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Family of Ikeleys & Linnie McHenry Roberts |
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Linnie Roberts Elementary School History
Linnie Roberts Elementary School Historical
Marker Dedication
Linnie
McHenry Roberts spent her early childhood in the small community known
as Caney, where she was born. After she completed grade school at Caney,
she attended Sam Houston College in Austin. She later attended Prairie
View and Mary Allen Colleges.
"Miss Linnie" joined Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church on Caney in her youth. When she established her residence in Bay City, she affiliated with Enterprise Baptist Church. She was a loyal worker in the church and was connected with several fraternal organizations.
Linnie Roberts began her teaching career in Matagorda County, and for 32 years she taught in the communities of this county. Thirty-one of her 32 years were spent in Bay City ISD. Most of the 31 years were at Hilliard School, the predecessor of Linnie Roberts Elementary School. Her years of teaching were in the elementary grades. She was a third grade teacher when she retired from the profession in 1954.
It is fortunate for Matagorda County that such a person lived and worked in this community. She was loved by the children who passed through her classes. She was lovingly called "Miss Linnie" by many who knew her. Late in 1961 a new school was rightfully named the "Linnie Roberts Elementary School."
Historic Matagorda County,
Volume I, page 650
Mrs. Linnie McHenry Roberts
July 10, 1893 - December 5, 1956
Mrs. Linnie McHenry Roberts was born in Matagorda County, Caney, Texas.
Her parents were the late Hale Foster McHenry and Dinah Wiley McHenry.
Her father and mother were pioneer landowners in Bay City, Texas. Mrs.
Roberts came from a family of three children. She attended the public
schools of Matagorda County, and did her college work at Samuel Houston
College, Austin, Texas, and Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View,
Texas. Later, she completed her college work at Mary Allen College,
Crockett, Texas.
Most of her thirty-two teaching years were done at the old Booker T.
Washington and Hilliard High School.
She was married to Ikeleys Roberts, noted businessman in Bay City. To
this union, three children were born. Two daughters became educators.
Her son, Eddie, after graduating from college, chose to help his father
in the funeral business.
Mrs. Roberts, as so many who knew her, was a giant of a personality. She
was the epitome of an educator, a wife, and a mother. Her humanitarian
deeds were not only exhibited with the students she taught, but her
giving spirit reached deep within the community in which she lived.
In early days, when students had to buy books, if a student could not
purchase his books, she was always there to buy the books that the
student needed. Many days, when students didn't have lunch, she had
prepared enough lunch to share with those students. She also never went
without her sewing kit. If a child needed a garment mended, she would
mend his garment. She would never let that child go home with a tear or
a button missing.
She always wore a smile, and always had that encouraging word to offer
anyone who crossed her path. To those co-educators who started in the
teaching profession early, she was their mentor.
Everyone lovingly called her "Miss Linnie." Mrs. Roberts left a legacy
to those students whose lives she touched. She left a legacy to her
family, children and grandchildren - and today that legacy stands
monumental in this community. Today, if she could speak to our young
educators, she would say:
"I leave you love, I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of
developing confidence in one another. I leave you a thirst for knowledge
and education. I leave you respect for the use of power. I leave you
faith in God. I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your fellow
man. I leave you finally, a responsibility to our young people. I leave
you these things."
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 Marker photo courtesy of Tresmond Scott |
Mr. Ike Dies
Death Brings End to Memorable Career
Ikeleys Roberts, the first black mortician in Matagorda County and one of the first along the coastal bend area, died Tuesday at Matagorda General Hospital at the age of 90.
He was co-owner of the Duncan-Roberts Funeral Home and until his health failed was active in both civic and community affairs.
Roberts was a charter member of the Hilliard Parent Teachers Association and as business manager, paid a teacher's salary in order that Hilliard could be an accredited high school in Bay City.
The act also provided schooling for black students who up until about 1938 had to leave the county to attend high school since there was not one available in Matagorda County.
Roberts traveled throughout Brazoria, Matagorda and Wharton counties as the only black mortician in the area. A custom in the early 1930's dictated that the embalming be done in the home and Roberts was well-known because he would go throughout the county and into the home when someone died, performing his services as mortician.
He was active as a mortician until 1967, when he suffered an impairing stroke. Even after 1967, however, Roberts would attend some funeral services, remaining in the car during the service but fulfilling the state requirement that a licensed mortician be present at the funeral.
Roberts' son, Eddie, became the second back licensed mortician in the county in 1942 and joined the business in 1948.
Known as "Mr. Ike" to children and grown-ups alike, Roberts was born in Van Vleck, on January 1, 1887 and grew to manhood in Boling.
He moved to Bay City in 1913 and married Linnie McHenry, who preceded him in death in 1956.
Roberts was a member of Enterprise Baptist Church where he served on the trustee board until his health failed. He was past Worshipful Master of the Free and Accepted Masons, past Worth Shepherd of the Progressive Order of Pilgrims and past Camp Commander of The American Woodmen.
He is survived by three children, Mrs. Christine Covington of Houston, Mrs. Theresa M. Lewis of Galveston and Eddie F. Roberts of Bay City; five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; many relatives and friends.
Daily Tribune, August 17, 1977
