PRESENTS
Opal Lee was born October 7, 1926 in Marshall, Texas. Hermother moved to Fort Worth when she was ten years old. She attended CooperStreet Elementary School and graduated from Historic I.M. Terrell High Schoolin 1943 at the age of 16. She didn’t go straight to college after graduationwhich was a grave disappointment to her mother, but did eventually get thereafter getting married, having four children and getting divorced. She earnedher Bachelors of Arts degree in 1953 from Wiley College (now Wiley University)and returned to Fort Worth to teach at Amanda McCoy Elementary School for 15years where she was regarded as one of the best educators in her field. Atnight she worked at Convair (now Lockheed Martin) to support her children. Shelater obtained her Master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from North TexasState University and served as Home/School Counselor for Fort Worth IndependentSchool District until her retirement in 1977. Retiring gave Mrs. Lee thetime and opportunity to become even more involved in the community. She was oneof the founding members of Citizens Concerned with Human Dignity (CCHD) whichwas formed to assist the economically disadvantage in finding housing in FortWorth. She volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, and served as a member of theboard. She now serves on Habitat’s Land Acquisition Board. With Lenora Rolla asits inspiration, Mrs. Lee helped establish the Tarrant County Black Historical& Genealogical Society dedicated to the preservation of the history of theFort Worth Black populace. She served on the Historic & Cultural LandmarksCommission, AIDS Outreach committee, Evans Avenue Business Association, GoodSamaritans, and Riverside Neighborhood Advisory Council. She has served asPrecinct Chair for District 8 for over 30 years, a member of Grandmother’sClub, and Ethel Ransom Humanitarian & Cultural Club. She is an activemember in her church, Baker Chapel AME where she serves as a Missionary, churchschool teacher, assistant teacher and Deaconess.
