Ella L. Houston

Ella Lee Houston, age 98, of Spring, Texas passed away July 19, 2026. She was born to Amos and Annie Mae Nash in Natchitoches, Louisiana on February 10, 1928. Ella was the youngest of two sisters. She was brought up in a Christian home and enjoyed a loving childhood. Her father was a Baptist Deacon and her mother sang in the choir. As a child Ella was very active and enjoyed sports. In High School she was a point-guard on the all-girls basketball team. Ella was a pioneer in many ways. Prior to the civil rights movement, she was one of a limited number of African American women to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Grambling State University. She completed her education with a Master’s degree in Special Education from University of Detroit Mercy. She was one of the first African Americans to receive a teaching contract from Detroit Public Schools. She retired after thirty-five years of teaching.

Ella enjoyed being outdoors and working in her garden. She enjoyed sewing and painting different ceramics. She was an avid basketball fan of the Houston Rockets.

In 1952 she married the love of her life, Rufus Houston. She enjoyed being a mom to her three children, Marc, Renwick (deceased) and Rhonda. She and Rufus were inseparable as a couple. They were always known as “Rufus and Ella.” They were married for sixty-seven years before Rufus’ passing in July 2020.

Ella had a love for God and her family. She came to know the Lord at an early age. She had a passion for people and for sharing the love of Jesus with others. While her husband served as an elder in the church, she was very active as a bible school teacher and mentor to young women. Together they often hosted small group bible studies, participated in community outreach ministries, as well as visiting the sick and shut-in. She and Rufus were members of Spring Woodlands Church of Christ after moving to Texas and more recently she was a member of Conroe Church of Christ where she was active in the Ladies Bible class. She and Rufus often spoke fondly of Spring Woodlands Church of Christ and their close friends at the Conroe Church of Christ and all the love they received. She loved to sing hymns and gospel songs as well as study of the bible. One of her favorite scriptures was Proverbs 3:5,6.

She is survived by her son Marc, daughter Rhonda, grandchildren Catherine, Justin, Jonathon, Tyler and Robyn, as well as ten great-grandchildren.