The Root of Tangipahoa Growth

Written by Nick Gagliano

Photos by Johnny Chauvin

Multi-generational businesses are important to every community and Tangipahoa Parish is blessed with many businesses that are now owned and operated by second and third generation family members.

“People think Economic Development is just about new businesses coming to the parish,” said Tangipahoa Economic Development Director Ginger Cangelosi. “While they are extremely important, it is critical that we work to help our local, multi-generational businesses grow, expand and prosper.”

Cangelosi said that companies like Medline, Intralox and Niagara Water play a large role in bringing good paying jobs to Tangipahoa Parish. She also points out locally-owned businesses make Tangipahoa Parish a unique community, and that plays a large role in attracting larger businesses who are looking for a great quality of life for their employees.

“As our parish seat, Amite has always played an important role in our community. Today, we are honored to highlight a few of our multi-generational businesses.”

The Mulberry Tree

The Mulberry Tree in Amite is another example of a great multigenerational family-owned business.

Bud and Carroll Glasgow opened Thrift-Town Pharmacy in 1969 and built the store where Mike’s Catfish Restaurant is today. There was both a pharmacy and a gift shop in their space. They moved the pharmacy to Tangilena Shopping Center in 1978 and Carroll opened a larger gift shop since there was more space. They then bought a city block across from Hood Memorial Hospital where Bud built a new pharmacy in a strip center. It was then that Carroll moved the Mulberry Tree in a separate space next to Thrift-Town. Before she opened in 1995, local artist Klaudia Durnin became her partner and they opened the Mulberry Tree on Nov. 15, 1995. Four years later, Carroll bought out Klaudia.

“Our roots run deep in Amite, and I am proud to carry on the family legacy of being the local owner of this fantastic shop,” said current owner Kristy Glasgow Berner. “For over 55 years, my family has been helping the Amite community, and I am proud to carry on that tradition.”

During high school and college, Kristy worked in the Mulberry Tree painting children’s gifts, and she soon became more involved in the day-to-day operations.

She bought the store in 2007, and since then, the store has tripled in size.

Like other multi-generational businesses, Kristy has a great mentor in her mom.

“She is just a wealth of information. From etiquette for invitations to going to market to purchasing new products to helping fill-in while I attend my children’s school events, I am truly blessed to have my mom here.”

Kristy also delights in being a business owner in a small town. The Mulberry Tree has always been an active member of the community helping schools and organizations.

“Amite is a great town, and I am proud to be one of many multigenerational families who continue the tradition of serving our area. I know my customers and they know me. Many times, they just call and ask me to choose a gift because they know I know their taste and style.”

Kristy also sees the full circle in her business in her gift registry service. She said she has girls who worked for her then registered for graduation gifts, then wedding gifts, and then for baby gifts.

She also sees a bright future for the Mulberry Tree.

“My daughter has worked here like I did while growing up. She is heading off to college, but she knows she will always have a place at the Mulberry Tree just as my mom did for me.”

Richardson Funeral Home

It was over 60 years ago that Alexander Richardson, Sr. and his wife, Melissa, opened and operated

“We take pride in helping families during some of the worst and most sorrowful times of their lives,” said Valerie Richardson, Alex and Melissa’s granddaughter. “Without a doubt, we always provide the best and most caring funeral service because we know we have big shoes to fill.”

Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. is located on East Mulberry Street in Amite across from the Tangipahoa Parish Courthouse. The day-to-day operations are handled by Valerie, her brother, Earl Jr., who is known in the community as Scottie, and their first cousin, Alex, when he’s not on duty with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Alex says his whole life has been in and around the funeral home. He learned quite a bit from his grandfather, father, and uncles who all worked in the family business at one time or another.

“We firmly believe in service,” said Alex. “We are honored to be here to help our friends and neighbors, and we will always provide exceptional service setting high expectations for the best funeral accommodations.”

This third generation of Richardsons also carry on the tradition of treating all people the same.

“We never look at the price someone pays,” said Scottie. “Everyone gets our full attention regardless of the price or package they choose. My grandfather and father always treated everyone with dignity and respect, and now, we are the funeral home of choice for so many in our community.”

As a local, multi-generational company in Amite, the Richardsons are involved in the community by participating in back-to-school giveaways, food and gift box donations, and collaborating with area churches and organizations to help the less fortunate in the area. Additionally, the Richardsons have turned over all of their obituaries to the Southeastern Louisiana University Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies as an added bonus so that families they serve can also preserve their family legacy.

“Our family has been blessed, and we want to share our blessings with our community,” said Valerie.

The Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. family is excited about the future. In early summer, they will be opening a location in Hammond to serve the needs of southern Tangipahoa Parish.

“Our grandfather, fathers, and uncles have set a high standard for us,” said Alex. “We will always work to meet their expectations in providing the absolute best funeral service. We want to continue the legacy for our fourth and fifth generation of Richardsons.”

Building on a family legacy, the third generation of Richardson Funeral Home, Inc. are continuing to live the motto of their grandfather:

We Provide just a Little More Than Service, We Care.