Lillian Richard
Lillian Richard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Hawkins, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 1956 (aged 65) |
| Occupation | Performer |
| Known for | Portraying Aunt Jemima for Quaker Oats Company |
Lillian Richard (March 23, 1891 – July 2, 1956) was an African-American performer renowned for her role as Aunt Jemima.
Biography
Richard was born in Hawkins, Texas as the fifth child among eleven siblings to parents Derry and Cornelia Richard. Her childhood was spent in the nearby town of Fouke, Texas. One of her brothers, George Richard, was the grandfather of Stanley Richard, a former NFL safety.
In 1910, she relocated to Dallas, where she initially found employment as a cook. Around 1912, she wed Golden Leflore, who passed away two years later due to tuberculosis.
By 1925, Richard had secured a contract with the Quaker Oats Company to embody the Aunt Jemima persona, promoting pancakes and related products. Her work was primarily based out of Paris, Texas. In 1935, she married James Diggs.
Her association with Quaker Oats lasted for 23 years. Following a stroke circa 1947–1948, she returned to Fouke where family members provided care until her passing in 1956. She survived both of her husbands and did not have children.
In 1995, the Texas Legislature designated Hawkins as the "Pancake Capital of Texas." On June 30, 2012, a Texas Historical Marker commemorating Richard was installed.