Fredna Mae Hadley was born June 15, 1916, in Italy, Texas to William Hadley and Callie Greer Hadley. As a child, she professed her faith in Christ and joined the Union Baptist Church where she was baptized by her step-grandfather, Rev. Austin Queenan, a founder of the church.
Fredna attended the Historic Stafford School through the 10th grade. In order to continue her high school education, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she resided in the home of her maternal uncle and aunt, John Henry and Ola Mae Greer. It was there that she attended I.M. Terrell High School - graduating in 1934.
Her desire was to become a schoolteacher, but Fredna graduated in the midst of the Great Depression and couldn't afford to attend college at the time. Still determined to pursue her dream, she gained employment as a nanny with the Hartmann family of San Antonio and Galveston, Texas, caring for their two small daughters, Terry and Laura. By 1938, she had saved enough money to pay tuition and enrolled at Tillotson College in Austin, Texas. In less than three months, her father died unexpectedly, but with a bit of financial help from her mother, uncle and aunt and with a job in the Office of the Dean, Mary E. Branch, Fredna excelled. In 1940, she was invited to pledge the Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and in 1942 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.
Fredna Hadley met Elmer Allen, a porter with the Pullman Company, while vacationing in California during the summer of 1944. She had just finished her second year as a schoolteacher at her beloved Stafford School where she had studied as a child. After a whirlwind courtship of just a few months, Elmer and Fredna were married in a ceremony at her home in Italy, Texas on September 9, 1944. Her uncle, Rev. William Queenan officiated. The couple returned to the San Francisco Bay area to begin a life together. It was during this period of time that their children, Elmerine and William Thomas, were born.
After Elmer Allen injured his left leg in a work-related accident and the limb subsequently amputated, hard-times came. To make ends meet, for a few years Fredna worked as a nurse's aide in a Oakland, California clinic. Eventually, the couple relied on family members for advice. Fredna's mother, who owned a small county store in Italy, offered her home and a job to support the struggling couple and in the summer of 1951, they moved to her hometown in Texas.
Less than a year later, Fredna Mae Hadley Allen was able to once again able to pursue her passion -- teaching. She resumed her career at the Dunbar School in Forreston, Texas, where she taught for almost a decade until the school consolidated, transferring to the Italy Independent School District. As a part of professional growth, she completed additional studies at Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Fredna Allen would teach at Stafford School until retirement with more than 30 years of service.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen is remembered as a dedicated Christian, committed wife, loving mother and outstanding teacher. She was happiest when teaching in a classroom packed with third graders. She took her assignment as a mission in life and possessed a genuine caring spirit for her students. Fredna Allen believed that respect for teachers cannot be ordered; it must be earned. In retirement, she supported the annual Top Accelerated Reader Awards at Stafford Elementary School. She was most proud to hear that her dedication as an educator made a positive impact in the lives of her students.
In 1992, Fredna Hadley Allen attended the 50th Anniversary of her graduation at Huston-Tillotson University. It was there that she was honored at the alumni dinner and reunited with former classmates who were favored with a personal tour of the campus by its president. Fredna Hadley Allen donned graduation regalia and marched with members of the Class of 1942 in the 1992 Tillotson College Commencement Ceremonies.
She was a member of the Italy, Texas Ladies Aid Society, Order of the Eastern Star and was invited and joined the Italy Chapter of the Fortnightly Club.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen served God for all of her life and gave service to Union Missionary Baptist Church for more than 60 years in the capacity of financial secretary, alto voice in the choir and member of the missionary society.
Fredna attended the Historic Stafford School through the 10th grade. In order to continue her high school education, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she resided in the home of her maternal uncle and aunt, John Henry and Ola Mae Greer. It was there that she attended I.M. Terrell High School - graduating in 1934.
Her desire was to become a schoolteacher, but Fredna graduated in the midst of the Great Depression and couldn't afford to attend college at the time. Still determined to pursue her dream, she gained employment as a nanny with the Hartmann family of San Antonio and Galveston, Texas, caring for their two small daughters, Terry and Laura. By 1938, she had saved enough money to pay tuition and enrolled at Tillotson College in Austin, Texas. In less than three months, her father died unexpectedly, but with a bit of financial help from her mother, uncle and aunt and with a job in the Office of the Dean, Mary E. Branch, Fredna excelled. In 1940, she was invited to pledge the Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and in 1942 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.
