Find-A-Grave: Lulu M. White

Lulu M. White

Resting Place: Riverside Cemetery, Oswego, New York

Plot: Section K

Birth: 1880

Death: 1976 (aged 95-96)

Lulu White was a prominent and influential New Orleans madam, best known for running one of the most successful and luxurious brothels in the city's notorious Storyville district. Born in Mississippi, she moved to New Orleans in the late 19th century, where she became a key figure in the city's red-light district. White's establishment, the "Mahogany Hall," was renowned for its elegance and sophistication, attracting wealthy clients, including businessmen, politicians, and musicians.

White was known for her business savvy, maintaining strict control over her operation, and for offering a refined environment with well-dressed women and high-class accommodations. Her brothel became one of the most exclusive in Storyville, where she became a celebrated and powerful figure, even garnering attention from local media for her wealth and influence.

Lulu White's Mahogany Hall

Despite her success, White's life was not without controversy. She was involved in a series of legal disputes and was eventually forced to shut down her business when Storyville was closed in 1917 due to federal regulations aimed at suppressing vice. Afterward, she lived in relative obscurity until her death in 1931.

Lulu White's legacy is entwined with the colorful history of Storyville, and she remains one of the most well-known figures from that era, representing both the wealth and the moral ambiguities associated with New Orleans' early 20th-century vice culture.

Watch the YouTube videos spotlighting the life and legacy of Lulu White, the Diamond Queen of Storyville.