Hazel Harvey Peace served as a teacher, counselor, and vice principal at I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth for nearly 50 years. Known affectionately as “Mama Hazel,” she fought for equal pay between Black and white teachers while mentoring countless students, including jazz legend Ornette Coleman.
Her civil rights advocacy extended to housing commissions and community service. Her legacy lives on through schools, community centers, and scholarships bearing her name. Her influence on Fort Worth’s educational landscape remains immeasurable.
Early Years in Texas: From Waco to Fort Worth
Born in Waco, Texas, on August 4, 1907, Hazel Harvey Peace quickly established roots in Fort Worth when her family relocated there just three months after her birth. She displayed remarkable academic talent, attending James E. Guinn Elementary School and Fort Worth Colored High School, from which she graduated at only 13 years old. Her educational journey continued at Howard University, where she earned her B.A. in Education by 1923.
In 1924, Peace began her transformative teaching career at I.M. Terrell High School, ultimately spanning nearly five decades. Her nurturing approach earned her the affectionate nickname “Mama Hazel” among students, many of whom achieved notable success, including jazz innovator Ornette Coleman and journalist Bob Ray Sanders.
Peace’s career paralleled a time of significant growth in Texas communities, reflecting the broader expansion of educational opportunities during that era.
Educational Journey and Academic Achievements
A brilliant mind with insatiable curiosity, Hazel Harvey Peace pursued education with remarkable dedication throughout her life. At just 13, she graduated from Fort Worth Colored High School in 1919, quickly earning her B.A. in Education from Howard University by 1923.
She didn’t stop there—Peace later completed an M.A. from Columbia University and pursued additional studies at prestigious institutions including Vassar College, Hampton University, Atlanta University, and the University of Wisconsin.
Her academic achievements translated directly into her remarkable career at I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth ISD, where she began teaching in 1924. For nearly five decades, Educator Hazel Harvey Peace shaped the Fort Worth area’s educational landscape, serving not only as a teacher but also as a counselor, debate coach, and vice principal—embodying the educational excellence championed by the Texas State Teachers Association and Colored Teachers State Association.
Her contributions to education played a vital role in a district that now serves 74,850 students across 140 schools throughout Fort Worth.
A Half-Century at I.M. Terrell High School
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When Hazel Harvey Peace stepped into I.M. Terrell High School, she began a remarkable journey that would span nearly five decades. You’d find her wearing multiple hats: teacher, debate team coach, counselor, dean of girls, and eventually vice principal. Her students affectionately called her “Mama Hazel” as she launched the school’s children’s theater and debate club.
Throughout her tenure in Fort Worth, Peace championed educational equity, fighting to equalize salaries between Black and white teachers. Her influence shaped countless young minds, including jazz legend Ornette Coleman and journalist Bob Ray Sanders. You can trace her impact through generations of successful graduates who benefited from her guidance.
Peace’s unwavering dedication to I.M. Terrell High School cemented her legacy as a pioneering educator whose influence extended far beyond classroom walls. Her commitment to academic excellence mirrored Texas Christian University‘s educational philosophy developing in Fort Worth during the same era.
“Mama Hazel”: Mentorship and Student Impact
Throughout her remarkable tenure at I.M. Terrell High School, Hazel Harvey Peace mentored countless students, earning the affectionate title “Mama Hazel.” Her guidance produced exceptional graduates, including legendary jazz musician Ornette Coleman and respected journalist Bob Ray Sanders.
You’ll find Peace’s influence extended beyond academics. She established a children’s theater and debate club, creating essential outlets for student expression and growth. These activities helped develop the whole person, not just the scholar.
Peace demanded excellence while instilling core values of leadership, community service, and social justice. Her high expectations pushed students to exceed their perceived limitations.
Today, her legacy continues through scholarships, schools, and community centers bearing her name—tangible reminders of how one dedicated educator transformed generations of Fort Worth students.
Civil Rights Advocacy and Community Leadership
Hazel Harvey Peace’s influence extended well beyond classroom walls into the broader civil rights movement and community leadership. She served on Fort Worth’s Mayor’s Task Force on Housing, the Near Southeast Citizens Commission, and the Near Southside Neighborhood Advisory Council, while actively campaigning for equal salaries for Black and white teachers in the segregated education system.
You’ll find her legacy in her remarkable ability to balance teaching at I.M. Terrell High School while volunteering at John Peter Smith Hospital. Peace’s advocacy for youth, women, and the homeless addressed fundamental social justice issues in her community.
Her humanitarian efforts didn’t go unnoticed—the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission honored her twice with their Humanitarian Award (1977, 1985), recognizing her tireless commitment to civil rights and equality for all Fort Worth residents.
Post-Retirement Career in Higher Education
Despite reaching retirement age from I.M. Terrell High School in 1972, Peace wasn’t ready to end her educational journey. She immediately transitioned to Bishop College in Dallas, where she served as director of student affairs for a decade until 1982.
You’ll find her post-retirement impact extended well beyond one institution. Peace taught at Paul Quinn College, Huston-Tillotson College, and Prairie View A&M University, sharing her expertise with new generations of students. As a higher education advocate and educator, she mentored countless young people who benefited from her decades of experience and wisdom.
Peace’s continued commitment to teaching demonstrated her lifelong dedication to education. Even in retirement, she remained an active force in uplifting students and shaping future educators within the Black community.
Honors, Awards, and Public Recognition
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As her influence expanded beyond the classroom, Peace garnered significant recognition for her exceptional service to education and civil rights.
Fort Worth’s Human Relations Commission honored her dedication with their Humanitarian Award twice—in 1977 and again in 1985. Her leadership continued to draw accolades when she received the United Way’s prestigious Hercules Award in 1988.
Though nominated in 1987, Peace wasn’t inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. However, Texas Wesleyan University bestowed upon her an honorary doctorate of humanities in 1992, celebrating her lifelong commitment as an educator.
Perhaps most fittingly, the Fort Worth Public Library immortalized her legacy in 2000 by naming its youth center after this remarkable civil rights advocate, ensuring future generations would know the woman who dedicated her life to education and equality.
Philanthropic Legacy and Lasting Memorials
Even after her passing, the generosity that defined Peace’s character continued to enrich institutions she valued throughout her life. Her estate donated properties to Howard University, Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth Public Library Foundation, and Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Elementary School, extending her commitment to education beyond her lifetime.
Fort Worth honored her community advocacy by opening the Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods in 2009, while the Fort Worth Independent School District established Hazel Harvey Peace Elementary School in 2010. Her passion for youth literacy lives on through the Hazel Harvey Peace Professorship in Children’s Library Services at the University of North Texas, where she was named an honorary alumna.
Through these memorials, you’ll find Peace’s spirit of leadership and mentorship continuing to inspire future generations across the institutions and communities she cherished.