Latest news with #HendrickHomeforChildren
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Black history comes to life at Alcorta Elementary School
ABILENE, Texas () – As Black History Month comes to a close, one elementary school celebrated the occasion by bringing history to life through speakers, performances, and a Black history museum. Black history in Brownwood: Continuing the legacy Debra Harris, head of the Black history program, said she wanted to highlight leaders whose stories often go unnoticed. 'I wanted something diverse so they could all come together, and they came together as a team. They worked together, they helped each other,' Harris said. 'I also would like them to know that Black history is more than just a skin color, it is actually a person, that is more than just the Malcolm X's or the Martin Luther King's or the Harriet Tubman's.' Turnerhills' legacy lives on at Hendrick Home for Children For teacher Richard Green, the importance of Black history is personal. His mother was part of the first integrated class at Abilene Independent School District, and he said she often shared stories of her experiences. 'She would tell me about some of the conflict, like it wasn't perfect by any stretch. There were moments where she knew that some of the teachers didn't really want her there, but it wasn't all bad,' Green. Despite the challenges, Green's mother found inspiration in one teacher who became a lifelong mentor. Green hopes to be that kind of teacher for his own students. 'She had really, really great teachers like the teacher who gave her this (pictured on the right). His name is Alvin Mathis. He really took her under his wing. This is actually given to her 30 years after he actually taught. So, he was really a teacher for life,' Green said. 'I tell my students every single year, and I tell them so often that once you have me as a teacher, you have a teacher for life.' One page at a time: Abilene Barber incentivize his love for books The school's Black history museum gave students a hands-on look at inventions and contributions by Black Americans. The program also featured performances by the step team, Alcorta Puppeteers, and guest speakers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Turnerhills' legacy lives on at Hendrick Home for Children
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – The Hendrick name is well known in Abilene, from the hospital to the nonprofit Hendrick Home for Children, but many may not realize the Turnerhills were the driving force behind the organization in its early years. As the first employees of the nonprofit, they lived on the grounds until their passing, leaving an impact that spans generations. Black history in Brownwood: Continuing the legacy Willie Turnerhill came to Abilene at just 17 years old in search of a job. Tom Hendrick hired him as a chauffeur, a role that eventually led him to oversee the grounds at Hendrick Home for Children while his wife, Margaret, took charge of housekeeping and cooking. Despite the challenges of segregation, Erin Seabourne, CEO and president of Hendrick Home for Children, said the children's love for the Turnerhills transcended racial barriers. 'Willie and Margaret would travel with the kids, and because during that time, blacks could not eat in the same place as whites, they didn't do that. They stop on the side of the road. They packed lunches,' Seabourne said. 'They stop on the side of the road so that Willie and Margaret could see could eat with the group, with the family.' The family of Willie and Margaret visited the nonprofit Sunday, reconnecting with the past and inspiring the future lineage. The oldest nice of the Turnerhills, Anner Davis, said she loved taking a trip down memory lane and truly seeing the legacy of love her aunt and uncle left. 'He enjoyed working here because he had all those kids. They said he didn't have any kids, but he had many kids. He had so many that loved him dearly,' Davis said. 'It gave me joy just to see his picture from way back when I was a little girl and to see it now that he's already lived his life and gone on.' Former Woodson Elementary students tour decaying school as Abilene ISD decides its fate: 'Last remaining standing structure for the Black community as we knew it' Andrew Penns, nephew of the Turnerhills, said that even though his aunt and uncle had their hands full, they always made sure to include their family. 'Sundays, we would come out, and that was one time you would see more than just whites on the playground. You'd have blacks and whites. It would be our families that were playing on the playground,' Penns said. One page at a time: Abilene Barber incentivize his love for books Willie and Margaret were both active members at New Light Baptist Church, where Margaret was a musician. Willie was known for his locally famous barbeque. Seabourne told KTAB/KRBC that the nonprofit still holds some of their recipes. 'We have a cookbook that is coveted here. There are only a few copies left because so many of Margaret's recipes are in it. And the kids, even as they've grown much older, talk about Margaret's cooking and Willie's barbecue,' Seabourne said. The Turnerhills lived on the grounds of Hendrick Home for Children until the day they died. Their history can be found at the Hendrick Home for Children Museum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
