I’m Rita Haywood Wiltz.
My family is one of the oldest in Tamina.

Seven generations of my family have made Tamina their home. As a matter of fact, ten members still live here.

My great grandmother, Mary Louise Williams, was part Creek Indian. Her parents, Laura and Wilson, had been slaves. “Aunt Lou,” as we called her, told us they were part of the house staff and could read and write. The descendants of Willy Haywood [Rita’s grandfather] were slaves on this land, but instead of picking cotton, they were the educators of the children, the readers, and the midwives. I think it is because of this that the importance of education has been instilled in us.

Aunt Lou was the midwife in Tamina who not only delivered babies but nursed many of the white babies too. She worked for the Grogan family who owned Grogan’s Mill and for Dr. Falvey who was a surgeon in Conroe and had a summer home in Tamina. She always requested Sundays off. Out of curiosity, Dr. Falvey went to church with her. Tamina Tabernacle was in awful condition and Dr. Falvey made the decision then to build the congregation a new church. It was named Falvey Memorial Baptist Church in his honor. It still stands today and is the church my family continues to attend.

There is such rich history here. Tamina was one of the few towns between Houston and Conroe. The towns you see around us now have only come into being in the past thirty to fifty years. Not long ago the land that is now known as The Woodlands was our hunting grounds. The areas that are now Oak Ridge North, Chateau Woods, and Shenandoah were hog farms. 

We’ve a strong sense of community in this town. My mother and grandmother always taught us the importance of volunteering and caring for others, and I’m teaching my children to do the same. I started Children’s Books on Wheels, where we promote literacy through an after-school tutoring program. I’m proud that my family is a part of the rich history of Tamina.