Central High School in Marshall, Texas

1898

Lollaretta Pemberton taught at the first public school for African Americans in Marshall.

Central High School was the first public high school for African Americans in Marshall, Texas. Lollaretta Pemberton taught home economics there and her father, Henry B. Pemberton, was Central’s first principal.

Originally, Central housed all grades. Later, when separate elementary schools were built, Central became a high school. After desegregation in the 1970s led to the school’s closure, the historic building was acquired by Wiley College.