Elta Ceole Speight

June 8, 1928 – January 24, 2022

Born in Toro, Louisiana, but a resident of Pasadena most of her life. Ceole was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Joseph Walker Speight Jr., sons Kenneth Walker Speight and Calvin Brett Speight, son-in-law Bill Arnold, and great-grandson, Jordan Andrew.

She is survived by daughter, Jeanne Arnold, daughter-in-law Linda Speight, son Glenn Speight and wife Marilyn, daughter-in-law Charlene Speight; grandchildren, Kevin Bullard and wife Gina, Kyle Bullard and wife Melissa, Mark Speight and wife Blanca, Dennis Speight and wife Emily, Keri Bullard, Angela Speight, Genni Stevenson and husband Justin, April Speight, and Nicole Rossi and husband Jonny; 28 great-grandchildren, Kevin, Karlie, Ciara, Gage, Dylan, John, Ty, Brooklyn, Michael, Sofia, Benjamin, Sky, Diego, Zoe, Evan, Zane, Kimber, Rayne, Breylin, Jalen, Ethan, Logyn, Kaedynce, Ellie, Jax, Zander, Arya, and Raven; and 7 great-great-grandchildren: Joe, Emma, Kennedy, Wren, Piper, Kira, and Harper.

Ceole retired from the Harris County AFL-CIO in 2008, after serving 40 years as the VIP Director. In the labor movement, she guided and mentored thousands of union members and aspiring politicians. The Harris County AFL-CIO Council building was dedicated in her honor as the Ceole Speight House of Labor in 2010 and she was inducted into the Texas Labor Union Hall of Fame in 2013.

She will be remembered as a strong Democratic woman that fought for what she believed in, serving as a delegate to many precinct, state and national conventions and as the State Democratic Executive Committeewoman from Senate District 11. As the undisputed ambassador for the Harris County labor movement, many politicians sought her wise counsel. She was also appointed to Governor Mark White’s Women’s Commission of Texas.

She meant so much to so many. She loved her family and left a legacy that will live on through them for many years to come.

For those considering ways to honor her - she was a big believer in education - please consider making a donation in her memory to the “Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Fund”. Please include her name in the memo line and mail to PO Box 12727, Austin, TX 78711-2727.