Eunice native devoted to community

Not even a raging pandemic can stop Dr. Ezora J. Proctor! Social distancing has made it harder to accomplish some of her tasks and has frequently called for innovation, but giving up her community involvement was never an option.
Because she has faced and overcome hard times throughout her life, COVID was just another obstacle to overcome.
So for the past year she has continued her work as a community organizer, always inspired by her favorite Bible passage: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
A very devout Christian, Ezora says that she accomplishes nothing on her own; it is only with the help of God that she achieves her goals.
A native of Eunice, Ezora was born into a large and loving family. Her mother had only a fifth grade education and worked in the kitchen of a local restaurant all her life.
Throughout her high school years Ezora toiled alongside her mom in the restaurant kitchen. From 11 at night until 7 the next morning she cleaned floors and tables, washed dishes, and prepared food for the next day’s customers. All of this for $3.15 per night! (Yes, per night, not per hour.)
Even though Ezora’s parents never had much money, they knew the value of the education they had not received and required their seven children to go to college. So when Ezora finished high school, her mom and dad went to the bank and told the bank president they needed a loan because their daughter was very smart and just had to further her education.
They got the loan, and Ezora headed off to Grambling where she held numerous part-time jobs including a stint as a live-in maid for a family with two children.
Planning her class schedule around the needs of this family, she served as their cook, housekeeper, and nanny in exchange for her room and board. She soon graduated with a degree in social studies; but with her ever-present zeal for learning, she continued her education, eventually earning a masters degree from USL and later her Doctor of Education degree from Liberty University.
Ezora began her teaching career at Armstrong High School in Rayne where she met her future husband, Bishop James Proctor. They set up house in Crowley, continued teaching, had two children, and grew to love their adopted hometown.
And before long, Ezora was becoming quite active in her new community.
She served as a director for the Grand Opera House of the South and United Way, and she was national president of the National Association of University Women. An active member of the Crowley Rotary Club, she has served as club president and District 6200 governor.
Ezora was elected to the Acadia Parish School Board and the Crowley City Council. Some may say that her campaigns for the position of Crowley Mayor were unsuccessful, but Ezora says that each campaign was a valuable learning experience that brought her closer to the people and the needs of Crowley.
Whenever Ezora found something was lacking in her community, she did not hesitate to institute a new program. She established the West Crowley Beautification project to encourage people to beautify their yards; started a Neighborhood Watch program in conjunction with the police to promote community safety; and instituted Crowley’s annual National Day of Prayer.
She most recently founded P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens) to try to combat the drugs, homicides, and division ravaging her neighborhood.
Each year during Black History Month she organizes poster, essay and oratorical contests. Always interested in promoting literacy, she and her husband have adopted four Ross Head Start classes annually for the past 25 years. Besides reading to these classes, they provide books that the students can take home to share with their families, give them little gifts at Christmas, and most importantly, serve as mentors to these young children.
They also frequently help senior citizens with their medicine and utility bills and other needs.
The Proctors enjoy traveling and meeting people. They have visited Brazil, Australia, Japan, and South Africa; and they feel privileged to have met with Rosa Parks, Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr.
What Ezora loves most about Crowley is its people. When asked what would make Crowley a better place, she said she would like to see all parts of Crowley living, loving, and working together.
Ezora’s definition of success is “having a personal, positive impact on others by helping them develop lifetime skills and accomplish their goals.”
Based on her own definition and her many community endeavors, it’s safe to say Dr. Ezora Proctor is an amazing Success!