The Stone Family
Interview with:Dr. John Stone, Mrs. Holiday Stone, Dr. Faith Stone, Dr. Enid Stone, and Mr. John Stone
Date: February 2007
Transcribed by: Ramona Hopkins
Mrs. Stone: Welcome to the African-American Museum, 4816 Main, in the museum district of Houston, Texas. A quote from Cicero remains us that to be ignorant of what happened before we were born is to remain always a child, �for what is the worth of human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by records of history?� This is history.
I�d like to share with you information about one of our first African-American Doctors, Dr. Franklin Robey. I have the bill of sale for two slaves, Dr. Franklin Robey my great grandfather, and his mother Ellen. They are being sold on the action block for twelve hundred dollars. Dr. Robey attended the University of Chicago Physicians and Surgeons and when Meharry Medical College opened the Mulattos went there. He finished Meharry Medical College in 1883 exactly 100 years before his great great granddaughter, Dr. Faith Stone who finished in 1983. He came to the Bayou City in 1887 by the invitation of Dr. Charles Jackson and Dr. Namon Overton, at that time Houston had only two black doctors.
Theodora Marinier who moved to the United States from Nice, France. Franklin and Theodora had two children, including a son, Zebulon. Dr. Robey married this lady, Theodora Marinier Robey; Theodora Marinier was from Nice, France. Nice is a seaport town in southeast France on the Mediterranean Sea. It was easy for her to sail to American because she had an uncle here, Frank Marinier. These pictures were probably taken in the kitchen of one of Houston�s finest hotel, the Machitau, Frank Marinier is pictured here. Theodora Marinier Robey and Dr. Franklin Robey are the parents of Zebulon Robey and Ella Robey White. Ella Robey White lived in . . . Texas for a time with her husband Maize White. After he passed she moved back to Houston. My mother, Ella Robey Holliday is the daughter of Zebulon Robey and the grand daughter of the first Dr. Robey, Dr. Franklin Robey who was born a slave. According the American Medical Associations Journal 1904: Franklin Robey MD., Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, 1883, died suddenly at his home in Houston, Texas June 23rd 1904.
Dr. John Stone: One of the most important decisions that one will make is related to ambition, one should begin favoring a particular career. Attempts should be made to learn as much as possible about the career. Those of us who selected medicine have found it challenging and rewarding. Medicine is a very noble profession.
I am Dr. John Stone, a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist. My remarks are in an effort to encourage young people to decide now about a career choice. Medicine is an excellent choice. Goals are very important, understanding history is very important. Understanding that each and every day we all have a new opportunity to do good and positive things for others and for society is very important. The words of Dr. Benjamin Maize had this meaning, it is not a disaster to fail to reach your goals, but it is a disaster to have no goal to reach. I started the St Elizabeth Hospital Foundation. I am a past president of the Houston Medical Forum.
Dr. Faith Stone: I am Dr. Faith Stone. I am an alumni of Meharry Medical College in the class of 1983; I graduated exactly 100 years after my great great grandfather, Dr. Franklin Robey who graduated in 1883. Dr Franklin Robey is my grandmother�s grandfather. My formal education began in the mid 1960�s. I attended St Mary�s Catholic School for the first grade and later Lockhart Elementary School. After I graduated from Lockhart Elementary School I entered Lanier Junior High. I received the American Legion Award at Lanier Junior High. During the 1970�s I attended Lamar Senior High School. And was a member of Arrowhead, Marybeau, and the Latin Club. I was also the first black cheerleader to complete fifth term. After graduating from Lamar I entered Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee. This is the town where my parents met and this is the town where Meharry Medical College is. I am a practicing Obstetrician Gynecologist in Houston Texas. I followed in my father�s specialty of Obstetrician Gynecologist; I have been in practice for 18 years. During my lifetime I have witnessed three black hospitals: St. Elizabeths Hospital, Riverside General Hospital, and Lockwood General Hospital. I have also witnessed the development of a massive Houston Medical Center of specialty hospitals. I have also witnessed the development of laparoscopic and microscopic surgery. And we in the practice of medicine are hopeful for the cures we anticipate stem cell research will provide.
Dr. Enid Stone: I am Dr. Enid Stone and I am delighted to be here to play a part in inspiring young people to have a goal and to make every effort to reach that goal. Being part of a physician family all of my life has afforded me experiences that I would like to share. As I grew in age my parents made sure that I grew in knowledge of the sciences as well as other disciplines. As a female and as a physician I have faced many challenges, and have seen many wonderful opportunities. Today I am a general practitioner. My parents made every effort to place me in summer enrichment programs. The National Medical Convention meetings also served as a feeding ground of inspiration and permitted children of similar backgrounds to get together. All of these efforts paid off encouragement, preparation, support, and prayers have always been the answer. My extra curricular activities included �Sundown�s Tree House�, a television program coordinated by Ms. Gertrude Barnstone. And �News Before the Hour�, on channel 39 coordinated by Nancy Paul. I have always been interested in blending medicine and the arts, this interest lead me to create an inspirational full length feature film �Medicaid Queens�. For his heavenly inspiration, my thanks to God for making it possible for me to be able to inspire others.
Mr. John Stone: Hi, my name is John Stone I am in the fields of property management and investment and mortuary science. Our nations� first Vice President also the second President wrote the following in a letter to his wife Abigail referring to sacrifices and forethought necessary for the progression of generations, �I must study politics and war that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics, and philosophy, geography, natural history, and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, sculpture, tapestry, and porcelain.� John Adams May 12, 1780. The sentiment conveyed here is that a man must study war so that his children can study science and medicine, so that his grandchildren and those who come after can enjoy art, and music, and culture.
Ms. Stone: We certainly want to thank the Houston Medical Forum, Dr. Joanne Rogers the president and her staff who contacted us regarding this history. We want to thank Mrs. Laura Clemmons, Dr. Kathleen Brosnan and her staff at the University of Houston for their efforts in preserving history for future generations.
Next Interview: Dr. Seymour Weaver