MY DAY: ROBERTA A GRANDE DAME
A serious mentor of mine died last week. Roberta Clayborn was 102 years old. They took her car keys about five years ago. As delicate as a magnolia, tough as steel, Roberta was wealthy with rank, internationally socially prominent, elegant, respected, couture fashionable and married to Isadore Huddleston (I.H.) Clayborn, Sovereign Grand Commander the highest office in Scottish Rite Masonry, for 53 years before his death in 1994. They were first chair members of Good Street Baptist Church.
I have known Roberta and I. H. Clayborn all of my working adult life. They were responsible for my modeling-to-major account management career at Eastman Kodak Company. I met them as a legal secretary at Finch, Lockridge & Cunningham, the largest black owned law firm in the 60’s and 70’s and the legal counselors to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas. Under the leadership of the then Grand Master and Roberta Clayborn, decent housing was supplied to many low income residents in various Prince Hall apartment complexes in Texas and scholarships were awarded to deserving students. Mrs. Clayborn traveled with her husband and his one delight presiding over the Supreme Council, was to call her up on stage with him to ‘make me look good’.
Roberta Clayborn had plenty of effervescence, remarkable intensity and grace under fire. She loved to entertain in her home. I still remember stories about Lionel Hampton and a personal ‘shout out’ from Duke Ellington in Chicago at a club gala.
Roberta Clayborn was never idle. She worked with her hands creating splendid one-of-a-kind ceramics.
Her works were admired by Neiman Marcus buyers and displayed at Hallmark. Her distinctive good works are widely and favorably known. Special friends and family delight in her designs of art graciously displaying them in their homes and offices.
For a ‘grande dame’ (French for “great lady”) rest in peace. Your long and productive life will always be an inspiration to all who seek excellence in all walks of life.
The Mobile Mammography Unit will be at the Pleasant Grove Library Saturday, December 20, 2104,
7310 Lake June, Dallas. Mammograms are free to low income women. Please call 214.645.2560.
Take someone. Encourage someone. Merry Christmas. Ester Davis 214.376.9000.
