Open Mic

Very few people in this world can say they met their soul mate at the age of 13.  But local residents Beth and Hooper Haygood can, and they have the story to back it up. The year was 1940, and a group of youthful adolescents gathered at a local church camp for the summer.  A young Beth and Hooper took note of each other immediately. Unfortunately, Beth developed poison ivy, which kept her from interacting with the other camp goers, including Hooper. 

“While everyone was outside having fun, I had to stay inside and heal my poison ivy,” said Beth.  “At that age, being cooped up inside was the worst thing imaginable, especially when all you want to do is spend time with a cute boy!”

Both Beth and Hooper left the camp and returned to their homes with only brief memories of one another.  Four years later, while a freshman at Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas, Hooper came across a photo of a beautiful woman on his roommate’s desk.  He took one look and knew exactly who it was.

“I nearly lost my breath when I saw that photo of Beth,” said Hooper.  “She was just as stunning as I remembered back when we were 13-years-old at church camp.  Fate had brought us back together again.”

The couple soon started dating, and both ended up transferring to Sam Houston State in 1945, where they eventually got married.  Hooper soon became a Christian minister and the couple spent a majority of their marriage in east Texas, serving different congregations over the years.  In addition to being a reverend’s wife, Beth was a loving mother to the couple’s three children. 

Now living in luxury at The Buckingham, Hooper and Beth continue to enjoy retirement and keeping up with their children, 14 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.  If you don’t believe in fate, than go talk to the Haygood’s. They may change your mind.           

ABOUT THE BUCKINGHAM

The Buckingham is Houston’s premier life care senior living community located in the Memorial neighborhood.  Situated on a 17-acre site along Buffalo Bayou at 8580 Woodway Drive, The Buckingham offers resort-style services and amenities for active, independent seniors, as well as all levels of health care services on-site at The Plaza at The Buckingham.  The community features 205 independent living residences; 43 private assisted living apartments; 16 private memory support apartments; and 60 private skilled nursing suites.

The Buckingham is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit senior living community owned by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that owns sister communities Edgemere in Dallas, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, Mirador in Corpus Christi, and The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth. For information visit www.buckinghamhouston.com, or call (832) 426-1372.