Theola Booker

DR. THEOLA MASSIE BOOKER A strong woman of God and one of the unrivaled drum majors of Houston's gospel music community, Dr.Theola Booker has touched many hearts with the soulful expressions of her love for gospel music and ranks among its greatest and most enduring ambassadors.
Dr. Theola Massie Booker is the oldest of two children born to the late Eugene and Cora Massie, on February 23, 1944 in 3rd Ward, Texas. Theola inherited a rich legacy of faith, family, character, and music that would serve her well. A native of Houstonian and a proud product of the Houston Independent School District, Dr. Booker attended Blackshear Miller Jr. High School (now The Contemporary Learning Center) and Jack Yates Senior High School. She was a graduate of Texas Southern University receiving her Bachelor's and Master of Arts degree in Music Education with an emphasis on piano. Additionally, she earned her doctorate degree in Music Education at Lacrosse University.
Dr. Theola Booker a wife and mother of three children has diligently served as the Minister of Music of the Greater St. Matthew Church in Houston, Texas for over 45 years; "The Saint", as it is affectionately called- is one church with two locations, where her husband, Dr. Gusta Booker is the Senior Pastor. Dr. Booker also made a profound impact in her roles as Director of the Women's Ministry and GSM Uplift the 501c(3) arm of Greater Saint Matthew. In the First Lady's community she was an active member of Houston's First Ladies Association. A former member of St. John Baptist Church on Dowling, she began playing the piano in church at the tender age of eight. Dr. Booker a long time educator for the HISD, at the acclaimed Parker Elementary School was named the "Teacher of the Year", and was a major catalyst for the school being recognized as a National Grammy Signature School. One highlight she recalled at Parker is having Beyonce Knowles as a piano student. She said, "While everyone else would be practicing scales and chords, Beyonce would wander off into composition and would be making up her own songs."
Dr. Booker was an extraordinary pianist, teacher, director, composer, author, lecturer, entrepreneur and friend. She traveled throughout the world participating and teaching at a variety of Music Workshops. She is highly respected by her peers and has received numerous awards on the local, state and national level as an outstanding composer, songwriter, pianist and director. She and her choirs have made appearances with; and won awards with the Winans, V. Michael Mckay, Margaret Douroux, Glen Burleigh, Albertina Walker, LeAnne Faine, Kathy Taylor, Barbara Tucker, Dorothy Norwood and a host of gospel greats. She has composed and arranged music for the late great Reverend James Cleveland, founder of the Gospel Music Workshop Of America, Inc. where she recently served on the academic staff. In 2008 she was nominated for a Grammy Award, "Traditional Gospel with guest" category.
Because of her dedication and faithfulness many people are now more aware of the strong ties Gospel music has played in Black culture. This is due specifically to the contributions and leadership she has shown for 35 years through State Rep. Al Edwards Juneteenth Heritage Celebration Choirs and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's Gospel Music Heritage Month. With her humble unassuming spirit, Dr. Theola Booker was able to quietly ascend to high heights and breathe such rarified air that only few of the gospel greats get a chance to experience.
Other achievements include: Assistant Chapter Representative for the Houston Chapter of the GMWA, Director of the Women's Division and Board Member of the Houston Chapter of the GMWA, Charter Member of Texas Gospel Music Excellence Awards Organization since 1997, recently awarded Two Life Time Achievement Awards. She served as Department Coordinator at Burris Elementary Fine Arts Program, Former Faculty Member at the University of Houston Music Department and Board Member and Director of Music for Houston based Inspire Women, Inc., Dr. Booker has also directed youth choirs for the National Baptist Congress and NAACP National Convention and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.. The blend of all her talents, the love for people and the art of gospel music inspires us to know that this is why God has blessed us with such a lovely flower and awesome gift such as Dr. Theola Booker.
On Saturday, April 19, 2014 Dr. Theola Booker departed this life bound for glory to live eternally with the Lord.
She leaves this legacy of love and reconciliation to her husband of almost 50 years (49 years, 8 months), Dr. Gusta Booker; her loving children, Ronald (Valree) Booker, Gusta III (Nicole) Booker, and Alita Corine (Kelly) Reed; two grandsons, Ronald, Jr. (Kita) and Joshua; and three granddaughters, Peyton, Tess, and Blake and 3 great grandchildren, Mahloni, Ronald III and Xavier; her devoted sister, Shirley Massie of Los Angeles, California, and a devoted "God-son", Jerome Gillespie who was raised in the Booker household; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, friends and the Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church Family.
She will lie in state on (Friday) April 25, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.at Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church (SOUTHEAST) Campus, 7701 Jutland. On (Saturday) April 26, 2014, she will lie in state from 8-10:55 a.m., at the Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church (SOUTHWEST) Campus, 14919 So. Main, The Homegoing Celebration will begin at 11:00 a.m., Interment will follow in Houston Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to www.gsmuplift.org. To view funeral services live go to www.greatersaintmatthewchurch.org.