Kilgore Church Honors 3 Women for Decades of Service & Community Impact

Kilgore, Texas – Three women with deep roots in the East Texas community were recently honored by Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church and the City of Kilgore for their decades of service and dedication. Clora Austin, 100, Cleo Morgan, 99, and Maxine Fortson, 90, were recognized for their significant contributions to both the church and the wider region.

A Legacy of Service

The recognition celebrates a lifetime of commitment from these three individuals. Clora Austin, born February 11, 1926, in Gregg County, has remained connected to the land her grandfather purchased in 1912, a property stemming from her great-grandfather’s acquisition of 500 acres near Longview after arriving in Texas from Kentucky as a formerly enslaved person.

Did You Know? Clora Austin’s family has owned land in the area since 1912, originally purchased by her grandfather.

Austin’s dedication extends beyond her family’s land. She graduated from North Chapel High School in 1945 and continued her education, earning both a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas College and a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M. She devoted nearly 30 years to education, specializing in special education and serving as an educational diagnostician before retiring in 1987.

Breaking Barriers in Education

Cleo Morgan, also a 1945 graduate of Kilgore Colored High School, pursued higher education at Wiley College before relocating to New York to start a family. She later earned a master’s degree from Texas Southern University and dedicated 17 years to teaching in Lubbock during a period of school integration. Morgan recalled that, at the time of her high school graduation, students of colour were not permitted to attend Kilgore College.

Expert Insight: The experiences of Austin and Morgan highlight the systemic barriers faced by African Americans in accessing education and opportunities in the mid-20th century, and their perseverance in overcoming those obstacles.

Maxine Fortson, who has been affiliated with Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church for approximately 80 years, also contributed significantly to the field of healthcare. After graduating from Kilgore Colored High School, she earned a nursing degree in Salina, Kansas, and further specialized in anesthesia nursing in Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked for 20 years before returning to East Texas in 1974.

The Church as a centre for Learning

Fortson reflected on the challenges faced by students at segregated schools, noting that they were often behind their peers in terms of resources and materials. She recalled instances where books were delivered to the Black school by bus from the white school. Austin emphasized the historical role of the church in providing education for Black children when public schools were not accessible to them, noting that both her mother and father attended school at the original church site.

Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church is currently awaiting approval for a historical park plaque to commemorate the site’s importance in the community’s educational and religious history, for which funding has already been secured.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of the historical park plaque?

The plaque will commemorate the site’s role in providing education for Black children in the area when public schools were not available to them.

Where did Clora Austin earn her degrees?

Clora Austin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas College and a master’s degree from Prairie View A&M.

What was Maxine Fortson’s profession?

Maxine Fortson was a nurse who specialized in anesthesia nursing.

As the community awaits the historical marker, what lasting impact will the dedication of these three women have on future generations in Kilgore and beyond?