This pet owner wanted to help animals in Grapevine after she died. She donated $800,000
For most of her life, 84-year-old Beverly Horton raised pets in her Texas home.
Oh sure, Horton was at one time married, taught in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district for 20 years, and cherished travel to Europe, snow skiing and the beaches of Mexico.
But her passion was her pets, especially Dobermans, Great Danes and cats like her beloved Romeo, who she adopted from the Grapevine Animal Shelter.
That’s why before Horton died on March 6, she didn’t hesitate on passing along $800,000 in her will to the Grapevine Animal Shelter.
Grapevine city officials accepted the donation last month for food, care and programs.
“There was never a doubt in my mind that she would do that,” said Johnnie Braddock, of North Richland Hills, Horton’s friend and former student, when asked about the donation. “She loved animals more than people.”
The donation was the largest in the history of the city of Grapevine.
“We are greatly honored and incredibly thankful for the future of the Grapevine Animal Shelter and the many animals Ms. Horton’s generous donation will benefit for many years to come.,” Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate said of the donation.
Born on Sept. 14, 1937, in Houston, Horton attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton on a four-year art scholarship.
She married Grapevine native Julien Pierce Horton and moved to in 1960 Grapevine, where she lived for 62 years. They built their home on Camelot Drive in Grapevine in 1966.
In the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, Horton taught elementary school, art, physical education, science, and health, and was a drill team sponsor and a basketball coach.
“She was the one who started the drill team at Grapevine,” said Braddock, who graduated from Grapevine High School in 1966.
Braddock took Horton’s health class at Grapevine High.
“We went our separate ways after I graduated,” Braddock said. “But just 15 years ago, I called her and our friendship was back.”
For Horton, that friendship also meant keeping her pets around the house.
Braddock said that her friend and former teacher talked about making the donation before her death.
“There was never a doubt,” Braddock said referring to Horton’s donation. “It’s was her money, her choice.”
The Grapevine mayor will dedicate the Beverly D. Roberts Horton room at the animal shelter later this year, recognizing her gift and naming the room for Horton to honor her life and career with the Grapevine-Colleyville school district, and her generous endowment to Grapevine. A permanent display will be revealed at the dedication.
“There will be lots of photos of her and her animals,” said Sallie Andrews, of Decatur, a contractor for Grapevine in historic preservation who is working on the Beverly Horton project. “She loved animals so much.”
This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 4:19 PM.
