BORN ELIZABETH ANN HERRING IN OKLAHOMA CITY ON JUNE 22, 1949, THE FOURTH CHILD OF MIDDLE-CLASS PARENTS PAULINE (REED, 1912–1995) AND DONALD JONES HERRING (1911–1997). WARREN HAS DESCRIBED HER FAMILY AS TEETERING "ON THE RAGGED EDGE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS" AND "KIND OF HANGING ON AT THE EDGES BY OUR FINGERNAILS". SHE HAD THREE OLDER BROTHERS AND WAS RAISED AS A METHODIST IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA. WARREN WAS WAITING TABLES AT HER AUNT'S RESTAURANT WHEN SHE WAS 13. AFTER SHE WON THE STATE HIGH SCHOOL DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIP SHE EARNED A DEBATE SCHOLARSHIP TO GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (GWU) AT THE AGE OF 16. ELIZABETH GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN 1970 WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY. SHE BRIEFLY TAUGHT CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, WHO WERE ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.