Clara B. Houston was born July, 13 1936 to Charlie and Inell Hollins in Whatley, Alabama. Clara B. Houston known as Mother Houston was one of 13 siblings. Jessie Davis, Charlie Hollins Jr., Ernest Hollins, Ethel Evans, Mary Duncan, Robert Hollins Sr., Barbara Hollins, Edward Earl Hollins, Rose Hollins Morrissette, Bernice Pugh and the late Azzie Lee Hollins and Minnie Hill. Clara met her first and only love the late Leroy Houston Sr. in the early 1950s. Leroy Sr. captured her heart and they would marry and begin their family.
Leroy Sr. and Clara had the first of what she would call her southern babies. They had four children in Alabama the late Janie Donovan (Clement) Archie Houston (Lorraine) Maggie Jones (Thomas) and James Houston (Darlene). There would be more babies to come after their move to Boston MA. In 1958 once arriving in Boston they had five more babies Antinette Houston, Leroy Houston Jr. (Shirley), Derrick Houston (Cynthia), Christopher Houston (Corrinda), Malissa Diggs (Charles). Clara was a wife and a mother of nine children, five boys and four girls.
She had her hands full but still had time to work as a CNA at night while her children slept. While in Boston, Clara would find her first church home at Southern Baptist, she would later join Timothy Baptist and attend regularly. Clara was introduced to her final church home Lincoln Church by her son Leroy Jr. Lincoln became her church home where she became an active member. Mother Houston was known for her singing, she would bless us with her southern singing. Her voice would give you chills as she hit her high notes with her amazing voice. She would sing such songs as “Shine” and “I know I've Been Changed”. Mother Houston would support her church family through song and as a missionary.
Clara was a God fearing Christian that loved the Lord. When she was not in church she was singing and cooking in the kitchen. Many will remember her famous items she made like, tea cakes, sweet bread and her famous red velvet cake. Clara begin to fall ill a couple of years ago but despite her health she remained active in church and with her family. She stayed faithful in the lives and activities of her children and grandchildren monitoring the progress of their daily lives with phone calls. Clara constantly update her little notebook with their numbers.
On April 17th the Lord called her home. Clara will leave to cherish her memory 8 children, 33 grandchildren, 53 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews and friends
Visitation will be held in the Lincoln Church 180 Oak St., Brockton on Tuesday April 25, 2017, 10-11am followed by a funeral service 11-12:30. Burial in Fairview Cemetery, Boston.