On May 26, 1963, Valencia Ann Fields was born to the holy union of Ermateen Lenora (Sims) Fields and Henry Sidney Fields. She attended E. J. Scott Elementary, Lamar Fleming Middle School, and Phillis Wheatley High School.

As a young woman, Valencia had ambitions of becoming a lawyer, but life took her in a different direction. Although she never became a lawyer on paper, she spent her life being an advocate for anyone who needed help. If someone needed a voice, guidance, encouragement, or simply someone willing to stand beside them, Valencia was there.

She married John Eric Hackett, and from their union came her beautiful baby girl, Kristena. Although their marriage later ended, becoming a mother would forever be one of the most important parts of Valencia's life.

Throughout the years, Valencia worked for several companies, including First City National Bank, JC Supermarket, and Coach USA. In 2008, she began working for the Houston Independent School District as a bus driver—or, as she preferred to call herself, a Transportation Specialist. And she meant it.

For Valencia, driving a school bus was about much more than getting children from one place to another. She loved talking to the students, encouraging them, and reminding them that they could become whatever they wanted to be. She understood that sometimes a few words of encouragement given at the right moment could stay with a child for a lifetime.

In 2025, Valencia became a national member of the American Business Women's Association.

Valencia loved to sing.

She and her family formed a gospel group called the Fields Family Singers, traveling throughout Houston and singing at different churches. Their final performance together was in 1997 at New Macedonia Church. But Valencia never really stopped singing. If there was an opportunity to sing, she was going to take it.

And when Valencia sang, it wasn't simply because her voice sounded good. There was something deeper in it. Her voice carried a story—joy, pain, faith, strength, and things perhaps only God fully understood. You didn't just hear Valencia sing.

You felt her.

There was something magical about it.

Valencia was a special woman who could change the atmosphere of a room simply by walking into it—and could change someone's entire day with one of her hugs. She had an uncanny way of making people feel seen, heard, and important.

If Valencia could help you, she would. And if she couldn't help you herself, she would find somebody who could.

That was simply who she was.

And through every person she encouraged, every child she spoke life into, every song she sang, every hug she gave, and every life she touched, Valencia left pieces of herself behind.

Her voice may have grown quiet, but the love, laughter, lessons, and memories she gave us will continue to speak.

And those who were blessed to know Valencia Ann Fields will never forget how she made them feel.

On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Valencia Ann Fields Hackett went to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Kennis Sims and Percy Raymond York; mother, Ermateen L. Fields; father, Henry S. Fields; siblings, Henry Lee Fields, Carol Elaine Fields, Berrilyn J. Thigpen, Merrilyn J. Ferguson, Sandra J. Charles; and brothers-in-law, Billy Wheeler Sr., Lloyd Clay, and Rev. Ray Charles Sr.

She leaves, to cherish her memory, her child, aka Mini V: Kristena Hackett; godchildren Cheryl Cooley and Belinda Dawn; siblings, Lucille E. Clay, Rev. Horace S. Fields (Ruth), Wilma L. Wheeler, Timothy P. Fields, and Lorna L. Morris (Pastor Mark); sister-in-law, Mamie Fields; nieces and nephews, Henry Lee Jr., Corey, Heroline, Barry Sr (Janetta), Horace Jr., Nicole, Darrell, Angela F., Lawana (Pablo), Stephen (Flavia), Billy Ray, and Angela B.; a host of great-nieces and nephews. She was a mother or sister to everyone who met her.