Mrs. Gazella White Booth passed at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Tomball Regional Hospital. She was laid to rest at Prairie View Cemetery on Saturday, Jan. 28.Booth was the oldest of five children born to Professor Giles and Lovie Greer White of Patroom Community. She was a dedicated member of the St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Prairie View, Texas, where she served as a faithful member of the Altar Guild Team 3 and Episcopal Church Women’s sponsor to the Episcopal Young Christians. She was also a devoted member of other various organizations including Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., American Library Association, Waller County Democratic Club, Heroines of Jericho, and the Houston branch of the NAACP.
She was educated in the public schools of Shelby County and graduated from C.H. Daniels High School in Center, Texas. After high school, she didn’t stop. She attended Texas College in Tyler where she received her bachelor’s, and later her master’s degree from Prairie View A&M University. Booth started her career as a teacher at the Neuville Choice Elementary School of Shelby County and served as principal and library organizer at Shady Grove Elementary in Marshall, Texas. She started her career at Prairie View A&M University in 1957, where she held the position of referencece librarian until she retired after 26 years in 1983.
“She was well known on campus and was always there with a smile and helping hand,” head librarian Juanitia Walker said. After retirement, she continued to volunteer her services to many programs at the university, including a member of the CAST (Committee to Assist Students in Theater) and the Century II Book review.
Booth will always be remembered as a loving, caring, God-fearing, Prairie View star who will be forever missed.