Wilhelmina Fortner '86'

Life and Legacy of Wilhelmina Fortner

June 3, 1940 – June 26, 2026

Wilhelmina Fortner artist, author, and the deeply cherished historian of Longview’s historic “Preachers Hill" community, passed away peacefully June 26, 2026 at the age of 86. A woman of profound strength, creativity, and faith, Wilhelmina dedicated her life to ensuring that the vibrant history of Longview’s early African American settlers would not be forgotten.

Early Life, Education, and Family Roots Born in 1940 on Clark Street in Longview, Texas, Wilhelmina was literally born into the history she would later preserve. Her lineage on Preachers Hill traces back to the late 19th century. She was the proud great-granddaughter of Ella Cotton Loyd, a pioneering Black woman and former slave's daughter who defied the societal boundaries of the 1880s by purchasing land on the hill to build a homestead for her 12 children. Raised in the heart of this close-knit community, Wilhelmina walked the very trails that formed the foundation of Longview. She attended local schools, where she vividly remembered historical moments such as school being dismissed early so the neighborhood children could gather at church to hear the legendary agricultural scientist George Washington Carver speak. Guided by the oral histories passed down by her great-grandmother Ella, grandmother Emma, and her mother Lucile, Wilhelmina developed an early and lifelong passion for education, historical preservation, and the arts.

The Historian and Author: Preserving "Preachers Hill" Wilhelmina recognized that without a concerted effort, the rich history of the Black families who built Northcutt Heights and “Preachers Hill" would be lost to time. As an author and local historian, she documented the neighborhood's transition from a turn-of-the-century cultural hub to its modern landscape. Her advocacy culminated in a historic milestone: In February 2017, through her dedication and partnership with the Texas Historical Commission, an official state historical marker was dedicated at the foot of “Preachers Hill”. It stands proudly below her lifelong home, permanently cementing the neighborhood’s place in Texas history. Up until her final days, Wilhelmina championed the preservation of the original 136-year-old family home at 219 Clark Street, envisioning it as a restored community resource center to inspire future generations and support those in need.

The Artist: Storytelling Through "Lukasa" Wilhelmina was a uniquely gifted visual artist who seamlessly blended her deep ancestral roots with traditional African art forms. She became widely celebrated for creating “Lukasa”—West African-style memory boards. Instead of traditional materials, Wilhelmina used complex beadwork, symbols, and intricate watch pieces inherited from her uncle to represent the passage of time, the old events, stories, and the individual souls who inhabited “Preachers Hill”. Her artwork, which served as physical storyboards of African American resilience, was proudly exhibited at institutions like the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, captivating all who witnessed her ability to turn memories into physical monuments.

Church and Community Involvement Wilhelmina’s life was deeply rooted in the church, which she always maintained was the spiritual and cultural anchor of her community. She was intimately involved in preserving the local religious history, from the legacy of St. Mark’s Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (founded by freed slaves in 1867) to documenting how the historic 1906 Azusa Street Revival influenced meetings at “Preachers Hill” that led to the birth of congregations like her church Bethel Temple. To her neighbors, Wilhelmina was a comforting, steady presence. She lived by the philosophy her mother passed down: that “God brings His people through hard times with honor, grace, and determination”. She was a counselor to those looking for direction, a fierce protector of her neighborhood's legacy, Prayer Warrior, and Mighty Woman of God.

Wilhelmina’s legacy is preserved not just in the metal of a state historical marker, or the beads of her beautiful Lukasa story boards, but in the enduring spirit of the community “Preachers Hill” she loved greatly. She has returned home to the ancestors whose stories she told so beautifully.

Rest in peace, Wilhelmina.