In Memory of Queen Mary Oneida Toups

All Hallows is right around the corner and I am pretty busy of late with work, personal engagements and helping our High Priestess with the Religious Order of Witchcraft.  While getting things ready both Lady Katina and I realized that either Mary Oneida Toups never had an official obituary or it was somehow lost, believe me we looked.  So with that in mind we decided that a woman who offered so much of her time and love of the Craft and who founded the Order deserved a loving obituary.  Yeah, it's way overdo and we of the Religious Order of Witchcraft would like to honor Oneida in some way.  This unofficial obituary is in memory of the life and Spirit that was Queen Mary Oneida Toups.  We of the Religious Order of Witchcraft offer this little piece of gratitude to you Oneida.  Blessed Be!

In Memory of Queen Mary Oneida Toups

It is on this day, October 24, 2015, that we of The Religious Order of Witchcraft honor and dedicate our work to the late Mary Oneida Toups.  Mary was born on April 25, 1928 in Meridian, Mississippi to Arthur Hodgin and Mary Ellen Killing.  She lived a typical and ordinary life for a woman of the time period up until 1969. Mary had been married and was a hardworking mother who had little time to invest on a mystical path. However, by 1970 Oneida achieved the beginning of her success that lead to her life as a Witch.

               On September 1, 1970 Oneida Toups opened her first Witchcraft and Voodoo supplies store called Oneida’s Witchcraft Shop in New Orleans, LA. Along with her shop Oneida Toups legally established the Religious Order of Witchcraft on February 2, 1972 with the help of Boots Toups and Mac John Rebennack, who were not members of the Order but were a strong support system for her work. It was one of the first of its kind in the day to be legally recognized within the U.S.  The Religious Order of Witchcraft grew and so too did Oneida’s shop.  Mary was well respected and feared by those in New Orleans and many people flocked to her for her advice and magickal help. Visitors to her shop also included many well-known names, such as Jackie Gleason, so widely known was she for her magick.

               Throughout this time, while Oneida Toups was very successful achieved a great deal within a short amount of time.  Oneida succumbed to an illness in September of 1981. After her passing the Order was taken over and maintained by Lord Russell George who passed on Oneida Toups teachings until his passing in 2014.

               Today the Religious Order of Witchcraft is headed by Lady Katina Smith with several initiates and clergy, from various parts of the country, who continue to provide one of the most complete magickal/religious training systems as created and devised by Oneida Toups herself.  The thriving of her teachings is what Oneida wanted most along with her name to be remembered long after her passing. There are many who claim to have personally known her, and many who claim to be initiates within the Order.  Many, but not all, of those claims are unfounded and simply untrue.  There are also many websites dedicated to sharing colorful stories of Oneida Toups and her life as a witch.  While these stories are interesting and entertaining for the New Orleans Tourist, many of these stories are just that, pure entertainment.  Many of the stories told are embellishments and some completely made up. However, we of the Religious Order of Witchcraft, know that these stories help to keep Oneida’s memory and name alive to this very day. Mary Oneida Toups achieved what she had set out to accomplish.  She attained recognition long after her passing and her Order is still active.  We are privileged and honored to continue passing on Queen Mary Oneida Toups vision and goal to elevate the spirit of seekers of the occult. Blessings to you Queen Mary Oneida Toups and may your memory continue to live on!