss Wells was ostracized and demonized for her divine work for hundreds of African American children who resided at Blundon over the years. But she never gave up her quest to do God's will in her life. She enforced weekly Bible study and most of us gave our life to Jesus and developed victorious spirits.

We were among the best dressed at McKinley high school and excelled in sports and all school activities. The great Leslie Scott and Frederick Hilton, led McKinley high school basketball teams to State Championships in 1963 and 1967. We always had each other's backs.

Blundon also had an outstanding Team of dedicated African American House Mothers and Fathers and support staff who helped take care of us.

In 1995 a Reunion honoring Ms. Wells was held on the old Blundon Campus to honor her. Ms. Olivia Lewis and I were Co-chairs of the planning committee. I served as keynote speaker at a special Ceremony celebrating her 27 years as Executive Director. Her grown children paid her airfare and she was a special guest at the home of Fred Hilton. A delicious barbecue and weekend were enjoyed by about 40-50 guests. She was overjoyed "her children" honored and let her smell the roses during her lifetime. 🙏❤🙏May Miss Wells Rest In Heaven with God and the ancestors in perfect peace and eternal grace.

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New Orleans, LA

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+15046395675

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