Fredna Hadley met Elmer Allen, a porter with the Pullman Company, while vacationing in California during the summer of 1944. She had just finished her second year as a schoolteacher at her beloved Stafford School where she had studied as a child. After a whirlwind courtship of just a few months, Elmer and Fredna were married in a ceremony at her home in Italy, Texas on September 9, 1944. Her uncle, Rev. William Queenan officiated. The couple returned to the San Francisco Bay area to begin a life together. It was during this period of time that their children, Elmerine and William Thomas, were born.
After Elmer Allen injured his left leg in a work-related accident and the limb subsequently amputated, hard-times came. To make ends meet, for a few years Fredna worked as a nurse's aide in a Oakland, California clinic. Eventually, the couple relied on family members for advice. Fredna's mother, who owned a small county store in Italy, offered her home and a job to support the struggling couple and in the summer of 1951, they moved to her hometown in Texas.
Less than a year later, Fredna Mae Hadley Allen was able to once again able to pursue her passion -- teaching. She resumed her career at the Dunbar School in Forreston, Texas, where she taught for almost a decade until the school consolidated, transferring to the Italy Independent School District. As a part of professional growth, she completed additional studies at Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Fredna Allen would teach at Stafford School until retirement with more than 30 years of service.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen is remembered as a dedicated Christian, committed wife, loving mother and outstanding teacher. She was happiest when teaching in a classroom packed with third graders. She took her assignment as a mission in life and possessed a genuine caring spirit for her students. Fredna Allen believed that respect for teachers cannot be ordered; it must be earned. In retirement, she supported the annual Top Accelerated Reader Awards at Stafford Elementary School. She was most proud to hear that her dedication as an educator made a positive impact in the lives of her students.
In 1992, Fredna Hadley Allen attended the 50th Anniversary of her graduation at Huston-Tillotson University. It was there that she was honored at the alumni dinner and reunited with former classmates who were favored with a personal tour of the campus by its president. Fredna Hadley Allen donned graduation regalia and marched with members of the Class of 1942 in the 1992 Tillotson College Commencement Ceremonies.
She was a member of the Italy, Texas Ladies Aid Society, Order of the Eastern Star and was invited and joined the Italy Chapter of the Fortnightly Club.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen served God for all of her life and gave service to Union Missionary Baptist Church for more than 60 years in the capacity of financial secretary, alto voice in the choir and member of the missionary society.
Fredna Mae Hadley was born June 15, 1916, in Italy, Texas to William Hadley and Callie Greer Hadley. As a child, she professed her faith in Christ and joined the Union Baptist Church where she was baptized by her step-grandfather, Rev. Austin Queenan, a founder of the church.
Fredna attended the Historic Stafford School through the 10th grade. In order to continue her high school education, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she resided in the home of her maternal uncle and aunt, John Henry and Ola Mae Greer. It was there that she attended I.M. Terrell High School - graduating in 1934.
Her desire was to become a schoolteacher, but Fredna graduated in the midst of the Great Depression and couldn't afford to attend college at the time. Still determined to pursue her dream, she gained employment as a nanny with the Hartmann family of San Antonio and Galveston, Texas, caring for their two small daughters, Terry and Laura. By 1938, she had saved enough money to pay tuition and enrolled at Tillotson College in Austin, Texas. In less than three months, her father died unexpectedly, but with a bit of financial help from her mother, uncle and aunt and with a job in the Office of the Dean, Mary E. Branch, Fredna excelled. In 1940, she was invited to pledge the Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and in 1942 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.
Fredna Hadley met Elmer Allen, a porter with the Pullman Company, while vacationing in California during the summer of 1944. She had just finished her second year as a schoolteacher at her beloved Stafford School where she had studied as a child. After a whirlwind courtship of just a few months, Elmer and Fredna were married in a ceremony at her home in Italy, Texas on September 9, 1944. Her uncle, Rev. William Queenan officiated. The couple returned to the San Francisco Bay area to begin a life together. It was during this period of time that their children, Elmerine and William Thomas, were born.
After Elmer Allen injured his left leg in a work-related accident and the limb subsequently amputated, hard-times came. To make ends meet, for a few years Fredna worked as a nurse's aide in a Oakland, California clinic. Eventually, the couple relied on family members for advice. Fredna's mother, who owned a small county store in Italy, offered her home and a job to support the struggling couple and in the summer of 1951, they moved to her hometown in Texas.
