Thelma Black Elijah
/Thelma Black Elijah
Four States Living Tribute To Women
photo by KENDAL DOCKERY PHOTOGRAPHY
For 54+ years, Thelma Black Elijah taught public school in New Boston and Texarkana, Texas. She also served as the Personnel Specialist and the Assistant Supervisor of Education for 25 years at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana. She chose to become involved in the field of education because she values the importance of encouraging, guiding, and helping others make informed decisions about their future careers.
Married for 53 years, Thelma and her late husband, Willie Black, had three children: Chet Black, Debbie Black-Conn, and Tony Black, Sr.
Dependable, honest and loyal, Thelma Black Elijah has put God first throughout her life, knowing that everything else will fall into place with His guidance. She has served as a role model for her family, friends, students, and community.
A 1953 graduate of H.B. Pemberton High School in Marshall, Texas, Thelma earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Wiley College in Marshall. She continued her educational journey and earned a master’s degree in Education at Texas Southern University in Houston. A dedicated and amazing mother, she has three children with her late husband of 53 years, Willie H. Black. They are: Tony L. Black, Sr., Debbie P. Black-Conn, and Chet H. Black. She also has six grandchildren who are the “apples of her eye”: Tony L. Black, Jr., Camille V. Black, Caitlin P. Conn, Jordan Miche Grisham, Marc A. Conn, and Chloe Grace Black. She is currently married to Willie Elijah, Jr., and they reside in Texarkana, Texas.
Thelma and Willie Elijah at St. Paul Baptist Church after a church service.
In all of her endeavors, adventures, and successes, Thelma remains a humble and constant servant. “I stress the importance of leading and living a life of understanding, high moral character, service, and good will to all who I come into contact with,” she says.
Over the course of her life, Thelma’s mother, Odessa Rodgers, influenced her the most. “My beloved mother had a profound influence over me,” she explains. “I learned responsibility, hard work, and persistence from her.” Passionate about helping others, Thelma feels that when you do well by others, good things will come to you.
Thelma is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. She was the first female ever to walk unescorted through the compounds of an all-male federal prison. After this historical event took place, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons put out an announcement stating that all female employees at all female and male institutions would be required to walk unescorted by officers or other personnel throughout the institutions.
Gardening, assisting the elderly, and cooking are Thelma’s favorite pastimes. Always providing a listening ear and motivating conversation, Thelma encourages others to participate in enrichment activities that will advance their knowledge and help them embark upon successful careers, while pursuing their passions. If she had to give encouraging advice to a young woman today, she would tell them to: have a relationship with God; love and take care of yourself; position yourself in life to be independent; never forget your roots and those who helped you along the way; and be a mentor who helps others.
A member of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Thelma is dedicated to mentoring members of her community. “I really enjoy living in the Four States area because of the generous, warm, hospitality here,” Thelma admits. “I treasure the many long-lasting friendships that have helped me throughout my life’s journey.”
“May the work I’ve done speak for me. May the life I’ve lived speak for me. When the best I’ve tried to live, my mistakes God will forgive. Let the works I’ve done speak for me.”
- song lyrics, as sung by Donna Hawkins
The way La Verne Johnson Baptiste sees her
To help others was a lifelong service that Thelma Lois Black Elijah has done most of her life. She moved to Texarkana in 1964 and was employed as a teacher at the former historical Black schools – Macedonia High School and Dunbar High School. She lived in the Liberty-Eylau community where she made her home until she retired in 1989.
As a Texarkana educator, she taught business classes, GED, and was an advisor to the senior graduation exercises. As a volunteer, she provided transportation for seniors to get COVID-19 shots, she provided food and clothes to those in need, she donated her finances to help teen girls with prom dresses and other needs, and she spent time calling to counsel or touch base with these young ladies.
Thelma has made donations to local charities, to resale shops, and has done many other charitable deeds for others too numerous to mention.
Thelma Black Elijah is a very selfless educator and humanitarian. She has served her community well. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Just tell people that I just tried to help somebody.” Like him, Thelma wanted no awards nor recognition for her charitable giving. She has completed the Seven Basic Duties of Mankind: to educate the illiterate; to house the homeless; to clothe the naked; to heal the sick; to visit the shut-in and the incarcerated; to feed the hungry; and to console the bereaved.