Dorothy H. Orebo

January 31, 1935 - July 23, 2022

Dorothy Houston Orebo died on July 23, 2022, in Frisco, Texas, at the age of 87. A true force of
love and light in her community, she was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and friend who will be missed by everyone who knew her.

The eleventh of thirteen children, Dorothy was born on January 31, 1935, at Brackenridge
Hospital in Austin — the city she called home her entire life, a most cherished and complicated place whose racist history of segregation imprinted upon her so many of her values of social justice and dreams for a better future, to mold her into the fearless, trailblazing woman she would become.

From the beginning, Dorothy knew it was her life’s calling to be a teacher, and it was a challenge she tackled with grit and gusto, and with a great sense of responsibility. In educating the next generation, she was determined to impress upon them the values of love and compassion that are so needed in this world. It wasn’t an easy journey — Dorothy had to work part time while attending Huston-Tillotson College — but in 1957 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, becoming the first in her family to finish undergraduate school. Later, in 1992, Huston-Tillotson also bestowed her with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, officially making her Dr. Dorothy H. Orebo.

After two years of working at Woodson High School in Abilene, Texas — her very first teaching job — Dorothy went on to join the Austin Independent School District (AISD), where she would spend the next 32 years of her career. In addition to working full time as a teacher, she continued to support herself through part time waitressing and bartending at Night Hawk and Lakeway.

Always aspiring to do and be more, Dorothy went on to complete her Master of Education from Southwest Texas State University in 1971, before being named the Dean of Women at Johnston High School. In 1974, she helped open Lyndon B. Johnson High School, serving first as a House Principal and then as Associate Principal. In 1982, Dorothy was appointed to Principal of LBJ, becoming the first ever Black female head of an AISD high school. It was her crowning achievement as an educator.

As a principal, Dorothy was a fair but disciplined leader who expected excellence from everyone in her school, herself included. She never asked anyone to do anything that she wouldn’t do herself. An advocate of the importance of love, even the tough kind, she was known for greeting her students daily with a heartfelt “Hi, Love,” holding firm to the belief that giving love begets getting love, and ultimately, spreading love.

Dorothy was a huge fan of football, from the Dallas Cowboys to the LBJ Jaguars. What she loved most about those Friday night games at LBJ wasn’t who won or who lost, but the shared community experience of it all — watching as everyone from the students and faculty to the players, drill team, cheerleaders, and band — come together as one and root for the team.

Outside of her role as an educator, Dorothy was a shining pillar of the Austin community. A staunch supporter of Black aspiring professionals, single mothers, the LGBTQ+ community, and veterans, she made it her mission to be a voice for the voiceless. As a strong single Black woman, she always hoped to pave the way for other Black women; for example, as far back as the late 60s, in an era when single Black women didn’t often own property, she was the owner of multiple properties. Dorothy would not let segregation stop her from attaining her dreams.

She was a faithful member of St. James Episcopal Church for over 50 years, serving as a lay reader, a member of the Bishop Committee, and the usher board. She particularly loved Jazz at St. James and Palm Sunday. In addition, Dorothy was an active member of many organizations dedicated to the advancement of society, among them the Travis County Juvenile Board, Austin Association of Public School Administrators, Texas Association of Secondary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Greater Council of Alcoholism Board, and more. Dorothy took seriously her civic obligation to perform jury duty, twice serving as Foreman of the Travis County Grand Jury.

Dorothy was the ultimate hostess who found immense joy in gathering friends and family under her roof. As the sounds of blues music and boisterous laughter drifted through the house, she dished up her infamous homemade gumbo and showcased her mixology skills from her bartending days, making everyone their favorite cocktail (and teaching them not to stir it too much, lest they bruise the liquor). As for Dorothy, her signature drink was the incomparable Cuba Libre ~ which she enjoyed with extra lime.

Come Christmastime, she would revel in cooking dinner for the often more than thirty loved ones who stopped by her house and hanging candy canes on the boughs of her tree; candy canes that her nephews would take down to eat with glee — that is until they discovered she used the same ones over and over again for many years!

Dorothy was fond of cars and could tell you the makes and models of most any one she saw. She was the proud owner of several Thunderbirds, and an eager driving instructor for anyone who wanted to learn. After her eldest sister introduced her to photography, Dorothy became an avid amateur photographer, taking thousands of pictures and meticulously organizing and captioning them in dozens and dozens of albums. She was a keeper of things, from her daughter’s birthday cards and Halloween costumes to her never-ending collections of trinkets. First, it was owls, then elephants, then All God’s Children figurines, then coffee mugs — of which she amassed over 200! Her home was like an art gallery, with every bit of wall space covered in art; her yard was her happy place where she gardened and mowed and kept fit in her own way. Dorothy had a knack for making people feel special by finding them the perfect gift, always keeping her eyes peeled for little surprises — “sussies,” as she called them — that she could give to the ones she cared for.

Dorothy traveled voraciously. In her lifetime, she was able to see forty out of fifty states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and five of the seven continents. Her favorite places were London, New York, and, of course, her beloved city of Austin, and after every trip she always looked forward to coming home. “There’s no place like Austin,” she always said.

A passionate and principled soul, Dorothy was a luminary of Black women, single mothers, and educators, who was far ahead of her time. A woman whose spirit lit up every room she walked into, Dorothy will be remembered as kind, fiercely determined, intrepid, hardworking, fun loving, honest, and just. She made it her responsibility to make sure people knew they were loved: “Give love, get love, spread love.”

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents Gus and Elee; ten of her siblings, brothers Tom, Elmo, Owens “Banty”, Eddie B., Raymond, and Melvin, and sisters Gussie, Ella, Gracie, and Betty; and her beloved dogs Mortiz and Alex.

Her legacy will be carried on through her daughter Tonya Orebo Edwards and son-in-love LeMonte of Lewisville; grandson Jourdain Davis Edwards of Fort Worth; granddaughter Peyton Elee Edwards of Frisco; sisters Artrell Gordon of Houston and Doris Calloway of Austin; sisters-in-law Ruth Houston of Port Arthur and Johnnie Houston of Austin; devoted best friend Mary Alice Williams; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The visitation will be hosted at St. James' Episcopal Church on Friday, August 19, 2022, from 4-6 pm. An Omega Omega Ceremony by the Delta Theta Sigma Sorority Inc. will follow at 6:30 pm. The Celebration of Life will be held at St. James Missionary Baptist Church on August 20, 2022, at 1 pm, followed by a graveside service at Cook-Walden. The family repast will follow at Founders Hall at St. James’ Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that friends and family of Dorothy consider honoring her memory by donating to the Dr. Dorothy H. Orebo Scholarship, which recognizes students of LBJ and Huston-Tillotson who embody the qualities we all cherished so deeply in her as a role model. To donate: https://invest.htu.edu/campaigns/dorothy-orebo-scholarship#/

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