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By Hilda Bouldin Francis Hilda Bouldin Francis, the only child of Richard and Allonia Edison Bouldin, was born on July 26, 1913, at 2800 Avenue B, Bay City, Texas. Hilda's father and mother were natives of the Live Oak and Buckner Prairie communities, and came to live in Bay City in the late nineteenth century. Allonia came as a maiden with her parents, while Richard came looking for work. After a period of courtship they were wed on February 11, 1912. Richard purchased property and built a residence. For many years, he was in the transportation business. The business was known as "Dick's Jitney," and later as Dick's Taxi. Richard was born on December 18, 1890, and died on July 19, 1966, and Allonia was born on October 24, 1892, and died on November 24, 1957. Allonia's parents, Ransom and Georgia Edison, came to Bay City from Buckner Prairie community to seek employment. Ransom was a reliable, industrious, and hard working young man and soon found work and built a home for his bride. Ransom carried the United States mail in his horse-drawn surrey to and from the Bay City Post Office and Missouri Pacific train station until his death in 1913. Ransom's brother-in-law, Henry Cooper, succeeded him in that job, and for many years, Henry's little "burros" were a familiar sight. Hilda's great-grandmother, Mrs. Amey Clay, was a house slave. She was very intelligent, learned to read and write, was an immaculate housekeeper, and an excellent cook and seamstress. Hilda was enrolled in Booker T. Washington Elementary school in September of 1920, and studied there for one year. Her elementary and high school grades were completed in the pubic schools of Galveston. Hilda married Romelus Francis on November 24, 1938; they had no children. Romelus came to Matagorda County from Chapel Hill, Washington County, with his father, Sam Francis, as a small child. Sam Francis was a farmer, but he is also remembered as the "Hobby Horse Man" who provided entertainment for the youngsters with rides on his horse drawn merry-go-round. Romelus was an excellent cook and for many years was head cook at the White Kitchen, Paul Palmer's Cafe and the Texan Cafeteria and Cafe. Later he was employed as a bottler at the 7-up plant until he retired in 1976. He was a kind and reliable man. Hilda enrolled at Prairie View A&M College in September of 1931, but because of financial conditions, she attended only one regular term. Thereafter, she attended summer terms and took extension courses. Her dedication to learning and hard work earned her a Bachelor of Science Degree from Prairie View A&M College. This course of study covered a ten-year period from 1946 to 1956. Hilda's first teaching assignment was in October of 1933, at a "one teacher school" in the Wilson Creek community, Ashby school district, with Mrs. Clara Pollard as County Superintendent. Hilda had received her temporary three year teaching certificate in 1932, the last year Texas issued those certificates. Hilda enjoyed eleven rewarding years in this community, and then taught in Van Vleck for one year and then in the Bay City Independent School District for twenty-eight years. For three years Hilda was the only black teacher assigned to Pierce School. Hilda retired from Pierce in May of 1973. Hilda and Romelus were affiliated with Tyree Chapel African Methodist Church. She was proud of her family heritage, and worked to perpetuate it.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pages
161-162 |
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Funeral services for Hilda Bouldin Francis, 79, will be held noon Monday at Tyree Chapel A. M. E. with the Rev. Roy Brown officiating. Burial will be at Eastview Cemetery in Bay City. There will be a wake from 7 to 9 p. m. Sunday at the chapel. Visitation will be 11 a. m. to noon Monday. Mrs. Francis was born July 26, 1913 in Bay City to Richard and Allonia Edison Bouldin and died Nov. 5, 1992 at her home. She was a Methodist and taught school for 40 years at following schools—Hilliard High School, Linnie Roberts Elementary and Pierce Elementary School. Survivors include her husband Romelus Francis of Bay City; a brother, Savanah Bouldin; three godchildren, the Rev. Bruce Creacy of Brazoria, Charles Brown of Bay City and Lorie Dotson of Houston; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Pallbearers will be Charles Brown, Lemon McBride, Wilson Hart, E. H. Allen, Sam Williams, Michael Hebert and Charles Perry. Honorary pallbearers will be Stewards and Trustees of Tyree Chapel. Arrangements are with Green’s Mortuary in Bay City.
Daily Tribune, November, 1992 |
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Funeral services for Romelus A. Francis,
91, of Bay City, Texas will be held on Wednesday, June 13, 2001 at
11:00 a.m. at Tyree Chapel A. M. E. Church with the Rev. Evelyn R.
Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Eastview Cemetery in Bay
City. Mr. Francis will lie in state at Tyree Chapel on Wednesday
morning from 10 to 11 a.m. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 12, 2001
from 12 o'clock noon until 9 p.m. at Green's Mortuary. |
