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PREACHER, TEACHER, BARBER, POET, BOXER...
by Sara Crow |
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PREACHER, TEACHER, BARBER, POET, BOXER... There aren’t many people who can say, “I’ve been a preacher, a teacher, a barber, a boxer, a musician, a rancher, a poet, a carpenter, and a philosopher.”
Robert E. Black of Markham, fondly called “The Reverend Mr. Black” by many of his former students, has been all of these, usually several at one time. More remarkably, he does or has done all of these things well.
In Mr. Black’s 36 years of teaching in the Tidehaven School System, he has touched many people and all regard him as a person who always went much further than the assignment of a teacher. He fondly called to his classes “Now Students” when wanting their attention. His resonant, soft spoken, yet magnifying voice is the voice of a scholar and a poet.
It all began on November 10, 1901, at Brundidge, Alabama in Pike County, with the birth of a very special child to the Reverend John Black and Harriet Green Black, who had five other sons and two daughters. He attended a county school for eight years near the Pea River which separates Barbour and Pike counties. It was there he started his quest for knowledge which continues to this day.
His first job was with the Goodrich Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, at the age of 16, a job short lived due to the flu epidemic of 1918. After returning home to help his parents, his restless nature took him next to Toledo, Ohio to reside with a brother and work for the Overland Automobile Company, which was known for the Willis Knight Car.
After the World War I ended he drove for his father, a circuit preacher, and chanced to meet the lovely Lois E. Hataway at Orion Baptist Church. This brief encounter would later hold fond memories; four years later, on September 24, 1924, they became man and wife.
While serving in the Navy in 1920, Mr. Black states that he made a grand total of $42 monthly while training in Chicago, and later in Charleston received an increase of $12. A few boxing championships also came his way in the Navy. Since the government wanted to reduce the Navy at that time, Mr. Black cooperated by returning to Brundidge, farmed, and drove the preaching circuit with his father.
His next venture was Barber College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he graduated in 1921, and followed this trade in Banks, Eufaula and Dofin, Alabama. At the latter he was invited to play the guitar with a jazz band, but declined.
Always there was a thirst for more education, and he traveled to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt University, supporting himself by barbering at the Hermitage Hotel. A great experience while there was hearing Gypsy Smith, the great evangelist from London, England.
His correspondence with Lois Hataway began to take a serious turn, and Mr. Black bought a new Ford and stated doing some serious courting, 35 miles every weekend. They were soon united in marriage by his father.
Robert and Lois spent a honeymoon year at Bessimer where they were members of the First Baptist Church and he surrendered himself to the ministry. “There were wonderful people in Bessimer”, he recalls.
Then they both attended San Marcos Academy. Lois graduated in 1926, the same year their precious little daughter arrived. Robert graduated as valedictorian in 1927.
At Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, he laid his foundation in English, Latin, and Bible, and continued his education through Baylor University in Waco in English Education, Greek, and Latin. He had made the dean’s list all semesters.
In 1930 the family arrived in Markham and our “Reverend Mr. Black” began his teaching career. It was during the middle of the depression but times were good in Markham, Black recalls. He organized the English department in grades 7 through 11 to meet requirements of the State Department. He remembers that two of his former students from his first graduating class of 1930-31 were Lois Harper and Alfred Kopecky.
As a teacher in Matagorda County, Mr. Black has endeared himself to hundreds of students, teaching 16 years in Markham, 4 at Blessing and 16 years at Tidehaven High School.
Since settling down in Markham, Mr. Black has become known, not for any one skill, but for all those skills he has developed during his lifetime--teaching at Tidehaven schools, preaching at First Baptist Church and carpentering at home.
The Blacks have also raised three sons and a daughter in Markham. Bill now resides in Houston. Charlie in Van Vleck and Bob in Markham. The Black’s daughter “our sweet Wilda,” died at age 11.
Their five grandchildren are Jeffery Wayne, Craig, Emory, Marie Elizabeth, and Rodney Emerson.
Mr. Black is a man who has shown people how to live, a God fearing man, full of compassion and enthusiasm for life. He has gone the gamut in life’s happiness and sorrows, yet there is a twinkle in his eye, laughter in his voice, and a very deep serenity in his soul.
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Their host of friends over the state will sorrow with Pastor and Mrs. R. E. Black of the Markham Baptist Church at word of the death of their oldest child and only daughter, Wilda, nearly eleven years of age. She was one of the very brightest children in the whole community, was widely loved and will be greatly missed. Many neighboring towns were represented in the throng gathered at the Markham church for the funeral service, which, with the vast floral offerings from far and near, were evidences and tributes of genuine appreciation, both for the departed and for the bereaved parents.
