The Texas Historian, Volume 37, Number 2, November 1976 Page: 19
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"one of the largest gifts that had ever been
given to charity by a Negro in the South." A
black professional women's organization, the
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, bought the land
on which a cottage for Negro orphan children
was built. Anna's first dream had come true-
a home for orphan Negro children.
After succeeding with her first charitable
project, Anna turned her attention to helping
the elderly blacks. In 1948 the seeds of Anna's
plan for a home for elderly blacks began tak-
ing roots.
The Duprees owned property in Highland
Heights, a Negro subdivision, which they do-
nated as the site for the home. Anna then be-
gan a crusade to make the public aware of the
need for such a home, and her husband helped
her by making personal calls. They also held
teas, dances, and style shows to raise money
for the project. The Duprees were successful
as usual, and they chartered a new charitable
organization in memory of Anna's mother,
the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Negroes.
As Anna traveled throughout the city she
became aware of the plight of others in need.
She decided to include in her new project a
home for unwed girls, a nursery for abandoned
babies, a cottage for the mentally retarded,
and a cottage for the physically handicapped.
The new development was to be called "Wel-
come Acres."
As Anna's dreams began to expand, she
realized that the property which she and her
husband had donated would not accommodate
all of these projects. The only solution to the
problem was another site. Anna provided
"seed money," continued her fund-raising
drive, and subsequently built a home for the
elderly on a thirty-five-acre tract on Chocolate
Bayou Road, later renamed Cullen Boulevard.
Anna made appeals to black churches, fra-
ternal organizations, civic clubs, community
leaders, and firms in the city. She received do-
nations from both individuals and business
firms. The Houston Chronicle contributed to
the home and Bill Williams' Restaurant auc-
tioned off a quilt cover that brought $500. In
addition to soliciting funds from firms, Anna
organized The Negro Community Council to
help raise money for her new project.
On Sunday, June 22, 1952, Anna Dupree'sC. A. and Anna Dupree in 1949.
second dream came true with the dedication
of the Eliza Johnson Home for Aged Ne-
groes. A large crowd, including black and
white leaders of the Houston community, was
present to witness the dedication, where a
large portrait of Anna was unveiled. Mayor
Oscar F. Holcombe proclaimed that Sunday
as "Memorial Day for Our Aged Negro Citi-
zens.
Anna's work still was not finished. She had
to help find ways to furnish the spacious build-
ing. She not only spearheaded the fund-raising
activities, but she and Clarence also donated
their services at the home. Anna recalled:
Dupree assisted in cooking for the aged people.
He would make delicious soup with the beef
legs that Mr. Joe Burney gave and the fresh
vegetables from the Farmer's Market or the
stores that had fruits and vegetables left over.
I made fruit cobblers. Sometimes I'd make fruit
and boiled dumplings. We planted parsley and
celery around the home. Lots of which were
used for seasoning and in salads.
While Anna was raising money for her
charitable projects, Dupree was involved in
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Texas State Historical Association. The Texas Historian, Volume 37, Number 2, November 1976, periodical, November 1976; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391307/m1/21/: accessed June 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.