VILENA MARIE PROPHET was born on February 26, 1938 to Mr. Hillary Prophet and Mrs. Olivia Mitchell Prophet in Liberty, Texas. She was the beautiful baby girl of ten loving children. The family owned rice fields and oil wells in Liberty. Her primary schooling was at Pilgrim Rest Elementary School in the Liberty School District. She accepted Christ early in life and united at Turkey Creek Baptist Church. In 1942 the Prophet Family moved to Houston and settled in the Historic Third Ward.
In Houston Vilena entered Blackshear Elementary School and went on to Jack Yates Junior Senior High School. She was a proud crimson and gold marching color guard member graduating in 1957.
After high school she met and married Mr. Leon Ingram. They became the proud parents of seven children: two daughters and five sons. Later she married Mr. Walter Johnson and they had one daughter. She was an active parent teacher organization member at her children’s schools.
Vilena completed the Food Service Program and worked in the Houston School Nutrition Department cafeterias for many years; including the 1960s summer Head Start Program. After vocational nurse training she worked for several years in Houston area hospitals. She gave supportive private duty nursing care to many local families before retiring.
Vilena was baptized by Reverend L. B. Tolson at Christian Home Missionary Baptist Church. She was active in all of the children, youth and young adult activities at The Home. Upon reaching adulthood she joined St. Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Calvin Scott, Sr. She was a choir and member of the Women’s Mission there. After joining Christian Hope Missionary Baptist Church where the Reverend Herbert Stroman was the pastor, she served on the Nurses Board. She returned to Christian Home Church when Reverend D. R. Jefferson was the pastor. She was in the Mission Chorus, a member of Mary Circle in the Women’s Ministry, Senior Choir member, Vacation Bible School member and Adult Sunday School class member. In the Fellowship United District Association of Texas (FUDA) Vilena served as Vice President of Mission II Women’s Division.
Vilena was an active pillar in her Third Ward community. She was an ACORN member who assisted citizens to get financial assistance for home repairs. She along with others organized the Martin Luther King Jr. Center on Sampson Street. She tirelessly walked in the community to register voters , worked the polls in Precinct 25 during elections, worked in the Literacy Program at the center as well as in the food distribution center and in the public health clinic.
Vilena joined the following organizations: Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas, Order of the Eastern Star, Heroines of Jericho and was an active member in each. She was a Jack Yates High School Lion member supporter to the end. She was a member of the Jack Yates National Alumni Association, Jack Yates Alumni Affairs and Scholarship Association, Jack Yates Fabulous Fifties Alumni Association, and the Jack Yates 1957 Class Alumni. She worked tirelessly in all groups to support a better future for all of our students.
Rooted in her community, Vilena continued to live in the Third Ward home on Dennis Street left to her by her mother. On Saturday, November 7, 2020, she transitioned from labor to reward to receive her heavenly crown.
Vilena is preceded in death by her loving parents: Hillary and Olivia Mitchell Prophet; sisters: Selena, Signora, Lula, Susie and Harriet; brothers: Sostan and George. Her grandson: Jonathan Clay; nephews: Oliver Warren, Sr., Thomas Calloway, Bob Calloway, Sr., Bob Calloway, Jr., and her best friend: Maralias Holoman.
HER LEGACY– she leaves to cherish her memories.
Children: four daughters: Yvette, Kim, Olivia, and Angelina; six sons: Kirk, Craig, Morris, Maurice, Kerr Don, and Walter.
Grandchildren: Vanice (Derek), Djuana, Shanique, Lora, Sostan (Michelle), Isiah (Kendra), Dalvin, Lynell, Lydrecca, Markus, Tyann, Tina, Latoya, Latacha, Sean, Yolanda, Tristen, Xilena, Morrisha and Marquise;
Great Grandchildren: Dedrick, Derrick Jr, Deaja, Jashon, Derenique, Jazzmine, Jamesicia, Jashala, Cameron, Sostan 2, Kensiah, Sterlyn, Selas, La’Nya, Noah, Joshua, Bryonn, Kai, Skai, Takairi, Maya, Vickie, Thomia, Charles, Jakori, Tazaari, Makayla, Christopher, Ja’shawn, Destiny, Zyon, Zaylon, Kishon, Jonathan, Wendell, Sir’vante, Tristen Jr, Lattrell, Xaria,
Great Great Grandchildren: Jay’ceon, Cali, Kai’dyn, Kairo;
Nieces: Wanda, Diane, Anita, Michelle, and JoAnn; Nephews: Micheal, Sr., Kenneth and Dennis; great nephews: Oliver Warren. Craig Warren, Michael Green, and Reggie Tolbert a host of great and great great nieces and nephews.
Godchildren: Latasha, Erica, Jackie, Charlene, Michael and Melody.
Special friends: Mable Haywood, Gloria James, Jean King and the Winn Family.
Special cousins: Mable Isadore, Doris Collins, Ruby Gale Moore and Ernest Dryer.
VILENA was a kind, modest, generous, selfless, understanding and supportive mother, grandmother, niece, aunt, cousin, friend, and neighbor. It is because of love for her that we grieve and because of love that we are comforted in our shared sorrow for her. LOVE IS!
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