Bettye Jean Frazier

“I have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.”-2 Timothy 4:7

Good morning everyone!!! I would like to thank you all for being here to celebrate the life GOD gave me. I got this idea from my nephew Marek, so I hope his family is ok with me using his ideas for my talk with you. I am excited and I can’t thank GOD enough for allowing me to be born in Prescott, Arkansas back on November 30, 1934 to a wonderful set of parents, Mr. Leo Meeks, Sr. and Laura Meeks. I was their first-born child and had the privilege of being the trendsetter for my siblings. I’m glad I set the bar high because all of my brothers and sisters turned out to be wonderful people just like me.

At an early age, I accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior and followed my parents as devout Christians and active anchors in our church, which was located across the street from our house. After a few years, I learned how to play the piano and began my journey as a Gospel Pianist and Vocalist in numerous different church choirs in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. I finally settled in Houston, Texas where I was an active member at First Missionary Baptist Church for 12 years under Reverend J. G. Stewart. I later moved across town to Windsor Village and transitioned into a newly formed start-up church – Living Word Tabernacle under (late) Pastor Wade Southerland, Sr., and later Pastor Frederick Tibbs, who is officiating the service today. My time at Living Word Tabernacle would span 38 years up until I went home to be with GOD. I served in ministry as part of the Praise Team and happily served administratively as the Treasurer for several years. I was also Living Word Tabernacle’s first Choir Director.

I completed high school in Prescott, Arkansas. I eagerly competed in basketball and track, and I was also a majorette in the school band. I was extremely competitive and could outrun most of the boys in town. I went on and continued my education and extra-curricular activities at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where I received my Bachelors degree. With my college degree in hand, I accepted my first teaching position in Lake Providence, Louisiana where I taught and coached high school girls’ basketball. One of my student athletes, Rosie (Frazier), introduced me to her “big brother,” Noah Frazier and my life took a sharp turn and I would never again have a dull moment. During my five years of teaching in Louisiana, I dated Noah throughout his military service career until we were married on June 2, 1962. Our first child, Kenneth would soon join us 14 months later (August 1963), followed by Michael (August 1964), then Raphael (December 1966). During the course of starting a family, we decided to migrate to Houston, Texas. There were great job opportunities for us there despite Houston being a magnet for numerous battles for Blacks seeking equal rights in the Civil Rights Movement. It was a great place to minimize our children’s exposure to the challenges faced by black people at that time. At the same time, Noah and I were able to nurture our children and teach them about “the struggle.” We would continually instill in them the values, intellect, and the work ethic it would take to be successful citizens in a society that made it difficult for Blacks to succeed.

Initially, I stayed at home with the kids while Noah worked as a Journeyman Roofer and taught Building Trades at San Jacinto College in downtown Houston. However, in 1969 I started working as an Operating Room Nurse at St. Lukes Hospital in the medical center, where I worked with some of the top OR Surgeons in the country. I assisted doctors with some of the most complicated surgeries that doctors were doing at that time “on the cutting edge.” Noah and I discussed having more children, and I began thinking about changing careers. During the transition from Nursing to Education, two more bundles of joy entered our lives. Mickey showed up in July 1974. I continued to work at St. Lukes for another year. In July of 1975, I decided that my children had to come first, so I accepted a teaching position in North Forest ISD as a Math Teacher for 8th graders at Northwood Middle School. This way, I was at school when my kids were in school. I was able to be at home when my kids were at home. Meanwhile Noah began teasing me and joking with his friends about the possibility of establishing “The Frazier Basketball Team” if we wanted to consider planning for a fifth child. I’m not sure but he may have placed bets with his buddies when I became pregnant with number five. Noah would continue throughout the years making quips that I “double-crossed” him when our daughter, Lyma arrived in November of 1976. After a very brief hiatus, I returned to work during my second year as a teacher at Northwood Middle School. Officials in North Forest ISD recognized that I had the skill level as well as the classroom management skills to teach at the high school level. So after 15 years at the middle school level, I was asked to transition into the high school level. I was assigned to teach Math at Smiley High School, where I would go on to teach from 1990 to 2005. My last year (2006) before I would retire, I would spend that year at Kirby Middle School as North Forest ISD began to make “sweeping changes” in a major effort to comply with state-mandated standards. By this time I was 70 ½ years old, so I decided to retire after 31 years of service in North Forest and 5 years in Louisiana.

In retirement I would enjoy life and devote more time to my church and my family. I continued on with “my walk with GOD” and even had the opportunity to take road trips and ship cruises. I spent more time with my husband, my children, and my grandchildren (and great-grandchildren). My son Kenneth took the “teaching baton” from me as I retired in 2006 and he began teaching in Aldine ISD (the same year), where he still teaches today. Teaching was my calling. I took the “teaching baton” from my mother, Laura Meeks. She taught for over 45 years in Arkansas before she passed the baton. I have several sisters and their husbands, along with a few nieces and nephews who are also teachers. We have it honest in our blood to teach and serve children through modeling, counseling, and cajoling them. Somebody has to help our children understand that in most cases, their level of education will be the best indicator of how successful they will become in their lives. My parents helped me and my brothers and sisters understand that not everybody is going to succeed at being professional athletes or entertainers.

I am now with my son Michael, who preceded me in death. He and I have been spending lots of time together. Left to carry on my spirit are my beloved children; Kenneth (Dora), Mickey (Sara), Raphael (Tamara), and Lyma; my sisters Shirley Garmon (Bert), Sandra, Josephine, Nell, and Faye; my brothers Leo Meeks, Sr. (Susie) and Vernon Meeks (Mary); grandsons, Kenneth Frazier, Jr. Zechariah Frazier, Raphael Frazier, Jr, Wade Southerland III (Marlisa), Jimmy Cavitt, and Ivan Vaughn; granddaughters, Lamecia Frazier, Michelle Frazier, Delaya Frazier, Chantel Frazier, Akua Southerland, Shemeka Hargrove, Karen Coreas, and a host of great-grandchildren.

Got to go now!!! It's time for worship!!! Hopefully, I'll see you all in Glory when you get here!!!