Local History Stories - Local History - LibGuides at Waco-McLennan County Library

Celebrating Some of Waco’s Women of the Past

by Sean Sutcliffe on 2021-03-29T11:56:00-05:00 | 0 Comments

Celebrating Some of Waco’s Women of the Past

Emma Louise Harrison was born in Mexia in 1908. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Huston Tillotson College, where she later taught. She also earned a master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California. She taught 4th-grade and health and PE in Waco schools, and she also served as dean of women and chair of the Health and Physical Education department at Paul Quinn College. In 1976, she became the first African-American elected to the Waco Independent School District board where she served until 1988. She died in 2004 at age 95.

Cayetana Navarro was born in Mexico but spent most of her life in Waco. She owned Navarro’s Tortilla & Tamale Shop for more than 60 years. For many years it was located at 401 N. 3rd but later moved to 225 N. 25th and in 1970 to 2420 Grim. During World War II she supplied tortillas to James Connally Air Force Base. In 1985 she was chosen Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Businesswoman of the Year. In 1995 she retired. She died in April 1997 at age 90.

Estella Maxey was a popular African-American musician in Waco in the first half of the 20th century. Born in Waco, she lived here her entire life. She had her own orchestra, Estella and Her Boys, but also performed alone. She played piano for public and private events but also was said to have a great soprano voice. She played for both black and white audiences all over Waco. Unfortunately, she died of leukemia in November 1948 at the young age of 44.

Lucille Moreno Flores was born in Waco in 1923. She graduated from Waco High School in 1941. In 1944 she entered the U.S. Army where she served with the Women’s Army Corp in the 555th Army Air Force Base Unit. She was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, American War Campaign Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After the war she worked as a nurse at Hillcrest Hospital and the Waco Veterans Hospital. She died in 2009 at age 85.

Lucy Hill Brewer was born in 1901 in Washington-on-the-Brazos but moved to Waco as a child. She worked in the children’s department at the Waco Public Library for 47 years, retiring as head children’s librarian in 1966. She then worked as librarian at the Methodist Home for four years. She died in 1985 at age 83.

Dr. Mae Jackson Huddleston was born in September 1941 and grew up in Teague. She graduated valedictorian of her class at age 16. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas Southern University, her master’s degree from Our Lady of the Lake University, and a doctorate from UT-Arlington. For more than 25 years she was a social worker. In 2000 she was elected to the Waco City Council to represent District 1. Then in 2004 she decided to run for mayor and in April became the first African-American and the first African-American woman to be elected Waco mayor. Unfortunately, she died suddenly in February 2005 while still in office.