HOW BERNARD BAYOU WAS NAMED?

BAYOU BERNARD LOCATED IN HANDSBORO, MISSISSIPPI WAS NAMED FOR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN BY THE NAME OF BERNARD BENOIT. HE WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL BLACKSMITH AND A FREE BLACK MAN THAT OWNED PROPERTY IN HANDSBORO AND HIS BLACKSMITH SHOP WAS VERY NEAR THE OLD BRIDGE AREA LOCATED ON LORRAINE ROAD, ABOUT ¼ MILE OR SO FROM PASS ROAD.