Her mother died when Portia was a young child, and her early education was away from home, mostly in New England,[3] including at Framingham Normal School.

Her secondary education included attendance at Tuskegee Institute, Wellesley College and Bradford Academy, where she graduated in 1905, the first African American to do so.

After falling on financially hard times, Portia began teaching piano.

[3] At this time, Portia was the chairwoman of the education department of the Texas Association of Negro Musicians.

[2] In 1928, Portia left William, taking her daughter Fanny, and returned to Tuskegee, where she supported herself by teaching piano, music, and choir.