Geraldine F. Porter

Our mother was the fourth child born to Arthur C and Maggie B Franklin on Dec 12, 1933. The Franklin family was a close nit family that consisted of five girls and one boy. Their mother and father preceded them in death and Geraldine is the first sibling to leave the circle. She attended public schools and graduated a proud graduate of Phyllis Wheatley High School. She remained an active alumni member attending the yearly class reunions until her death. She graduated from Nursing Scholl and worked in Harris County Hospitals for many years (Jeff Davis and LBJ) as a labor and delivery nurse assisting with the birth of many babies until she retired. Geraldine was warm, compassionate and bossy. She had to run things so it should be no surprise that she served as a Union Stewart for the nurses. In her later years and after retirement she attended Bible College and graduated with a Theological Divinity Degree. Our mother was a “Diva” in her own right! You rarely saw her and anything was out of place. Imagine what Allen Eugene Porter saw, He could not help himself! They married and to that union eight children were born. Seven girls (one preceded them in death) and one boy. She was a great mother and grandmother who loved us dearly. She was always there no matter what (even a hang nail) she was coming with love, her bag and a remedy. She was there for every birth of a grandchild and the majority of the great grandchildren. She could be found telling the Doctors and the Nurses how she wanted things done. Karen was her first grandchild and she spoiled her so rotten you could smell her a mile away. They had a special bond. Geraldine accepted Christ at an early age and saw to it that we all did also. She attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church as a child, Greater Jerusalem Baptist as an adult. She fell in love with the teaching of a young preacher named I.V. Hilliard but said she could not join his church because he was too young (a little boy) and she needed a more seasoned pastor. She joined the little boy’s church in 1993 and never looked back remaining a faithful member until her health began to fail. What-ever you do – don’t say anything about her Pastor, her Bishop “I.V. Hilliard”. She loved her church and was always reaching out to help others we called it her “Outreach Program” Mother leaves a great legacy for us to follow (left to cherish her memory) Daughters: Gayola Houston (Joseph) Andrea Compton(Rev.Samuel Compton), Chyrl Rice(Raye), Renee Cleveland (Donald), Berna Kennard and Jacquelyn Perkins. Son: Allen Porter jr.  14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild Stepchildren: Melinda Manning, Carolyn Roberts and Ronnie Porter Sisters: Rosemary Berry, Tommie Austin(Horace)Shirley Glenn, Gloria Downs(Wendell) and one brother: Arthur C. Franklin jr. A host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.