Rev. A. C. Maxwell was in charge of the services, assisted by the local Methodist pastor, Rev. E. W. Thompson, and Rev. M. R. Soileau, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Cuero, who gave the scripture reading. Dr. Odis Rainer, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Bay City, spoke appropriately of the influence of Wilda’s sweet little faithful Christian life, and presided at the interment service at the Bay City Cemetery. Evangelist Maxwell, who has helped Pastor Black in three revivals and was a beloved friend of Wilda’s, spoke on the theme “The Ministry of Suffering in the Christian’s Life.” By request, Mrs. A. C. Maxwell sang “Sometime We’ll Understand.”
Sunday School Superintendent Luther Robertson was indeed a “Beloved John” to his pastor in the time of great loss and grief. Chairman R. L. Hamill and the board of deacons were pallbearers, and the little girl chums and classmates of Wilda formed an honorary guard. Friends of the other churches served as ushers and with the music, and helped in every possible way.
Rev. Black has done a most outstanding work during his seven and a half years ministry at Markham, and is an honored member of the Markham High School faculty. Daily Tribune, March 3, 1937
In Memory of Wilda Black
The death angel visited the home of Rev. and Mrs. Robert E. Black of Markham on February 27, 1937, and took from them their only daughter, Wilda, after an illness of a few weeks. She was 10 years, 10 months and 3 days old. She budded on earth to bloom in Heaven, where there will be no more parting words. Wilda was among the sweetest of all little girls and was loved by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed at school and in the church where she loved to be and was never absent only when sickness kept her away. Her sweet voice in song will be missed; she will now sing with the saints above. She was an active worker in the church, always ready to do whatever she was asked to do.
There is a vacant place in the home that will never be filled in this world, but may the family all be joined together in Heaven where there will be no more broken chains.
The funeral services were held at the Markham Baptist Church on March 1, 1937, at 3:00 p. m., under the direction of Walker-Matchett funeral directors. Rev. A. C. Maxwell of Beaumont had charge of the services, assisted by Rev. Odis Rainer of Bay City, Rev. F. M. Soelour of Cuero, and Rev. E. W. Thompson, pastor of the Methodist Church of Markham. Pallbearers were deacons of the church: Luther Robertson, R. L. Hamill, T. B. Smith, John Quinney, G. W. Johnson and Alvin Huddleston. Many comforting words fell from the lips of those servants of God to the bereaved parents. The house was filled with friends who came to pay their last respects to their dear little friend whose body lay asleep in death in the beautiful casket covered with flowers. But her spirit had gone to be with her Saviour. Her body was laid to rest in Cedarvale Cemetery to await the resurrection morn. The mound was covered with the most beautiful flowers placed there by sympathizing friends.
Dear father and mother, we know you miss her. We wish we could help you bear your burden. But when earthly friends have done what they can, there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. May you ever find rest and comfort in Him who does all things well. It is not for man to understand the mysteries of God in this world. Some day we will understand.
Wilda leaves to mourn her going, a father, a mother, and two sweet little brothers, Bobbie and Charles, and a host of friends. To the heart-broken parents, we pray God’s richest blessing upon them and may He ever keep them in His way.
No one
knows how we miss you,
In our
hearts your memory lingers,
A Friend.
Daily Tribune, March 13, 1937
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Funeral services for Robert E. Black, Jr., 66, of Markham will be at 10 a. m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Rev. Joe Ramsey and Rev. Howard Harper officiating. Interment will be at Cedarvale Cemetery.
Black died Dec. 20 at Houston Northwest Medical Center in Houston. He was born July 6, 1932 in Bay City to the late Robert Euclyd Black, Sr. and Lois Estelle Hataway Black. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Markham and a lifelong resident of Markham.
Black is survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, William “Billy” and Claire Black of Houston and Charles E. and Vivian Black of Van Vleck; niece, Marie Black of Houston; nephews, Rodney and Emory Black of Houston, Jeffrey Black of San Antonio and Craig Black of Van Vleck. He was preceded in death by his sister, Wilda Elizabeth Black. Pallbearers will be Michael Black, Rodney Black, Emory Black, Pat Patterson, Henry Seifert and Louis Kopnicky.
Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.
Daily Tribune, December 22, 1998
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Lois E. Black  |
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Black Family Plot  |
