Eliza W. Houston (Lansing)

Mother Eliza Walls-Houston departed this life Monday July 27, 2020 at McLaren-Greater Lansing in Lansing Michigan. Age 92 years. The indefinite wisdom of God was cherished when he blessed the household of Tensley, Sr. and Eliza (King) Walls of Marengo County, Alabama with a loving daughter on July 30, 1927 whom they named Eliza Walls. She was the 9th of 11 children and soon establish herself as a reliable sister, friend and confident.

Eliza’s love for education has always been known. She received her formal education from Marengo County School District and graduated from Linden Academy now known as George P. Austin High School in the upper top of her graduating class of 1943. Eliza married the love of her life, Richard Houston, Sr. in Gallion, Alabama the summer of 1948; to this union 8 children were born. In the Winter of 1968, Eliza’s husband relocated his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and then to Lansing, Michigan in 1969 after her husband gained employment at Motor Wheel. Eliza gain various employment, she was a sharecropper truck driver, bus driver, foster parent, chef, beautician, and retire from Meijer as a baker as well as a domesticated engineer. Eliza had confessed her faith in Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and joined the St. Matthew Baptist Church of Marengo County, Alabama and Tabernacle Baptist Church. After arriving in Lansing, Eliza joined Mount Olive Baptist Church, Greater Love Apostolic Temple and finally was a member at Bethlehem Temple in Jackson, Michigan . She was actively involved in the church and served in various ministries including the Usher Board, hospitality board, church mother, faithfully attended Sunday School and Bible Study. She has served as a mother to many children who did not have a motherly figure. Eliza loved to travel and made many visits “back down home” as she called it. She loved visiting her many relatives and friends. In 2018, she was honored at her 75th class reunion as one of the oldest alumni of George P. Austin High School. She also loved traveling with her family singing group, “The Heavenly Stars” of Lansing, Michigan where she served as the road manager and treasurer.

She leaves to cherish her long legacy of love and inspiration to be cherished forever by her daughters, Affie (Joe, Sr.) Parker, Parlee Balanta, Eliza A. Leggions; sons, Jerome Houston, Frank (Annie) Houston, Sr., Richard (Vera) Houston, Jr., and Jessie (Barbara) Houston all of Lansing, Michigan; step-daughter, Georgia Crawford of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 43 grandchildren; over 150 great grandchildren; many great-great grandchildren; Goddaughters, Heidi Rogers and Joyce Mitchell; sisters-in-law, Thelma Walls and Linda Walls; special niece, Hannah Mae Poellnitz, many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including special friends, Mother Rachel Thompson and Maggie Suttles.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Houston, Sr.; son, Rance Houston; parents, Tensley, Sr. and Eliza Walls; grandson, Joseph Parker Sr.; siblings, Lillie Bell, Lola Parker, Irene Fitz, Leola Conner, Jerome Walls, Sr., Rosie Robertson, Annie Johnson, Lucille Nathan, Georgia Scruggs and Tensley Walls, Jr.; daughter-in-law, Sarah Houston; and best friend, Florence Lyons.