The Great Monument Wall of 5th Ward - a Gertrudejane Stone initiative includes my mom, Mattie Bowen Blackshear

My mom Mattie Blackshear is next to the tree. My brief remarks below from the dedication today: I Can Do All Things through Christ who strengthens me – giving Honor to God and all in attendance today, thank you for keeping the historymakers alive and I hope you will tell others and visit often. Mrs. Stone you could have erected a monument in honor of your father, your mother, your husband alone, however you chose to honor our community with a visual way to remember the MANY who contributed to this community, some of whom are with us in person today and some who have gone on to glory and are watching this official dedication in awe of what you accomplished in bringing this great monument to fruition which is an inspiration to those who will follow in these honoree’s footsteps. Some who are yet to be born will be impacted by what you have done here. I appreciate you asking me to speak today on behalf of my mother, Mattie Bowen Blackshear who was born in 1907 and left us in 2002. My mother, an educator, who was a mother to many in the neighborhood and was an active servant of the community. She graduated Salutatorian from Navasota High School in Navasota, Texas and received her undergraduate education at Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College (now Prairie View A&M University, graduating in 1929 with a Bachelor of Science in Education, followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree issued by the Board of Regents of the University of Houston from the Houston College of Negros in 1945. She earned a Master’s degree from Texas State University for Negroes (currently Texas Southern University) in 1950 and was one of the first African Americans to earn a second Master’s degree in Special Education from Texas Woman’s University. As an educator, in special education, she often brought home students for the weekend to work with them on their studies. She was active in the Houston Teachers association, the Houston State Teachers Association, and the National Education Association, as one of the few African American representatives, speaking up for the concerns of her fellow teachers, students and parents. She was perhaps best known for her founding and long term Presidency of the Scattergood Club and as a board member of the Lyons Clinic where she was active in the “Baby Buddy” program for expectant mothers in the community. Her other associations were the Retired Teachers Association, Married Ladies Art and Charity Club, the Navasota Club, the Philodendra and Gardenia Garden Club where she was known for organizing flower shows, winning sweepstakes and yard of the month. She was also a member of Court of Calanthe, Golden Triangle YWCA, Federated Garden Club, Christian Home workers and Eta Phi Beta Sorority to name a few. Despite her many titles she most loved “Mother”—she was often called upon for prayer and held weekly bible studies (with delicious food) at her home weekly after her retirement. She often said she wanted to be the House by the Side of the Road, and always a friend to man! A few photos from the dedication today

Dr. Stone the husband of Gertrudejane Holliday Stone is on the wall just behind us. Photo of Rod, Donna and Mrs. Stone the architect of this monument.