Enoud Bennett, beloved former center manager at Harris County Department of Education’s Channelview Head Start Center, is remembered as a leader with a heart for children and literacy.

Bennett died in June 2017, leaving behind a legacy of service and promoting early literacy. As the year anniversary of Bennett’s passing approached, Bennett’s mother, Ruby, and two sisters, Beverly and Rose, began brainstorming ways to carry on her legacy. They reached out to friends, family and Bennett’s church to collect books, resulting in more than 500 books to gift to Head Start students.

“We’re donating these books in honor of Enoud,” said Beverly Bennett at the Channelview center, where friends and family gathered to remember Bennett. “She loved to give back and she loved kids.”

Bennett dedicated more than 30 years to the Head Start organization, working at the Compton, Humble, Barrett Station, Fifth Ward and Channelview locations. Bennett’s passion for education and desire to make a difference in her community touched the lives of students and staff alike.

Hattie Weston, family services provider at the Channelview center, fondly remembers Bennett’s lively interactions with the children at the center.

“She loved teaching children and she wouldn’t just read to them, she would make the books come alive,” said Weston. “She told students books would take them everywhere.”

Through this donation, each student at the Compton, Humble, Barrett Station, Fifth Ward and Channelview locations will receive books to take home and build their home libraries.

Photo: Rose Bennett, Beverly Bennett and mother Ruby Bennett pose with Channelview Head Start Center Manager Cynthia Johnson and donated books.