Mobile Register (AL) - December 5, 1999
Deceased Name: Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies
Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies By JEB SCHRENK Staff Reporter
People who knew Marjorie "Betty" Cain Nolan knew her claim to local fame was linked to her maiden name.
Mrs. Nolan, who died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 69, was the great-granddaughter of Joe Cain - the man credited with reviving Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War.
"Mother always liked telling people she was kin to him," said Stanley Nolan Jr., one of Mrs. Nolan's sons.
Mrs. Nolan was a native of Bayou La Batre, but she lived for the last 10 years at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home in Semmes for the mentally handicapped. She liked to drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and talk about days past, family members said.
In her younger years, Mrs. Nolan worked at a seafood shop in Bayou La Batre taking the backs off of crabs, family members said.
Beth Bachmann, of Dauphin Island, Mrs. Nolan's daughter, said she last saw her mother on Wednesday. She picked up Mrs. Nolan, bought her a Coke and a pack of cigarettes and went for an outing.
Mrs. Bachmann said her mother was found dead Friday.
"She was kind-hearted," Mrs. Bachmann said. "She was like an innocent, a child."
Family members said Mrs. Nolan had a near-perfect memory and was able to quickly recite dates and events. She lived with about eight other women at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home.
Ms. Reynolds, who operates the home, said Mrs. Nolan would look out for any of the residents who got sick.
"The ladies here, they've really been hurt," Ms. Reynolds said of Mrs. Nolan's death. "They've really cried."
"She wouldn't hesitate to say 'I love you.' It was one of her main words, and she meant it."
Mrs. Bachmann said Saturday that family members were still trying to decide whether to include her mother's relation to Joe Cain on her headstone.
Cain revived Mardi Gras in 1866 by riding through the streets in a charcoal wagon dressed as the mythical Chickasaw Indian Slacabamorinico. He died in 1904.
Each Sunday before Fat Tuesday is Joe Cain Day, and people take to the street for the annual "people's parade."
"She'd always say that she's Joe Cain's great-grandbaby," Ms. Reynolds said.
Mrs. Nolan's survivors also include sons Ray Nolan of Coden and C. Richard Nolan of Rock Hill, S.C.; one brother, Robert Cain of Irvington; one sister, Jeanien Bennett of Bayou La Batre; and a host of other relatives.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Bayou La Batre. The funeral will be at the church Monday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.
Mrs. Bachmann said donations may be made to Ruth Reynolds Foster Home, 10100 Wulff Road, Semmes, Ala., 36575.
Deceased Name: Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies
Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies By JEB SCHRENK Staff Reporter
People who knew Marjorie "Betty" Cain Nolan knew her claim to local fame was linked to her maiden name.
Mrs. Nolan, who died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 69, was the great-granddaughter of Joe Cain - the man credited with reviving Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War.
"Mother always liked telling people she was kin to him," said Stanley Nolan Jr., one of Mrs. Nolan's sons.
Mrs. Nolan was a native of Bayou La Batre, but she lived for the last 10 years at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home in Semmes for the mentally handicapped. She liked to drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and talk about days past, family members said.
In her younger years, Mrs. Nolan worked at a seafood shop in Bayou La Batre taking the backs off of crabs, family members said.
Beth Bachmann, of Dauphin Island, Mrs. Nolan's daughter, said she last saw her mother on Wednesday. She picked up Mrs. Nolan, bought her a Coke and a pack of cigarettes and went for an outing.
Mrs. Bachmann said her mother was found dead Friday.
"She was kind-hearted," Mrs. Bachmann said. "She was like an innocent, a child."
Family members said Mrs. Nolan had a near-perfect memory and was able to quickly recite dates and events. She lived with about eight other women at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home.
Ms. Reynolds, who operates the home, said Mrs. Nolan would look out for any of the residents who got sick.
"The ladies here, they've really been hurt," Ms. Reynolds said of Mrs. Nolan's death. "They've really cried."
"She wouldn't hesitate to say 'I love you.' It was one of her main words, and she meant it."
Mrs. Bachmann said Saturday that family members were still trying to decide whether to include her mother's relation to Joe Cain on her headstone.
Cain revived Mardi Gras in 1866 by riding through the streets in a charcoal wagon dressed as the mythical Chickasaw Indian Slacabamorinico. He died in 1904.
Each Sunday before Fat Tuesday is Joe Cain Day, and people take to the street for the annual "people's parade."
"She'd always say that she's Joe Cain's great-grandbaby," Ms. Reynolds said.
Mrs. Nolan's survivors also include sons Ray Nolan of Coden and C. Richard Nolan of Rock Hill, S.C.; one brother, Robert Cain of Irvington; one sister, Jeanien Bennett of Bayou La Batre; and a host of other relatives.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Bayou La Batre. The funeral will be at the church Monday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.
Mrs. Bachmann said donations may be made to Ruth Reynolds Foster Home, 10100 Wulff Road, Semmes, Ala., 36575.
