(September 10, 1801-June 16, 1881)
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana
19th century Voodoo priestess
Lived and practiced in New Orleans

She practiced a made up religion and played upon people's superstitions.
She developed a network of informants from her days as a hairdresser and brothel owner, and used these informants to make it seem like she had a supernatural source for information.
She charged admission to her ceremonies.
She had a snake named Zombi after an African god.
She and her daughter, Marie Laveau II are sometimes mixed up, which has led to considerable confusion over when she actually died and where she was buried.
Some of this confusion was deliberately used to spread rumors that Marie I had been reincarnated and/or knew the secret to eternal youth.
She worked Catholicism, or at least the symbols of it, into her worship.
Her first husband disappeared under mysterious circumstances and was possibly murdered.
Some very gullible people still visit her tomb and mark three x's on it in an effort to have wishes granted.

Her father was a white planter and her mother was a free woman of color, so she never had to suffer through slavery.
She charged well-to-do whites for her services but usually helped the poor, especially blacks and slaves, for free.
She had 15 children.
She had white and black followers, and seeing her for a reading was at one time considered quite trendy among rich whites.
Several very good books and hit songs have been inspired by/named after her.
Fear of her (and possibly blackmail stemming from her brothel operation) protected her from the white political establishment.
She achieved incredible power, influence, and independence for a black woman (free or not) of her time.

Credit: tom_jeffords

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For 2009, as of last week, Out of 77 Votes: 70.13% Annoying

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