GRACE CLEMONS, an outspoken, feisty, but beloved person answered to many nicknames such as “Baby Child, “Watergate,” “Christian,” “Peter Reader,” and “Salt-T-Sugar,” while growing up in 1930s’ Houston, Texas, but she was mostly referred to as the Crawford boys’ little sister. Unfortunately, none of the Crawford brothers who wrote an edible page in Black Houston’s history book, were among those celebrating their little sister’s life at Pleasant Hill BC, 1510 Lyons@ Pannell on Oct. 2, 2002

Nevertheless, the pioneering Crawford family’s offspring that added to the clan’s legacy of enterprise and entrepreneurship certainly stirred fond memories among living historians attending her funeral services, who actually witnessed the development of one of the Fifth Ward community’s first all Black business complexes. The complex added to the landscape that was already populated by a thriving Ross Mortuary, a popular tavern and later, the first Julia C. Hester House. Phillis Wheatley High School, on the corner of Gregg Street and Lyons Avenue, was also a stone’s throw from the business complex.

For sure, nobody had yet grasped the concept of a shopping mall back in the 1940s’ Fifth Ward, the Crawford brothers’ (Charlie “C.J.” and Linzy) Square Deal Barber Shop was the center piece of the business complex that also included a shoe repair shop owned and operated by the Andrew brothers’ (Andrew and Prince), located on the corner of Lyons Avenue and Bringhurst Street. Black Houston was thriving, since Fourth Missionary Baptist Church, located in Third Ward, built the first two story Black church in Houston’s history. Obviously the Black neighborhoods were booming, in spite of having virtually the same unemployment problem in 1940 as we have in 2002.

The census count for Black Houstonians was 86,302 or 22.4% of the city’s population, but the unemployment rate was 11 percent for African- American breadwinners, compared to 7.1 percent for Whites. 53. 7 percent of Houston’s Black females, however, sustained the community during what was known as “days work,” in rich White households, but Grace Clemons wasn’t one of them. Grace, blessed with the same entrepreneurial spirit as her brothers, started her own janitorial service.

Grace was a happy person who loved cooking and eating and was an avid fan of baseball, because her brothers played the game very well while growing up in Smith County, Tyler Texas. Grace, who followed her brothers to Houston, attended Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston and later met and married Burnett Clemons and gave birth to one son, Earl. Both preceded her in death.

While celebrating Grace’s life, who was born Sept. 21, 1916 to Mary Ann and Tom Crawford, her good friend Laura Chandler sang “Bright Side,” and solos were also rendered by Richard Jackson and Rev. Michael Pickett. Eleanor Jones, read the resolution paying tribute to Grace’s work in Mission I, the Mission Chorus, Bible Band and Sunday School at Pleasant Hill. She was one of the founding members who shared over 60 years of “Kingdom Building” with the legendary pastor, Rev. L.H. Simpson, who was succeeded by her brother Linzy. Charlie, who along with his wife Esque became 5th Ward legends at their barber and beauty shop that was located in the 4000 block of Lyons Avenue @ Benson, but all of Grace’s other siblings (her sister, Tommie Crawford Humber and her other brothers Will, Percy, Andy, Linzy Walter and Joe), left a legacy of entrepreneurship for their future generations.

Sadly, Charlie who took care of Grace in her declining years, died at age 92 and was followed to glory two weeks later by his beloved Esque, his wife and business partner of over 60 years. Grace spent her final years in a nursing home. Sis. Alberta Martin, another Fifth Ward legend, living historian and Grace’s dearest friend represented Mission I and Court of Calanthe at her homegoing services and the remaining members of the Crawford clan received a message of comfort from Rev. Harvey Clemons Jr. Reshard Bowie, Emmitt Bryan, Charles Coleman, Edell Crawford, Frank Thomas, Jesse Gates, Kenneth, Freddie and Harry Humber, were active pallbearers and heirs of the Crawford legacy.

Surely, there will be many who will remember Grace when Phillis Wheatley celebrates its 75th Anniversary on Nov. 14-17, 2002, at Sheraton Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 North Loop. For more information call 281/449-7400.

The immensely popular Humber sisters, Rhoda Coleman, Mary Little, and Ruth Linton will remember her as the outspoken aunt. Ruth a striking beauty, even at sixty-something, is a member of the Forty Plus Models organization and a cherished teacher at HISD’s Barbara Jordan school.