O'Hara Lanier Scurlock

O’Hara Lanier Scurlock was born April 6, 1935 to Cleveland and Sallie Mae Scurlock in Crockett, Texas. It was a stormy day and his father nicknamed him “Stormy” and affectionately called him by that name as a child and adult. He was the fourth child of five children, three boys, two girls, and he was the baby boy. Being the youngest of the Scurlock boys in a small country town resulted in many stories of toughness, survival, country learning, country living, and he was always ready and happy to share these stories of his childhood. Stories about grandpa’s mule, as a small child asking for “salad dressing on his bread so he could bite it” then falling out on the floor before his mother or aunts could get it fixed, or being accidentally hit in the head with an axe as a child while he stood behind his older brother who was chopping fire wood-and he always showed the scar to prove it, were truly life lessons that were fun to listen to.

After coming to Houston at the age of five-years-old, he began his education in the Houston Independent School District. He loved seeing young children learn and succeed and two times a week for years he would volunteer to read at his elementary school, Crawford Elementary. He always had the simplest of strategies for teaching young children-and they worked. He was the master of making flashcards and sitting at the kitchen table to teach his two girls. Of his education, being a 1955 Phyllis Wheatley High School graduate brought pride and again created many stories to share and friendships which lasted a lifetime. He loved biology and chemistry and took on the role of classroom assistant to many of his science teachers. He attended college at Tuskegee University and Prairie View A & M University. He was an excellent swimmer and the story is told how he swam with one hand and played the trumpet with another while swimming at PV-true story! His love for and study of science continued at Prairie View but it was at Tuskegee where he met and played the trumpet with some of the young men which later became the famous Jazz Crusaders. He loved jazz and he and his oldest daughter had the opportunity to attend the Houston Jazz Festival in September of 2019 at Miller Outdoor Theater!

He served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Beginning his military training at Fort Belvoir Virginia. While enlisted he served as an oxygen acetylene production specialist among other duties. He received an honorable discharge in July of 1959.

On July 7, 1962 he married Winstona Laythette Flemings. She was a dedicated wife, and to this day remains a devoted mother who is always there when needed. To this twenty-eight year union, two children were born: Kimona Kim and Melody Michon affectionately known as “Mutt and Jeff.”

Later in life, O’Hara again married to Sibyl R. Greer who was also lovingly devoted to him and all of their family. She brought to this union one outstanding son, Louis.

Being a family man was very important to O’Hara. He not only displayed this in his family life but also in his community. For years he mentored young men in his neighborhood. On Saturdays he would teach chess at the Kashmere Gardens Library. He would have a table full of boys along with his two girls. He instructed how to move the pieces and to “always protect your King”. On Saturdays he would let kids in the neighborhood come to his home and ride horses. He taught them how to saddle, care for and respect horses, and after instruction, everyone would ride in the back yard. You had to do right if you were going to hang around with Mr. Scurlock and he received the respect and love from many children and youth in the neighborhood. On Saturdays while teaching his girls to swim at Finnigan Park and Dodson Park, other children always watched, and he would end up teaching them, usually shortening his girls’ Daddy lessons-but that was the type of man he was with children. He seemed to attract them everywhere he went with his girls and they loved him.

Among other interests, he was a twenty-year member of the University Duplicate Bridge Club in Houston. He was known as one of the top ten outstanding players in Houston and he played up until his health would not allow. Other hobbies included gardening-and he had the largest home-garden in all of Kashmere Gardens where he shared his vegetables with all who came by the house. For years he shared pecans with neighbors and family from his trees in the front and back yard and received some mean berry pies from those he shared with the best berries on his vines. Hobbies also included hunting, training hunting dogs and American saddle horses. He was a member of the Silver Saddle Brigade horse riding club and would trail ride and ride in many Houston parades with other wonderful families for years.

Additionally, He was the owner of Annointed Lawn Services and a Lifetime Member of the NAACP.

For 33 years he had an illustrious career at Hughes Tool Company (Baker Hughes) where he rose among the ranks at a time when African Americans were not accepted in managerial positions. Everyone knew and loved “Hat” as he was and affectionately is still called today by his coworkers.

O’Hara joined Bethany Baptist Church SBC. It was under the Christian leadership of this body of believers that he strengthened his walk in faith and service. During his years as a member, he served with the Brotherhood, Angel Tree Ministry, sang in the Male Choir, coordinated with members the Angel Tree Ministry activities, participated with his table in the annual churches annual garage sales, coordinated the Houston Rocket activities and served as Daddy advisor to his daughter for the Bethany Christian Academy. He loved to hear of what was being planned for the children and he loved to wait for his daughter on Sundays after service in the children’s church.

O’Hara Lanier Scurlock was ordained a Deacon on September 12, 2004 under the Christian leadership of Dr. Steve W. Hall, Sr. Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, SBC. 1Tim., 3:15 reads “Study to show thyself approved… Deacon Scurlock led his life in this way.

The last two years of his life he was passionately devoted, and lovingly committed to caring for his daughter, Melody. He never gave up. He never complained and as always he loved her to the very end.

Preceded in death by his parents Cleveland and Sallie Mae Scurlock; brothers, Cleveland Scurlock, Jr. and Lester A. Scurlock, and sisters, Ruthie J. Lennix (Scurlock) and Robbie M. Scurlock, he leaves in God’s care to cherish his memories, two devoted children Kim and Melody, Son-in-law, Joseph Dixon, grandchildren: Kristopher and Noah, and Nile and Nia, nephews: Andre, Howard, Gerun, and Kerry and niece, Adelaide Zindler(Peter) and a host of relatives and friends and young men and women in the neighborhood who still love him dearly.