Helen Constance Gratts Eldridge

Born November 27, 1925, on a farm in Annetta, Texas to parents, Lawson Daniel Gratts and Roberta Evelyn Payne Gratts, and is the youngest of nine children. Her older siblings are George Edward, Robert, Edith Gratts Johnson, Dexter, Jack Kermit, Lawson Aldrin, Wiley, and Allen Quinten (Bill) Gratts; all of which preceded her in death. She was the only surviving grandchild of Civil War and Buffalo soldier, Lawson Gratz.

She attended Swan School through 9th grade and was a member of “The Church”, which both were on land donated to the black community of Annetta by her maternal great-great grandparents, Louis and Nancy Swan.

She was determined to not let society dictate how far she could go in life as a woman of color. Due to segregation, she had to attend high school in Dallas, Texas. The protocol of the times was when a student transferred from a country school to one in the city, they had to be tested to determine if their education was equivalent to city High School Standards. She surpassed testing for both 9th and 10th grades and was placed in the 11th at Lincoln High. She later transferred to Booker T. Washington finishing her high school education.

In 1941, her parents moved into a house on Bois D’ Arc Lane, which Lawson had built from the ground up himself in Weatherford Texas.

She later wed Leonard Walker and to that union was born Sheryl Lynn Walker on July 23, 1953.

Determined to succeed in life she purchased a 1945 2-seater Ford car and in 1954 she obtained employment with Southwestern Bell in the housekeeping department.

In 1955 she wed David Eugene Eldridge and in 1958 gave birth to daughter Helen Elaine Eldridge.

In 1966-67 she heard Southwestern Bell may start to hire Blacks for more important jobs but wouldn’t even consider employment if they did not have higher education. She enrolled and attended a business college at night while working a full-time job to obtain college level credentials.

An opening became available in operator services in 1969 and she became the 1st black woman to be hired in the DFW area as a telephone operator. She continued working there for another 33 years, holding various positions including Service Assistant, coin collector, ending her career in the coin counting room at age 62.

She remained busy, however. She volunteered delivering meals on wheels, also with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life winning top earner over a dozen times. She only just stopped participating at age 95! She was a lifetime member of the Telephone Company Pioneers Org. volunteering to paint maps of the United States on playgrounds across the area.

She served as treasurer of Mt Zion Baptist Church for 30 years. Lifetime member of NAACP and was once named local chapter Woman of the Year. She also took care of her brother Bill after he became ill. She cooked and took daily meals to her friend Cleo McQueen until she passed away.

She effectively drove her own car until age 90. She went to the DMV at age 92 just to see if they would renew it, and they did!! She wasn’t driving anymore, that was just her CAN-DO attitude!

At age 97 she still attended church every Sunday, advised on life skills, and NEVER missed her Tuesday beauty shop appointments with Jessie Mae Harrison to get her hair done!

She is survived by her daughters, Sheryl Lynn Walker-Scott and Helen Elaine Eldridge-Littlejohn; her granddaughters, Tonia Elaine Cross (Lamar) Lopez, and Rosiland Melynda Rucker; her great grandsons, Geoffrey Wayne (Dezeray) Cross, and Lawson Lane Lopez; great, great grandson, Oliver Lon Lopez; stepson, Darrell S. Eldridge; beloved nephew, Allen Q. Gratts, Jr.; and a whole host of nieces and nephews.

Sleep well Dearest Mother, you deserve it!

Love and kisses from us all!

A time of visitation with the family is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 22, 2023, at Galbreaith Pickard Funeral Chapel, 913 North Elm Street, Weatherford, Texas 76086.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 23, 2023, at Mt Zion Baptist Church, 109 South Brazos Street, Weatherford, Texas 76086, with Pastors Ray L. Polk, Sr. & Jr. officiating. Following the service, a procession will make its way to the Willow Springs Black Cemetery, in Willow Springs, Texas, for a committal service.