Page 12 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2017- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

A Legacy

Venita Woods-Holmes

by Mikayla Holmes
Student Government President
South Plains College

ernita Woods-Holmes, or better My grandma attended kindergarten
known to me as “YaYa”, is a at a nursery that was run by my
Vwell-educated, inspirational, great-grandmother, one that was
confident woman. She has spent the started by her aunt who had moved
last five decades educating people to California. She went to Dunbar
and helping others improve their lives School in 1945 during the time of
and achieve their goals. My grandma segregation. Dunbar School was
is a former teacher, principal, and a segregated school for African
Lubbock Independent School District American students from grades 1
Trustee. She is also the matriarch to a through 12. After graduating from
crazy family of five: her two children, Dunbar in the late 1950’s, she went
Duke and Marcia, and her grandkids, on to attend Huston-Tillotson College
Brandon and me (Mikayla). She is (now Huston Tillotson University) help people. Therefore, she decided
also a fashionista, coupon clipper and in Austin. Due to segregation, my to become a teacher and follow in
certified backseat driver. grandmother was unable to attend the footsteps of a lot of her family
Texas Tech University. However, after members.
Vernita Woods-Holmes was born in she graduated from Huston-Tillotson
1939 in Lubbock, Texas to George and in 1962, she later During her time at Huston-Tillotson
Edwina Woods. Her obtained her master’s College, my grandma was involved
father was a Lubbock degree in Education in several peaceful anti-segregation
civic leader who from Texas Tech protests. One protest that she told me
always told her, “If University in 1974. about was when she and a group of 15
anybody else can do other students walked down Congress
it, so can you”; her My grandma decided Avenue to a local, segregated store
mother was a strong to become a teacher called Woolworth and participated
woman of faith whose because, during the in a sit-in. People of color were not
advice was, “You’ve time of segregation, allowed to sit at the counter. My
got to love everybody women of color grandmother told me that, when she
if you want to see could only have a sat down, people would yell explicit
Jesus.” It was this profession as either and derogatory things at her. At
combination that a nurse or a teacher. one point, a white man threw baby
influenced her to She knew she didn’t powder on her, and the other people
become the woman want to be a nurse, sitting at the counter and said, “You
she is today. but she did want to wanted to be this color; well, now

12 Lubbock Senior Link