Lessie M. Givens celebrated her 96th birthday Saturday with family and friends at her home. Givens’ sister, brother-in-law and nieces in California joined the celebration virtually.
Givens took guests on a trip down memory lane.
“In 1944, I was valedictorian of my class. The following years I attended Prairie View A&M College and earned my bachelor’s degree in English in 1948,” she said. “My first teaching job was in Sulphur Springs.”
After that experience with regular students and veterans in the same classes together, in 1950 she applied for and acquired a position as a second-grade teacher at O. L. Price High School (the school was first grade through 12th grade). She returned to Prairie View in the summer and selected elementary education as a major in pursuit of her Master of Arts Degree she received in 1955.
She met and married Jerry L. Givens, who joined the faculty in 1952 as a band director for O. L. Price High band and a 7th grade teacher. They were married May 25, 1954.
“As I ponder over the years I have spent in Taylor and my future journey to the other side, I am indeed grateful to my adopted family, my church family, all the citizens of Taylor, and of the surrounding communities,” she said, “and above all I am giving thanks to God for allowing me the privilege of enjoying many rewarding years in Taylor.”
