Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Tealer.
Hi Kelley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
This journey started from a place of love. I wanted to stay connected to my grandparents after they passed. They meant so much to me, and I felt a deep need to honor their legacy. So, I started building a family tree on Ancestry, thinking it would be a way to preserve our history for future generations.
That’s when I discovered my third great-grandfather, Hawkins Wilson. He had been enslaved as a child and separated from his family, but he later became a preacher and leader in Galveston after emancipation. In 1867, he wrote a letter to the Freedmen’s Bureau, asking if anyone had seen his sisters. The letter was heartbreaking and hopeful all at once—filled with grace, dignity, and longing.
I later learned that his letter has been preserved in the National Archives and studied in high school and college textbooks across the country. That fact alone speaks to how powerful his words were and how relevant they still are today.
That discovery led me to create the Hawkins Wilson Legacy Foundation, which will share his story, preserve African American history, and empower future generations through education by offeringscholarships to those wanting to pursue history or political science.
What started as a personal way to stay connected to my roots has become something much bigger: a mission to ensure that stories like Hawkins’s are never forgotten and are honored in the way they deserve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. Starting the foundation has definitely not been a smooth road. It’s been a slow start, filled with moments of uncertainty and a lot of learning along the way.
When I first felt called to honor Hawkins Wilson’s legacy, I had the passion, but I didn’t have a roadmap. I only have a few years in the nonprofit world, so navigating the legal side had its challenges. From applying for the 501(c)(3) status to building a board and developing programming, all of that took time. Granted, this story has been public and made national news, but it’s still not a “trending” story. Getting people to understand the depth and importance of Hawkins’s legacy has required a lot of patience, storytelling, and persistence.
There were times I questioned whether it would gain traction or if people would care as much as I did. But I see how deeply it resonates each time I’ve shared his story, especially when discussing his letters.
So while the start has been slow, it’s also been meaningful. Every step forward feels like reclaiming something that was almost lost — and that makes it worth every challenge.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professionally, I’ve spent over 20 years working at MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the top cancer institutions in the country. I currently serve as a Department Administrator, overseeing the operations of a large clinical and research department with more than 100 employees.
My role involves everything from strategic planning and budgeting to recruitment, compliance, and staff development. It’s a big job, but I truly enjoy it because it allows me to support people doing life-saving work every day.
Over the years, I’ve learned how to manage complex systems, lead through change, and bring people together to get things done; all skills that are incredibly helpful as I’ve stepped into building and growing the Hawkins Wilson Legacy Foundation.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe it’s been good or bad luck that’s brought me to this point. It’s been God’s blessing and a clear calling on my life.
Discovering Hawkins Wilson’s letter wasn’t just a genealogical find; it felt spiritual. It came at a time when I was searching for deeper meaning and connection, and I truly believe God placed that story in my hands for a reason. From then on, doors have opened, people have shown up, and opportunities have aligned in ways I couldn’t have planned.
There have been challenges, of course. But even in the hard moments, I’ve felt covered and guided. So I wouldn’t call it luck. I’d call it purpose, and I’m just trying to be faithful to what I believe God has entrusted me to carry forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hawkinswilsonlegacy.com/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/3wDwDR6yjhk
- Other: info@hawkinswilsonlegacy.com
Image Credits
N/A (these are my personal photos)
