By Brenda Daniel
“… I was re-baptized when I was nineteen and I’m on my way to heaven. That’s a vision; I’m working on that vision, and I know that’s going to happen.” Sarah Mae Albritton
Sarah Mae Albritton was born Feb. 6, 1936, in Arcadia as Sarah Mae Drayton, and early in her formative years her family migrated to the Ruston area. In dire substandard living quarters and being poor, she grew up living between her mother’s domicile in Ruston, and other family members who lived on a small farm in the country.
As a very determined young Black female with unfailing desire to learn, achieve and work at being a catalyst for change, she became a true Renaissance woman. Everything Albritton accomplished was motivated by her desire to help raise the bar for Black people and to make a significant contribution for the betterment of society in general.
In 1956 her marriage to Robert Lee Albritton led to their own three children, including six of her uncle’s children, of which they cared for to prevent them from becoming wards of the state. Over the years Sarah Mae Albritton became a self-made icon involved in city recreation for her community as a softball coach and mentor, a traditional soul food cook of which her restaurant, Sarah’s Kitchen was opened (next door to her home on “North-end” of town) holding great popularity in Ruston and surrounding areas.
Poet, lay preacher, storyteller, designer with training in carpentry and welding, and her work in social services confirmed her reputation as a true Renaissance woman. A short course Albritton took in 1978 at Louisiana Tech, taught by Professor Edwin Pinkston and titled “Learning to Draw” unlocked her creative ability for drawing and painting. Albritton became a prolific artist with the unique style of marrying storytelling and art.
Albritton’s work soon went into circulation and became nationally recognized, but only on her own terms. Because of her independence and entrepreneurial spirit, Albritton became her own dealer to sell her books. It is written in her classic published work, “On my Way… The Arts of Sarah Albritton,” that the success of the negotiation depended on the situation and the day. With the help of Susan Roach, folklorist and English professor, and Peter Jones, artist and art professor, both at Louisiana Tech, the book was published featuring excerpts from poems, art and stories, and her journey with Sarah’s Kitchen. She passed away November 11, 2020, leaving behind a legacy to remember.
