Mrs. Annie Lou Rayson-Lister
Barbara Jefferson-Bonner, 1995Updated March 2002
August 10, 1909 - February 26, 2002
Born Annie Lou Rayson on August 10, 1909 in Panola County, to the parentage of the late George and Sarah (Renfrow) Brown-Rayson. Annie and her youngest sister Monnie Lee "Shank" Rayson-Thompson are the only two surviving children of George and Sarah's nine children.
Annie lovingly referred to her sister as Aunt Shank; they talk at least twice a week.
Annie Lou was named for Annie Lou Gray, her first cousin, twice removed through her mother.
In 1921 in a goat hole southwest of Pine Grove Baptist Church, Rev. Forney "A.F." Black baptized twelve-year old Annie Lou. She remained a member until the mid 1950's, when she moved her membership to Johnson Chapel CME Church and then later to Bethel CME Church in Beckville. She and her husband are unable to attend, but their name remains on the church prayer roll.
Annie received her education in the historic Holland Quarters community.
Agnes T. Taylor taught the 1926 / 27 school year, of the students she taught, Annie Lou was one of the five to graduate after completing the tenth grade at Holland Quarters' third Common School.
Being one of the first five to graduate from the "Quarters" they felt the need to leave a mark for their accomplishments. For their achievements they planted a sycamore tree at the end of the walkway from the school. A rock walkway led from the steps of the school to the sycamore tree.
Annie Lou continued her education. In 1929 / 30 she attended Butler College in Tyler, and every summer until she finished in 1935 when she received a BA degree. In the summer of 1936 to the summer of 1938 she attended Bishop College in Dallas where she earned an MA degree. She returned in 1932 to teach her 1st class, she began teaching in the 4th school, Panola County Training Center. She taught for six years, from 1932 to 1938. The next four years 1938 to 1942, she didn't teach.
She married LeRoy Chester "L. C." Lister on April 9, 1940, and had one daughter, Eleanor.
In the Fall of 1942, she returned to her profession, and for 28 years she taught children of the "Quarters". When desegregation came in 1969, she taught one year at Turner High. Her final three years, 1970 to 1973, she taught at Baker Koonce Elementary School in Carthage. For 38 years she touched the lives of many.
Mrs. Lister stood 5'1" tall, and most of her students were larger in size than she was.
From left to right, teachers in front of Panola County Training Center:
Top row: Suscelia Chappell-Lucas, Getis Black & Elease Smith
Seated: Lola Bell Brown-Johns, Annie Lou Rayson-Lister, Nelva Jean Hudson & Lonnie Mae Hicks-Williams
In 1995 we went on a tour inside Old West Side Elementary School, as we entered Mrs. Lister talked of days gone by. Once inside the school we stood inside the room where she held classes. As she reminisced through the years, we could almost see and hear the activities going on inside the walls of the classrooms. In the auditorium the green carpet and piano were still in place.
As I made preparation to complete the research on the legendary historic Holland Quarters Cemetery, my sole supporter was Mrs. Lister. We placed funeral markers on unmarked graves of her parents and other family members. She and I walked, cleared and recorded the sites of marked and unmarked graves. Some graves were uncovered by poking into the ground to uncover the headstone of someone she was sure to be buried there.
Clearing the grave of Herman Brown
Recording and documenting African American history is an ordeal in itself, and when elders of the family are willing to share their vast knowledge of wisdom with you it is worthwhile to listen.
At the dedication of the Texas Historical Marker for the cemetery, the attire for the event was to dress a 100-years in the past. This was the first time in many years that Mrs. Lister missed the Henry & Lucy Brown family reunion. She decided that this would be the first and maybe the last time that she would be able to attend an event like this.
The Old Masonic Hall was like reliving history the day before when the Longview News-Journal called and asked if they could interview me inside the old hall. I was so excited I immediately called my best friend, cousin and mentor. She was as excited as I was, I asked if she would go along with me. Her words was "Barbree this is for you baby" After telling her again my feelings for her and how much I wanted her to be there, we laugh and cried and she agreed to go.
1995 inside the Old Masonic Hall, picture taken by Longview news Journal of Longview, Texas
In 1999, when the BROWN-GRAY-BOYKIN family reunion tour came to town, we made preparation again for the doors to this great historical community to open wide and give these descendants a warm welcome to the land of their ancestors.
As family members and friends gathered at her home waiting on the bus to arrive, she had set out a cooler of cold drinks. She was able to tell them about their past and she was overwhelmed to see how successful they were.
Everyone on the bus was related in some way and as they listened to Mrs. Lister speak of them and their parents, tears were in the eyes of most. Someone asked her age and when she told them her birthday was on the 10th, one of the Jones sister decided to fill her hat with money "everyone donated gladly, even the bus driver".
Called home to heaven at the loving age of 92-years-old she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, Aunt, cousin and family friend. She had strong beliefs in God's love, she was honest and fair and fiercely loyal. She was truly a blessing to all those fortunate enough to have known her.
Family members and friends referred to her as "Mrs. Lister"; her nieces call her "Sister".
God's Grace and Mercy
According to Psalm 90:10 "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away". God promise to His people is 70 years; Mrs. Lister endured those days and others.
On February 26, 2002, six months before reaching (93) ninety-three year of age on this earth, she passed away in Dallas, Texas.
Her daughter returned her to her earthly home for burial. She followed the wishes of her parents, to be buried on the home place where they had spent so many wonderful years.