Bessie celebrates 99th birthday

When African American News & Issues duly recorded Bessie McCowan Kyle’s 98th birthday for history last year, at the behest of her only surviving sister, Rosie Lee McCowan Brown (right on photo), our article concluded: “Congrats Aunt Bessie, we hope you have a much bigger and better party on your 100th birthday. Nevertheless, we didn’t realize at the time that her October 16, 2004 99th birthday party at Ward Chapel AME Church’s Fellowship Hall, 6822 Arabella, would be such a tough act to follow. Even so, it’s a safe bet that the gathering of well wishers, e.g., six generations of family and church members will still be talking about this year’s fete (coordinated by that her sister and Lizzie Westmoreland), when she celebrates her 100th birthday in 2005.

It’s very obvious that Aunt Bessie came from very sturdy stock (good genes), insofar as the she has enjoyed reasonable good health throughout most of her long and productive life, not to mention the fact that she and her sister epitomize the statuesque, stronged willed, beautiful, Black women who populated the Fort Bend County area where she was born on October 16, 1905. The small town of Needville, the birthplace of Bessie and her siblings, isn’t much older (as an incorporated township) as she is. The little hamlet is at the intersection of Farm roads 1236 and 360 and State Highway 36, fourteen miles south of Richmond in southern Fort Bend County. The community was established about 1891 by August Schendel, who built a home, a store, and a cotton gin on the high prairie and called it Schendelville.

When he applied for a post office in 1894, he changed the name to Needmore for a joke, since the place needed more of everything. Since that name was already in use, the post office department changed the name to Needville. A school had opened by 1897, and in 1898 Schendel plotted a town and began selling lots. In 1903 Needville had a one-teacher white school with ninety-seven pupils and a one-teacher black school with forty-five pupils. Aunt Bessie was the second of the ten McCowan children who attended that school. The McCowans, however, married into other great families, i.e., the Browns, Johnson, Gilmores and James, that are known for being very hard working, productive people, who loved the land that they made work for them, as much as they worked it. Rumors are that their vast hay fields made them very prosperous.

Many members of the clan, however, moved to larger cities and the aforementioned names have become an indelible part of Acres Home northwest Houston area history. It was traditional for members of the mixture of families, living in Acres Home, to return to the clan’s hay fields to work each summer. Religion and sports also were prominent in the lives of the clans, starting with Bessie’s only surviving brother, C. D. McCowan, was almost as well known on the rodeo circuits as his friend Mirtis Dightman. C. D. excelled in roping, which is a tradition he passed down to his son Bruce. Other sports attracted the younger generation and R. E. Johnson, who participated in the birthday program, played on one of Aldine G. W. Carver’s most popular basketball teams that also featured Lonnie Hubert and the late Billy Curtis.

Johnson’s younger brother Howard, aka “Hip,” led Carver to the state tournament at PVAMU and played at TSU during the late 60s and early 70s. Albert, Tommy and Wesley James also were well known basketball players, who also excelled in college. Al, who started his career as a coach, made history when he was became the second African American to head the City of Houston Personnel Department. The James girls were all great educators who became principals in Aldine and HISD schools. Wilma Johnson-Van Zant-Glaze was “Teacher of the Year” several times at HISD’s Sam Houston High School. Meanwhile Rosie Lee’s children, Joe, Clarence and Kay were outstanding athletes, along with their first cousin William “Dirty Gil” Gilmore, who earned his nickname for his slick moves while playing basketball at Carver.

Gilmore, however, played football at TSU. But, it was Joe, who was considered one of the top all-around athletes to play at Carver, insofar as he played baseball well enough to be drafted by the St. Louis Cardinal’s organization and was an All-District wide receiver, basketball player and swimmer. His big brother Clarence, aka “Tick” played football well enough to earn a scholarship at PVAMU and became an entrepreneur. He founded and owns C-B Wholesale on West Montgomery @ Wheatley. Sister Kay also distinguished herself in basketball in high school and college. Suffice it to say that Aunt Bessie had plenty of inspiration, provided by the success of the clan’s offspring in all walks of life to keep her inspired, happy and proud.

Aunt Bessie, however, considers all of the kids in her community as her children, especially those like former Queens, New York Congressman Rev. Floyd Flakes, who grew up at Ward’s Chapel, under the leadership of Dawson. Although Rev. James J. McLaughlin now leads the legendary church, the Dawson influence was a big part of the celebration. Sis. Cora Dawson gave Aunt Bessie a special tribute (“Just Give Me My Flowers”) and Rev. Roderick Dawson rendered the invocation. Long time friend, Sis. Jewel Houston also delighted the large crowd when she shared her memories of how Aunt Bessie made her keep her eyes on the prize. Sis. Houston says that it was wise counsel of Aunt Bessie and other elders in the community that helped her become a legendary educator.

Mrs. Houston, who recently had an Aldine ISD Elementary School named in her honor, certainly gave Aunt Bessie her flowers while she can still smell them. Others participating in the historical event were: Hattie Cooper, Mrs. Eastland, Velma Dillard, Bertha Cloud, Albert Brewer, Roland Womack, Rev. Bennie Wilson, the pastor, Rev. Stafford and Elder Johnny Jennings, Houston District AME Church. “Congrats Aunt Bessie, we hope you have a much bigger and better party on your 100th birthday.