Educator, Pioneer, Steadfast and Selfless

Mary Loretta (Jones) Houston – graduated Nolan High School in 1966. and came to Brownwood to attend Howard Payne university. She originally wanted to become a nun and had planned to go to Kansas. Over the Christmas break she met Cecil Houston who wrote her a letter asking her out. While attending HPU she married the love of her life Cecil in 1967 and became Mrs. Cecil Houston. They married and moved to the DFW area where their daughters were born. They relocated with their daughters to Brownwood years later.

Ms. Loretta graduated from HPU in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in oral communications and speech and drama. During her time as a student, she was involved in the HPU Choir and the National Forensic Speech League. After graduating from Howard Payne, Houston received a Master of Arts in English Teaching from Tarleton State University and a Master of Social Work Administration and Gerontology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Loretta holds 2-Master’s degrees.

After graduating from HPU, Houston taught speech and religion, she was one of the or the first African American to teach at HPU.

She has been dedicated to education throughout her career. At her church she is a youth director, pianist and Sunday school teacher. She is the president of the American Association of University Women, a member of the Women’s Business League, a member of 100 Black Women of Atlanta, a member of Circle of Sister, executive director of Light Forces, Inc. and a published author. Currently, Houston resides in College Park, Georgia. She and her late husband, Cecil, have four children and eight grandchildren.

While in Brownwood, Loretta started Ms. Loretta’s dance class in Brownwood, so her daughters didn’t have to experience racism and segregation. She took her students to see the Harlem dance company to experience their culture and witness different dances. Her classes became more integrated after their park performance in 1976. Her dance classes ran for 10 years in the Brownwood community.

Having a passion for literature, Loretta and her husband authored two books: God Gave Us a Song: Testimonies of Fear, Doubt, Faith and Celebration and The Makings of an Everlasting Love via Love Letters.

Houston was the first black president of the local AAUW (American Association of University Women) in Brownwood.

As a passionate teacher, Houston’s teaching career spans preschool to master level college students, both at HPU and Tarleton State University, where again, she was one of the first African American to teach at TSU. Believing that education could be a pathway to success, Loretta and her husband Cecil organized college tours in Brownwood. They took Brownwood students to visit HBCUs and other colleges and universities between Texas to Georgia.

When asked, she tells all her students, “If you can read and understand what you are reading, you can teach yourself anything.” 

Thank you, Ms. Loretta Houston, for your passion, steadfastness and selflessness in educating so many and giving back to HPU and the community of Brownwood, you are truly a pioneer.