Hattie Willie Lucille Singleton

Hattie Willie Lucille Goodman Singleton went home to be with her Lord, joining her parents, two brothers, and husband, on February 13, 2015. "Willie G" or "Singleton", as she was affectionately referred to by her friends, was the only girl and eldest of four children born to Laura and Robert Goodman, on April 10, 1927, in Concord, NC. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Concord, NC, where she later became the church musician. In 1943, Willie graduated from Logan High School in Concord, NC at 16 years old and started her collegiate career at Immanuel Lutheran College in Greensboro, NC, graduating with a 2-year teaching degree. Always an adventurer with a love for travel, Willie accepted a job offer at 20 years old, from Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Houston, TX as a teacher and musician. Soon after arriving in Houston in 1947, her roommate, Louise Bailey, introduced her to her future husband, Gordy N. Singleton, to whom she was married for 54 years and 4 months before he transitioned to Heaven in May 2002. After obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree in Education at Texas Southern University in 1956,she taught for 5 years in Avalon, TX. In 1961, Willie returned to Houston and began teaching in the Houston Independent School District at Sunnyside Elementary School, molding young minds.During her tenure, she started a Boys' Choir and was known for her Christmas and End of School parties. In 1983, Willie ended her teaching career at Windsor Village Elementary School. Many of her former students went on to become successful doctors, lawyers, teachers, and actors crediting her "old school" approach to teaching and her life lessons to their success. Music was a second love to Willie. She was a musician for several churches during her life, including Grace Lutheran Church in Concord, NC, Living Water Community Church (formerly Calvary Lutheran Church) in Houston, TX; and head musician at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Houston, TX until her illness in 2008. Over the years, she gave music lessons to many youth including her granddaughters Creslyn Davis, and Danielle and Diana Yarbrough. She was very proud of Gene Crosby, her special student and surrogate grandson. Known for her distinct sense of style and fashion, Willie is remembered as a devout Christian woman, who loved God, her family, and her community. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will never forget her willingness to give frank advice, offering a listening ear, her focus on higher education, and their fun-filled summers of shopping, watching classic television shows, and attending multiple vacation bible-schools, She never had to say anything twice! Just"THAT look" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren would make them mind! Willie was a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated for over 59 years, as evidenced by the royal blue and gold theme in her home. Her lifelong commitment to greater service and progress permeated throughout the family. As a result of her affection for Sigma Gamma Rho, several nieces have joined her illustrious sorority, including Doris Anderson, Mildred Orphe, Daryl Lott (deceased), Natalie Lott, and Valarie Lott Holt. For over 20 years, she was also a member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a business and professional women's organization along with her late sisters-in-law, Mildred Moody, Therma Davis, and Rivian Jackson, and niece, Gloria Moody. She leaves to celebrate her wonderful and exuberant life, a brother, Aaron Goodman of Mt. Vernon, NY; her children, Quincy Singleton (Betty) of Charlotte, NC; Diane Yarbrough (Danny), Felecia Moore (Adolphus), Carolyn Battise, Barbara Jones, and Paul Poloe (Sandra) of Houston, TX; Gordy N. Singleton, Jr. (Dianne) of Bremond, TX; and Caroline Howard (Marvin) of Plano, TX as well as numerous grandchildren, great -grandchildren, great -great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, Pentecost Missionary Baptist Church, and her beloved church family at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.