Past Grandparent Honorees
Emma Galindo has worked at MISD for 29 years: 13 years as a Parent Liaison at Ben Milam Elementary School, 10 years at Bunche and West Early Childhood Centers, MISD Pre-K as the Parent Involvement and Community Service Coordinator, and the past 6 years at Viola Coleman High School and Barbara Culver Juvenile Center. Emma also worked as a social worker throughout our community. She loves working with students, clients, and their families. Per Emma, “My wealth does not come from money or financial gain. It comes from people who have crossed my path and with whom I have built strong friendships through my career as a social worker. I am blessed and I am the luckiest person to have crossed paths with so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ.” Emma is the proud grandmother to three beautiful grandchildren, all of whom live in Midland.
Susan Hanson is an active member of Golf Course Road Church of Christ. She housed her son and his family during their transition back to Midland. Over the years she has home schooled her grandchildren and many children throughout her neighborhood and the Midland community. Two children whom she homeschooled received awards for the “Most Improved Student”. Susan volunteered with several non-profit organizations including Mission Center Adult Day Service and Opportunity Tribe. Susan is a proud grandmother of five (5) grandchildren, Rebecca, Zachary, Timothy, Hannah, and Lucas.
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Peggie Lee Jones is a 92-year-old mother of seven children, 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, all of whom she inspired, nurtured, and spiritually developed. Mrs. Jones dedicated her life to serving children, young adults, and senior groups at Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church for over 70 years. She coordinated free community-based church conferences for 15 years; provided free shuttle services for Sunday School using her own car for 25 years; led food and clothing drives for displaced populations in her area for 20 years, organized free concerts, and taught lifestyle (life skill) courses for 65 years as a member of The Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Jones has dedicated her life to the service of others.
Jeff Smith is a deacon at Downtown Church of Christ. Prior to Jeff’s retirement from Chevron, he was fortunate to live in fascinating places like the Middle East, Venezuela, Canada, and West Africa. Jeff has made it his mission to positively impact the lives of those he touches - that impact has been felt from Midland, Texas to the far reaches of Equatorial Guinea, where he volunteered at the Malabo Orphanage. Jeff and his wife raised two sons, instilling in them traits and values they now pay forward in their private and professional lives as doctors. They are the proud grandparents to Olivia, Henry, Adley, and Dylan. Jeff’s goal in life is to become closer to God through church, interacting with all people, and giving back to community. He strives to treat others with honesty, respect, and integrity. According to Jeff, there are many good quotes to live by, but the one he likes best is by the incomparable Mohammad Ali who said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Rae Smith is an active member of Downtown Church of Christ. She is the mother of two boys and grandmother to four grandchildren. Rae was raised in Stanton, Texas. She attended Texas Tech. Rae is very active in volunteering in church ministries, Midland Soccer Association, Mission Center Adult Day Service (6 years), Family Promise of Midland, and is a Lifetime Member of Texas PTA. She is an avid photographer and loves to travel. She and her husband, Jeff, raised their boys to be responsible adults. In life, Rae hopes to “make life a little better for someone else and to be remembered as someone who could be depended on.” One of her favorite quotes sums this up well, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill. Per Rae, “Giving back to others brings blessings and joy that would not have been known otherwise. We are told in scripture to help others. By helping others, we help ourselves.”