Antoinette K-Doe (February 3, 1943 - February 24, 2009) was the spouse of
R&B singer
Ernie K-Doe
Ernest Kador Jr. (February 22, 1933 – July 5, 2001), known by the stage name Ernie K-Doe, was an American rhythm-and-blues singer best known for his 1961 hit single "Mother-in-Law", which went to number 1 on the ''Billboard'' pop chart in the U ...
. She was also owner of the
Mother-in-Law Lounge
The Mother-in-Law Lounge is a live music venue, pub and a shrine in New Orleans, Louisiana dedicated to the memory of rhythm and blues singer, Ernie K-Doe. It is at the downtown river corner of Claiborne Avenue and Columbus Street in the 7th Ward ...
in
, a
pub
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...
and shrine to her late husband. She was a notable cook and costume designer, putting her skills to use to make elaborate suits for Ernie and dresses for herself. Antoinette acted as spokesperson for
Hands on Network
The HandsOn Network was a non-profit organization focusing on community service based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. It sought to bring people together to strengthen communities through meaningful volunteer action, and mobilized some half million vo ...
, a volunteer organization dedicated to
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
relief. Antoinette herself was rescued from the Mother-in-Law Lounge after being stranded by flood waters for seven days, and she was passionate about the rebuilding of her city. A local celebrity, she was known by many as "Miss Antoinette".
After she returned to the city following Katrina, she helped to rebuild the neighborhood by cooking up large servings (often for 200+) of gumbo and other New Orleans favorites to serve to the volunteers who had come to help rebuild.
She died of a heart attack early in the morning on February 24, 2009 (
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...
Day) in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the Mother-In-Law Lounge. She had just closed up the lounge at about three in the morning and was lying down to rest up for Mardi Gras day. Only days earlier, she rode in a float with the famous Ernie K-Doe mannequin in the
Krewe of Muses
The Krewe of Muses is an all-female super krewe and social organization.
History and formation
The Muses were founded in 2000 by Staci Rosenberg and first paraded during Mardi Gras in 2001. Since then the krewe has grown to include approximatel ...
parade.
Miss Antoinette was also the leader of the Baby Dolls, a female Mardi Gras
Krewe
A krewe (pronounced "crew") is a social organization that puts on a parade or ball for the Carnival season. The term is best known for its association with Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, but is also used in other Carnival celebrations ar ...
. With origins dating back to the turn of the 20th century, the Krewe had not existed for many years when Miss Antoinette decided to take it upon herself to start it back up.
In 2008, she was awarded the Heartbeat award at
Offbeat magazine's
Best of the Beat Awards
''OffBeat'' is a New Orleans, Louisiana monthly local music magazine founded by Jan V. Ramsey in 1987. The magazine, published by OffBeat, Inc., focuses on the popular music of New Orleans and Louisiana, which is generally R&B, blues, jazz, ro ...
.
References
NOLA.com obituary and brief biographical notes
External links
*
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20120805182156/http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A50876%2F Rally of the DollsRest in Peace Antoinette K-DoeIn the Kitchen with AntoinetteRemembering Antoinette K-Doe, a great New Orleanian
{{DEFAULTSORT:K-Doe, Antoinette
1943 births
2009 deaths
American social workers
People from New Orleans