Valerie Blacklock Jackson a native Houstonian. I’m the second oldest of six children. We were reared in Fifth Ward until 1972. That’s when our parents had this “brilliant idea“to move to South Park. This meant that I would have had to attend Jesse Jones High School instead of Phillis Wheatley High School. Yes, I was zoned to attend Phillis Wheatley and I had even made the JV cheer squad. However, …
Mary Burleson Wiltz
Mary Burleson Wiltz was the second daughter born to Lee Chester and Leona Burleson on November 9, 1954. She attended James D. Ryan Elementary School, then Kashmere Jr. Sr. High which was later changed to Francis Scott Key Middle where she first became a cheerleader. She later attended Kashmere Senior High School where she once again became a cheerleader under the leadership of Ms. Lena Youngblood. As a young girl …
Kathy Phelps Burrell
During Kathy’s wonderful high school years, she had the privilege to be chosen cheerleader, grades 9th thru 11th for Kashmere Junior/Senior High School (now Francis Scott Key Middle School) under the awe-inspiring and amazing leadership of her favorite sponsor, Ms. Louis J. Bailey. Her 12th grade year, the Junior/Senior High school transitioned to Kashmere Senior High School with the squad continuing under the leadership of Ms. Lena Maiden. Kathy was …
Karen Gentry Kellum
Karen Gentry Kellum transferred to Kashmere at the beginning of her senior year under, then newly established, zoning laws. At Kashmere, she was a 1971 honor student graduate and a member of the Student Council. As a member of the cheerleader squad, she felt privileged to be under the tutelage of Ms. Lena Maiden. During that year at Kashmere, lifelong cherished friendships were established. Prior to Kashmere, Karen spent two …
Joyce Branch Mills
Joyce Branch Mills grew up in the Kashmere Gardens Area. Her parents are the late Walter Branch, Jr., and Minnie Ola Branch. She attended Houston Independent School District’s public schools. Joyce was also a cheerleader at Key Jr. High and graduated from Kashmere Sr. High in 1972. Joyce was ranked in the top 10 percent of her class and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was the …