Kilgore Church Honors 3 Women for Decades of Service & Community Impact

Clora Austin, Cleo Morgan, and Maxine Fortson recognized for their lifelong contributions to education and the local community.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Three longtime members of Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church in Kilgore, Texas - Clora Austin (100), Cleo Morgan (99), and Maxine Fortson (90) - were recently honored by the church and the City of Kilgore for their decades of dedication and community involvement. The women shared their experiences growing up during segregation, pursuing education, and serving as educators in the region.

Why it matters

The stories of these three women highlight the important role that churches and educational institutions played in supporting the Black community in East Texas during a time of racial segregation. Their lifelong commitments to education and community service are inspiring examples of perseverance and making a lasting impact.

The details

Clora Austin has lived her entire life on land originally purchased by her formerly enslaved great-grandfather in 1912. She graduated from North Chapel High School in 1945, earned bachelor's and master's degrees, and dedicated nearly 30 years to education as a special education teacher and diagnostician. Cleo Morgan also graduated from Kilgore Colored High School in 1945, faced racial barriers to attending Kilgore College, but went on to earn a master's degree and teach for 34 years in Lubbock during school integration. Maxine Fortson has been a member of Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church for 80 years, recalling the challenges of attending a segregated school with outdated textbooks.

  • Clora Austin was born on February 11, 1926 in Gregg County, Texas.
  • Clora Austin, Cleo Morgan, and Maxine Fortson all graduated from Kilgore Colored High School in 1945.
  • Cleo Morgan later earned a master's degree from Texas Southern University.
  • Maxine Fortson pursued nursing and anesthesia nurse training in Kansas before returning to East Texas in 1974.
  • The Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church is awaiting approval for a historical park plaque to commemorate its educational and religious history.

The players

Clora Austin

A 100-year-old lifelong resident of Kilgore, Texas who graduated from North Chapel High School in 1945, earned bachelor's and master's degrees, and dedicated nearly 30 years to education as a special education teacher and diagnostician.

Cleo Morgan

A 99-year-old 1945 graduate of Kilgore Colored High School who faced racial barriers to attending Kilgore College, but went on to earn a master's degree and teach for 34 years in Lubbock during school integration.

Maxine Fortson

A 90-year-old member of Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church for approximately 80 years, who pursued nursing and anesthesia nurse training in Kansas before returning to East Texas in 1974.

Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church

A church in Kilgore, Texas that originally served as an educational institution for Black children when public schools were not available to them.

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What they’re saying

“I've never moved away.”

— Clora Austin (newsdirectory3.com)

“We weren't the right color' to attend Kilgore College at the time.”

— Cleo Morgan (newsdirectory3.com)

“Growing up and being in a segregated school, what I remember most about it was we were ten years behind in our books that we studied in.”

— Maxine Fortson (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church is awaiting approval for a historical park plaque to commemorate the site's significance in the community's educational and religious history.

The takeaway

The stories of Clora Austin, Cleo Morgan, and Maxine Fortson demonstrate the resilience and determination of the Black community in East Texas, who overcame segregation and lack of access to education to make lasting contributions through their careers in teaching and nursing.