Life Stories

THE GWEN FAY McCLAIN STORY Gwen Faye McClain was born in Bryan, Texas, on October 2, 1959. Gwen was the second of four children born to Herman and Esther Williams.    Her parents both attended Prairie View A&M University. After marriage, they moved to Anahuac, Texas, where her dad got his first teaching job. Her dad, Herman, was an industrial arts teacher and a bus driver for the school. Her parents were involved at the First Missionary Baptist Church, where her dad was a deacon, and her mom was the pianist. Her mom was also

THE SUZIE HOLDERFIELD STORY Jackie Suzanne Koch Holderfield, but we know her as Suzie. Suzanne Holderfield was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 8, 1954, to loving parents Robert John Koch and Doris Mae Sharp.   Suzie has two older brothers and one younger sister, all living in Texas. Since birth, Suzie has led an exciting life. One of her favorite childhood memories was on her uncle’s ranch in Hondo, Texas. She played with her three girl cousins as they rode horses and pretended to be real ranch hands. They attended Rosemont Church of Christ,

THE ELIZABETH BANOWSKY STORY Elizabeth Rose (Bailey, maiden name) Banowsky was born on Monday, January 16, 1939, at Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Her mom joked that it was during quail hunting season, and her Dad had just left the house when she went into labor. Cell phones did not exist, but somehow, her mom found a way to get a message to her Dad for him to return home as soon as possible. She entered labor, and beautiful Elizabeth entered this world at 11:19 p.m. Her parents were married in 1925 and were

THE PATSY YOUNG STORY Patsy Young was born in Austin, Texas, on January 22, 1939. My parents grew up on a farm. Mom was from Pleasanton, Tx, and my Dad was from Leming, Tx. Later, they moved to Austin. I have two older brothers, but both have passed now. TELL US ABOUT YOUR GROWING-UP YEARS I grew up in South Austin with many neighbors, and one of my favorite things to do was watch my neighbor across the street cook dinner every evening. One of our neighbors had a son who would come home and