huston (houston) haney
1899-1983
Life Story
A Life of Labor, Family, and Endurance in South Mississippi
Early Life and Roots
Huston (often recorded as Houston) Haney’s life reflects the resilience and complexity of the African American experience in the 20th-century Deep South. He was born in September 1899 in Mississippi (with census records ranging from 1898 to 1900), the son of Malakiah (Maleriah) and Eliza Shanks Haney.
His earliest years were rooted in the rural Piney Woods. He appears as an infant in the 1900 census of Clarke County and, by 1910, had moved with his family to Forrest County near the growing city of Hattiesburg. Like many young Black men of his generation, Huston entered the workforce early. By the age of 20, he was living in Jones County, working as a laborer on a railroad section crew—an occupation that placed him within one of the South’s most physically demanding and essential industries. During this time, he began his first family with Viola Gaines.
Family and Domestic Life
Huston’s life took a more permanent shape with his marriage to Lorenza Jackson in September 1924 in New Orleans. Together, they built a lasting home in Hattiesburg, eventually settling at 509 Katie Avenue—an address that became the center of family life for decades.
He was the patriarch of a large and growing family. His children included five daughters: Jeanett, Bernice, Lorine, Valarie, and Leola. By the time of his death in 1983, his family had expanded across generations, including 10 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren.
His life at home, like many, was not without hardship. In February 1963, Huston survived a violent incident in which he was stabbed in the stomach. He identified his assailant as Rita Cooper (also known as Rita Honey), who was arrested following the attack. Huston recovered at Methodist Hospital, a testament to both his physical endurance and determination to continue.
Work and Community
Huston Haney’s life was defined by labor—steady, skilled, and essential work that helped build the physical landscape of South Mississippi.
- 1920s–1930s: Laborer for the Southern Railroad
- 1940s: Concrete finisher and construction worker
- Later Years: Long-term employee of the L. & A. Construction Company, where he worked for over two decades
Through these roles, Huston contributed directly to the infrastructure of Hattiesburg, leaving behind a legacy not always recorded in names, but in the roads, structures, and foundations he helped create.
Faith was also central to his life. He maintained long-standing membership at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a cornerstone of spiritual life and community connection for many African American families in the region.
Navigating the Legal System
Huston’s life also reveals the difficult realities faced by Black men navigating the legal system in mid-20th-century Mississippi. Court records and newspaper accounts document several encounters:
- 1941: Fined $2.50 for “disregarding a stop sign,” with the plea entered in his absence
- 1945–1946: Charged with grand larceny involving Roberta Jefferson; despite pleading not guilty, he was sentenced to two years in the state penitentiary. The conviction was upheld by the Mississippi Supreme Court in early 1946
- 1953: Served ten days in jail and paid a $100 fine for driving under the influence
These records, while brief in official language, reflect the broader context of a legal system that often bore down heavily on Black citizens during the Jim Crow era.
Final Years and Legacy
Huston Haney passed away on May 10, 1983, at Forrest General Hospital. His recorded age was 75, though earlier records suggest he may have been closer to 83—a reminder of the inconsistencies often found in historical documentation.
His funeral was held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Harold Miller, and he was laid to rest at Forrest Lawn Cemetery.
Why His Story Matters
Huston Haney’s life is not defined by a single event, but by endurance. He was a laborer who helped build a city, a husband who sustained a long marriage, and a father whose legacy extended across multiple generations.
His story, preserved through census records, court documents, and family memory, offers a window into the lived reality of Black life in Mississippi—where hard work, faith, and perseverance shaped not only individual lives, but entire communities.
Resting Place
Forrest Lawn Cemetery
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950 Federal Censuses
- U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
- New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Marriage Records Index, 1831-1964
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- Hattiesburg American, Lorenza Haney Obituary, Fri, Sep 29, 1995 ·Page 10
- Hattiesburg American, Huston Haney Obituary, Sat, May 14, 1983 ·Page 2
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