Less than a year later, Fredna Mae Hadley Allen was able to once again able to pursue her passion -- teaching. She resumed her career at the Dunbar School in Forreston, Texas, where she taught for almost a decade until the school consolidated, transferring to the Italy Independent School District. As a part of professional growth, she completed additional studies at Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Fredna Allen would teach at Stafford School until retirement with more than 30 years of service.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen is remembered as a dedicated Christian, committed wife, loving mother and outstanding teacher. She was happiest when teaching in a classroom packed with third graders. She took her assignment as a mission in life and possessed a genuine caring spirit for her students. Fredna Allen believed that respect for teachers cannot be ordered; it must be earned. In retirement, she supported the annual Top Accelerated Reader Awards at Stafford Elementary School. She was most proud to hear that her dedication as an educator made a positive impact in the lives of her students.
In 1992, Fredna Hadley Allen attended the 50th Anniversary of her graduation at Huston-Tillotson University. It was there that she was honored at the alumni dinner and reunited with former classmates who were favored with a personal tour of the campus by its president. Fredna Hadley Allen donned graduation regalia and marched with members of the Class of 1942 in the 1992 Tillotson College Commencement Ceremonies.
She was a member of the Italy, Texas Ladies Aid Society, Order of the Eastern Star and was invited and joined the Italy Chapter of the Fortnightly Club.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen served God for all of her life and gave service to Union Missionary Baptist Church for more than 60 years in the capacity of financial secretary, alto voice in the choir and member of the missionary society.
Fredna attended the Historic Stafford School through the 10th grade. In order to continue her high school education, she moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where she resided in the home of her maternal uncle and aunt, John Henry and Ola Mae Greer. It was there that she attended I.M. Terrell High School - graduating in 1934.
Her desire was to become a schoolteacher, but Fredna graduated in the midst of the Great Depression and couldn't afford to attend college at the time. Still determined to pursue her dream, she gained employment as a nanny with the Hartmann family of San Antonio and Galveston, Texas, caring for their two small daughters, Terry and Laura. By 1938, she had saved enough money to pay tuition and enrolled at Tillotson College in Austin, Texas. In less than three months, her father died unexpectedly, but with a bit of financial help from her mother, uncle and aunt and with a job in the Office of the Dean, Mary E. Branch, Fredna excelled. In 1940, she was invited to pledge the Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and in 1942 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.
Fredna Hadley met Elmer Allen, a porter with the Pullman Company, while vacationing in California during the summer of 1944. She had just finished her second year as a schoolteacher at her beloved Stafford School where she had studied as a child. After a whirlwind courtship of just a few months, Elmer and Fredna were married in a ceremony at her home in Italy, Texas on September 9, 1944. Her uncle, Rev. William Queenan officiated. The couple returned to the San Francisco Bay area to begin a life together. It was during this period of time that their children, Elmerine and William Thomas, were born.
After Elmer Allen injured his left leg in a work-related accident and the limb subsequently amputated, hard-times came. To make ends meet, for a few years Fredna worked as a nurse's aide in a Oakland, California clinic. Eventually, the couple relied on family members for advice. Fredna's mother, who owned a small county store in Italy, offered her home and a job to support the struggling couple and in the summer of 1951, they moved to her hometown in Texas.
Less than a year later, Fredna Mae Hadley Allen was able to once again able to pursue her passion -- teaching. She resumed her career at the Dunbar School in Forreston, Texas, where she taught for almost a decade until the school consolidated, transferring to the Italy Independent School District. As a part of professional growth, she completed additional studies at Prairie View A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin. Fredna Allen would teach at Stafford School until retirement with more than 30 years of service.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen is remembered as a dedicated Christian, committed wife, loving mother and outstanding teacher. She was happiest when teaching in a classroom packed with third graders. She took her assignment as a mission in life and possessed a genuine caring spirit for her students. Fredna Allen believed that respect for teachers cannot be ordered; it must be earned. In retirement, she supported the annual Top Accelerated Reader Awards at Stafford Elementary School. She was most proud to hear that her dedication as an educator made a positive impact in the lives of her students.
In 1992, Fredna Hadley Allen attended the 50th Anniversary of her graduation at Huston-Tillotson University. It was there that she was honored at the alumni dinner and reunited with former classmates who were favored with a personal tour of the campus by its president. Fredna Hadley Allen donned graduation regalia and marched with members of the Class of 1942 in the 1992 Tillotson College Commencement Ceremonies.
She was a member of the Italy, Texas Ladies Aid Society, Order of the Eastern Star and was invited and joined the Italy Chapter of the Fortnightly Club.
Fredna Mae Hadley Allen served God for all of her life and gave service to Union Missionary Baptist Church for more than 60 years in the capacity of financial secretary, alto voice in the choir and member of the missionary society.
Inscription
Devoted Wife,
Mother and Teacher
