Joel Sturdivant

Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr., 89, was born May 4, 1928, in Log Town, Mississippi. He is survived by: wife Elva and son Joel W. Sturdivant, III of Houston, Texas; daughter Carol Atkinson and husband Bobby of Peachtree City, Georgia; granddaughter Nikki Atkinson and grandson Bobby Ray Atkinson, III. He is also survived by: sister Carolyn Brasher and husband Jim of Oxford, Mississippi; sister-in-law Erna Lee Simon of Cuero, Texas; brother-in-law Tom Roe of Houston, Texas; brother-in-law Bobby Charles Duschamp of Houston, Texas; as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Mr. Sturdivant received his B.S. and master’s degrees from the University of Houston. Joel was a retired coach and principal in the Houston Independent School District. He began his coaching and teaching career in Humble, Texas, where he was Head Football Coach and Track Coach. Joel entered the Houston schools in 1953, with brief stops at Marshall Junior High, Johnson Junior High and Jackson Junior High before moving to Jesse E. Jones High School in 1958. At Jones High School, he held the position of Assistant Football Coach and Head Track and Field Coach. In the 1964-65 school year, the Jones Falcons won eleven football games, played in the quarter-finals at Rice Stadium and won the State Championship 5A for basketball in Austin, Texas, as well as winning third place in the State 5A division in track and field held in Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. John Morriss, a Jones High School athlete, also set a National record in the 120-yard high hurdles in Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1965, Mr. Sturdivant accepted an administrative position at John H. Reagan High School in the Houston Heights, where he served as Principal for 23 years prior to his retirement in 1988. As Principal, he entered Reagan High School into the Magnet Program as a Fundamental School-“Back to the Basics”-with emphasis on reading, writing and math. The next school year, Superintendent, Billy Reagan, requested that he adopt the “Competency Based” instructional program. As a fundamental school with competency based instruction, Reagan High School led all HISD Secondary Schools in academic progress. Superintendent Billy Reagan used Reagan High School’s test scores to convince the federal courts that academic excellence could be achieved in an inner city, multi-ethnic school. A Celebration of the Life of Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr. will be held Wednesday, October 4 at 2 P.M. at Second Baptist Church, in the Chapel, Woodway Campus: 6400 Woodway Dr. Houston, TX 77057 The celebration is open to the public. Letter From The Family: It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr. With loved ones by his side, Joel was welcomed with open arms into the Kingdom of Heaven on Sunday, September 3, 2017. For 89 years, Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr. lived nothing short of an extraordinary life. Joel had a life-long interest in sports and was active in hunting, fishing and golf. He also enjoyed his daily workout at the health club and spending time at his farm in Cuero, Texas. To all who would listen, Joel was always quick to share his most cherished memories of family, coaching high school football and track and field, times spent as Principal at John H. Reagan High School and, of course, his luck (or lack there of) on the golf course. We take peace in knowing that his faith was the foundation for the impact he made on the lives of many. We know that Joel does not want us to mourn, but to celebrate the hope and inspiration he passed along to each of us. Therefore, a Celebration of the Life of Joel W. Sturdivant, Jr. will be held Wednesday, October 4 at 2 P.M. at Second Baptist Church in the Chapel, Woodway Campus: 6400 Woodway Dr. Houston, TX 77057 The celebration is open to the public. Please visit our Facebook page (link below) for any updates. https://www.facebook.com/groups/732579213597593/ Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.