Mobile Register (AL) - December 5, 1999
Deceased Name: Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies
Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies By JEB SCHRENK Staff Reporter
People who knew Marjorie "Betty" Cain Nolan knew her claim to local fame was linked to her maiden name.
Mrs. Nolan, who died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 69, was the great-granddaughter of Joe Cain - the man credited with reviving Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War.
"Mother always liked telling people she was kin to him," said Stanley Nolan Jr., one of Mrs. Nolan's sons.
Mrs. Nolan was a native of Bayou La Batre, but she lived for the last 10 years at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home in Semmes for the mentally handicapped. She liked to drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and talk about days past, family members said.
In her younger years, Mrs. Nolan worked at a seafood shop in Bayou La Batre taking the backs off of crabs, family members said.
Beth Bachmann, of Dauphin Island, Mrs. Nolan's daughter, said she last saw her mother on Wednesday. She picked up Mrs. Nolan, bought her a Coke and a pack of cigarettes and went for an outing.
Mrs. Bachmann said her mother was found dead Friday.
"She was kind-hearted," Mrs. Bachmann said. "She was like an innocent, a child."
Family members said Mrs. Nolan had a near-perfect memory and was able to quickly recite dates and events. She lived with about eight other women at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home.
Ms. Reynolds, who operates the home, said Mrs. Nolan would look out for any of the residents who got sick.
"The ladies here, they've really been hurt," Ms. Reynolds said of Mrs. Nolan's death. "They've really cried."
"She wouldn't hesitate to say 'I love you.' It was one of her main words, and she meant it."
Mrs. Bachmann said Saturday that family members were still trying to decide whether to include her mother's relation to Joe Cain on her headstone.
Cain revived Mardi Gras in 1866 by riding through the streets in a charcoal wagon dressed as the mythical Chickasaw Indian Slacabamorinico. He died in 1904.
Each Sunday before Fat Tuesday is Joe Cain Day, and people take to the street for the annual "people's parade."
"She'd always say that she's Joe Cain's great-grandbaby," Ms. Reynolds said.
Mrs. Nolan's survivors also include sons Ray Nolan of Coden and C. Richard Nolan of Rock Hill, S.C.; one brother, Robert Cain of Irvington; one sister, Jeanien Bennett of Bayou La Batre; and a host of other relatives.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Bayou La Batre. The funeral will be at the church Monday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.
Mrs. Bachmann said donations may be made to Ruth Reynolds Foster Home, 10100 Wulff Road, Semmes, Ala., 36575.
Deceased Name: Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies
Joe Cain descendant Betty Nolan dies By JEB SCHRENK Staff Reporter
People who knew Marjorie "Betty" Cain Nolan knew her claim to local fame was linked to her maiden name.
Mrs. Nolan, who died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 69, was the great-granddaughter of Joe Cain - the man credited with reviving Mardi Gras in Mobile after the Civil War.
"Mother always liked telling people she was kin to him," said Stanley Nolan Jr., one of Mrs. Nolan's sons.
Mrs. Nolan was a native of Bayou La Batre, but she lived for the last 10 years at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home in Semmes for the mentally handicapped. She liked to drink coffee, smoke cigarettes and talk about days past, family members said.
In her younger years, Mrs. Nolan worked at a seafood shop in Bayou La Batre taking the backs off of crabs, family members said.
Beth Bachmann, of Dauphin Island, Mrs. Nolan's daughter, said she last saw her mother on Wednesday. She picked up Mrs. Nolan, bought her a Coke and a pack of cigarettes and went for an outing.
Mrs. Bachmann said her mother was found dead Friday.
"She was kind-hearted," Mrs. Bachmann said. "She was like an innocent, a child."
Family members said Mrs. Nolan had a near-perfect memory and was able to quickly recite dates and events. She lived with about eight other women at Ruth Reynolds Foster Home.
Ms. Reynolds, who operates the home, said Mrs. Nolan would look out for any of the residents who got sick.
"The ladies here, they've really been hurt," Ms. Reynolds said of Mrs. Nolan's death. "They've really cried."
"She wouldn't hesitate to say 'I love you.' It was one of her main words, and she meant it."
Mrs. Bachmann said Saturday that family members were still trying to decide whether to include her mother's relation to Joe Cain on her headstone.
Cain revived Mardi Gras in 1866 by riding through the streets in a charcoal wagon dressed as the mythical Chickasaw Indian Slacabamorinico. He died in 1904.
Each Sunday before Fat Tuesday is Joe Cain Day, and people take to the street for the annual "people's parade."
"She'd always say that she's Joe Cain's great-grandbaby," Ms. Reynolds said.
Mrs. Nolan's survivors also include sons Ray Nolan of Coden and C. Richard Nolan of Rock Hill, S.C.; one brother, Robert Cain of Irvington; one sister, Jeanien Bennett of Bayou La Batre; and a host of other relatives.
Visitation will be today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Bayou La Batre. The funeral will be at the church Monday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Oddfellows Cemetery.
Mrs. Bachmann said donations may be made to Ruth Reynolds Foster Home, 10100 Wulff Road, Semmes, Ala., 36575.
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