Parade theme will be Re-investing in Your Community
BARRETT STATION, TX -Barrett, Texas, as it is now referred to in modern day time, is primarily an African-American community with a rich heritage and known for its dedicated civic participation. In preparation for the community’s 26th annual homecoming parade, banquet and week of activities, the Barrett Station Civic League exercised much care in choosing the speaker for this year’s homecoming banquet, as usual. Civic League president Melody Fontenot stated, “The time is right for this type of message to the community; and, we believe that this particular messenger is perfect to drive home this idea to our residents”.
State Representative Sylvester Turner represents District 139 in northwest Houston. He was raised in Acres Homes and attended the University of Houston and Harvard Law School. He is one of the founding partners of Barnes and Turner Law Firm and has served more than 23 years in the Texas House of Representatives. He currently serves a member of the Legislative Budget Board, as Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee, the State Affairs Committee and also serves as Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. In this most recent session, Rep. Turner received Honorable Mention from Texas Monthly Magazine for “his passionate defense of the voiceless” and was awarded the 2011 Legislative Leadership Award from AARP for his dedication to protecting seniors.
Leading the parade on Saturday, July 21st, will be Mrs. Willie Barrett Goodlow. She is better known to many, as “Dolly B”. Having been involved with the Barrett Station Civic League since the tender young age of six, when attending meetings with her father and pioneer – Robert Elijah Barrett, Willie has dedicated and continues to invest countless hours of her life to her church and community. In her personal career, Willie was the first Black woman to retire from the ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery. And, as the longest serving (former) president of the civic league — for eight years — Willie continues to head up annual spring and fall cleanups in both the community and cemetery. She is directly responsible for keeping the community cleanup and beautification program going, as well as her implementation of the scholarship program. She also helped former civic league president, James “Jimmie” Mills to implement the community annual homecoming to promote social harmony, ongoing now for 26 years.
The civic league would like to invite its neighboring communities of Crosby and Highlands to take part in the parade and other homecoming activities.
Barrett Station Homecoming Events Schedule:
• Monday – July 16th- Ministerial Alliance Musical at Shiloh Baptist Church – beginning at 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday – July 18th -King/Queen Contest at the Barrett Community Center – 808-1/2 Magnolia, Barrett, TX 77532 (deadline is Thursday – July 12th @ 12:00 Noon — get forms by calling 281.328.1581 or 281.328.2289. Cash prizes, trophies and tiaras to the winners!)
• Friday – July 20th- Homecoming Reunion Banquet, featuring the Honorable State Representative Sylvester Turner as guest speaker. Tickets are $25 each; get them early, by calling 281.328.2289 or 281.670.8133. They are going fast, don’t chance standing in line to purchase on the day of. The Charles R. Drew High School Class of 1962 will also be in the spotlight. You won’t want to miss this!
• Saturday – July 21st- 26th Annual Homecoming Parade (still plenty of time to enter, by calling Parade Chair – Kathy Bass, at 281.328.4282 or 281.328-2289. The parade will proceed to Riley Chambers Park. Vendors needing booths should call the Community Center, at 281.328.4713.
Parade Lineup Information: Parade participants will enter the lineup route, beginning at 9:00 a.m., sharp, from the county service road just north of Bobby’s Auto Shop; then take the first turn, left, on Gulf Pump Road where you will see the parade directors. Proceeds from all of these benefits go toward providing scholarships for graduating high school seniors; community beautification and funding of much needed programs for the community of Barrett Station. Full details of this info at more at the community’s website, at AllAboutBarrettStation.org or BarrettStationCivicLeague.org.
