[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF BARBARA LACEN KELLER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 26, 2023

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
life of New Orleans culture bearer and activist, Barbara Lacen Keller 
who passed away following a brief illness at the age of 76. New Orleans 
has lost one of its greatest champions of culture. Barbara was always 
leading the fight for the rights of our musicians and culture bearers. 
She left a legacy worthy to be celebrated and remembered for 
generations to come. She was also involved in politics, to improve the 
lives of people in New Orleans and across the country. For many years 
she worked for the City of New Orleans, as the Director of Constituent 
Services for Council District B Councilwoman Stacey Head, and later in 
Mayor LaToya Cantrell's Office of Cultural Economy, where she retired 
in 2020. She was fondly nicknamed ``the Mayor of Central City'', for 
all her work in that neighborhood. In 2012 she proudly served as a 
Barack Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 
Charlotte, NC. She was a Mellon Community Fellow at Tulane University, 
mentoring graduate students in community relations.
  Barbara was a very active figure in New Orleans' cultural community, 
including serving on the boards for the Preservation Resource Center of 
New Orleans and the Dryades YMCA, where she was currently serving as 
President of the Board of Dryades YMCA, New Orleans, Louisiana, leading 
the transition and operational restructuring of 115-year-old community 
anchor organization. She was an original member of the Lady 
Buckjumpers, and a founding member of the New Orleans Social Aid & 
Pleasure Club Task Force. Barbara was a charter member of the Femme 
Fatale Mardi Gras krewe, serving as one of the first float captains, 
and was currently serving as chaplain.
  She had been a valued member of the Board of Directors of WWOZ since 
2021 where she will be remembered as a Guardian Angel overlooking the 
Guardians of the Groove, advocating for culture bearers and musicians 
in our city; and of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, where 
she was elected to the Advisory Council in 2016, and onto the Board of 
the Foundation in 2019, serving as Chair of the Advocacy and Equity 
Committee and its Gala Committee.
  Barbara's mother was Augustine ``Miss Teen'' Germaine Lewis, who in 
the 1940s was the only Spy Girl Mardi Gras Indian in New Orleans. In 
the 1950s, Barbara herself masked as the Little Queen of the Cheyenne 
tribe.
  Barbara was raised on Villere Street in Treme, and attended Joseph A. 
Craig Elementary School, Andrew J. Bell Junior High School, and Joseph 
S. Clark Sr. High School, followed by Southern University at New 
Orleans. She was also a proud honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho 
Sorority, Inc. Barbara's Honors, Awards and Appointments are beyond 
numerous to mention them all.
  Other civic involvement included:

       Israelite Baptist Church, Pastor Support & Youth 
     Ministries, Governmental Liaison, Mass Choir
       National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 
     Member
       Black Organization for Leadership Development, Member
       Great Expectations Inc., Past Board Member and Treasurer
       City of New Orleans Enterprise Congress, Member
       National Council of Negro Women, Member
       New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Club Task Force, 
     Founder
       Central City Partnership, Co-Founder and Chairperson
       Cafe Reconcile, New Orleans Board of Directors, Past Chair
       New Orleans Council on Aging, Board of Directors
       Gathering of the Sisters, Founder
       City of New Orleans, Master Plan Advisory Committee, 
     Districts 25 & 26, Subcommittee Chairperson
       Armstrong Family Services, Board of Directors, Past Chair
       Urban League, Member
       Independent Women's Organization, Membership & Endorsement 
     Committees
       Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee, Member
       Democratic State Central Committee, District 103, Member
       National Slave Ship Museum, Vice Chair
       Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Member
       Original New Orleans Lady Buck Jumpers, Member
       American Heart Association, Go Red Women Luncheon, 2011 Co-
     Chair
       Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission, Co-Chair
       Treme/7th Ward Cultural District, Sponsorship Coordinator, 
     Festival Co-Producer
       Preservation Resource Committee, Board of Directors, Chair 
     of Multicultural Heritage Committee, Chair

  The ``Lacen'' part of her name came from her marriage to Anthony 
``Tuba Fats'' Lacen, one of New Orleans' most famous musicians, who was 
also Wild Man of the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indian Tribe. Their 
August 1980 wedding in Armstrong Park was the first wedding to take 
place in the park. Tuba Fats passed in 2004.
  Barbara's 1 son, Gene Bentley predeceased her in November of 2022. 
She is survived by the gems of her eyes, 3 daughters--Dawn Bentley-
Johnson, Kelly Bentley Dixon and Cantina Rankins; 4 beautiful 
grandchildren--Zihara Rankins, Michael Brooks, Jr., Jelani Robinson, 
and Alicia Green; and 1 adorable great-grandchild.
  I am humbled to have personally known such a great culture bearer and 
fighter for all, who has done so much to improve the lives of countless 
residents across my district. So many people's lives are enriched 
because of the love and passion she expressed in touching them along 
the way. While the grieving process never truly ends, I pray that the 
day will come when her memory brings a smile to her family and friends' 
faces before it brings a tear to their eyes.

                          ____________________