Kenneth Ray Dansby

Kenneth Ray Dansby was born on August 27, 1933 in Timpson, Texas to Mamie Phillips and Lucious Dansby. When he was a toddler, Kenneth Ray, as he was called by family, climbed into the lap of his uncle, John T. Clinton. Kenneth Ray refused to budge until Uncle John agreed to take him home with him. This is how Kenneth Ray came to be raised by Uncle John and Aunt Vera, in Garrison, Texas.

Kenneth Ray attended the colored school in Garrison, Texas. He later attended Prairie View A & M University where he earned a degree in Agriculture. He was also a member of the ROTC and held the rank of Second Lieutenant at Prairie View and First Lieutenant in the Reserves. Kenneth Ray eventually acquired a Masters degree from Texas Southern University.

Kenneth Ray accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at First Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, in Houston. In 1958 he married Annie Bell Thompson, and fathered two children, Shelia and Sharon Kaye.

In the 1960s he was hired by the Houston Independent School District as a 6th grade teacher at Emmett Jay Scott elementary school. Kenneth Ray became Kenneth to his co-workers and Mr. Dansby to the many students he taught. Kenneth’s dedication to children extended outside the classroom. He became a Boy Scout troop master and a Little League coach for the “Tigers.” Throughout his lifetime Kenneth mentored young men and maintained friendships with people of all ages.

Kenneth entered the administrative ranks at Houston Independent School District and was known as Ken to those he worked with. He worked in the Special Education division and was an advocate for black boys who were unfairly labeled as problem students. In retirement, Ken enjoyed life to the fullest—-fishing, traveling, and doing whatever else he wanted, often with his friend, Ms. Juliette Shannon.

On May 4, 2020, Ken was in a serious car accident. The blessing in that crisis was that from that day until his death, Ken spent time with one of his daughters almost every day. Whether you knew him as Kenneth Ray, Kool Dip (a nickname he adopted in his youth), Kenneth, Ken, or simply “Daddy” or “Paw Paw,” you knew a loving, loyal relative and friend.

Ken leaves to cherish his memory, his daughters Shelia Harvey (Henry) and Sharon Burnett (Carl), treasured friend Juliette Shannon, special cousin Don Bell, grandsons Jesse Morris and Kendrick Morris, great-granddaughter Gracie Morris, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, members of the Shannon family, and friends.

All of his relatives who were older than Ken preceded him in death.