Shelby County Today

01/26/2021

Betty Ann Parker Robertson, 88, of Tenaha, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021, at her home.

Graveside service will be held 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center with Rev. Carol Clifford Turner and Rev. Malcolm Monroe officiating.  

Born September 24, 1932, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Betty is the daughter of George Duke Parker and Lennie Persis Barron Parker. She earned her Masters Degree and went on to become a teacher, teaching 4th grade at Center ISD for 38 years. Simultaneously, Betty was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother or “Mur” to many children. Betty was a member of First United Methodist Church where she was active in Children, Youth, and Women’s Programs.  

She is survived by:

Daughters:
Amy Lyn Robertson of Center
Lea Ann Robertson of Center

Granddaughter, Ashlyn Forbis and husband Adam of Troup

Great-grandchildren, Landon Ray Forbis and Hudson Lane Forbis of Troup

Extended family:
Janet Gomez Romero and husband Guadalupe
Rudy Romero
Michelle Gomez
Fatima Romero
Carmen and Juan Navarro
Santiago Navarro
Jose Navarro

A number of nieces, nephews and other relatives, and a host of friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Harold Dean Robertson; brothers, Dan Parker and Guy Parker; sister, Ray Davis; and niece, Jane Ellen Jones.

In addition to flowers, memorial donations can be made to First United Methodist Church of Center. Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

01/25/2021

Imogene Davis Lawrence, 91, of Shelbyville, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2021, in Nacogdoches.

Graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 26, 2021, at Strong Cemetery in Huxley with Bro. Wayne Binkley officiating.

Born December 2, 1929, in Huxley, Imogene is the daughter of the late R.E. Davis Jr. and Elnor Morris Davis. She was a member of Smyrna Baptist Church in Huxley.

She is survived by:

Children:
Cyndy Lawrence Sandidge and husband Bo
Lori Lawrence Hall and husband Rusty

Grandchildren:
Syndra and Harlie Aaron
Jessica and Michael Stark
Daniel and Jennifer Finefrock
Austin Finefrock
Hannah Hall

Great-grandchildren: Kolby, Brianna, Shelby, Maddi, and Carter

Sisters:
Bernadine Walley
Lorelei and Johnny Mathews
Phyllis and Larry Wandling

She is preceded in death by her husband, L.P. Lawrence; daughter, Eleanor Lawrence Finefrock; parents, R.E. Davis Jr. and Elnor Morris Davis; and brothers, Lynn Morris Davis, Jimmy Earl Young, and James E. (Sonny) Davis.

Pallbearers will be Larry O’Rear, Lynn Davis, Phillip Scarborough, Levi Willoughby, Hannah Hall, Kaley Nowicki, Daniel Finefrock, and Austin Finefrock.

Online condolences and tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com.

1/23/2021

Maxine Moore Keiling, 92, of Center, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2021, in Center.

Graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Mt. Herman Cemetery in Center with Tim Perkins officiating.  Family will meet at Watson & Sons Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m.

Born February 11, 1928, Maxine is the daughter of the late Marshall Chapman Thomason and Zora Lane Thomason.  She was of the Church of Christ faith.

She is survived by:

Her children: 
Tresa Ross Pearce and husband Billy of Center
Lynn Moore and wife Lucy Ann of Port Arthur
Debbie Childs and husband Albert of Arkansas

Stepsons: 
Hans Keiling and wife Valerie of Leander
Johnny Moore of Mt. Ida, Arkansas 

Grandchildren: 
Stephanie Brungardt and husband Doug of Hays, Kansas
Steven Howard and wife Kim of Houston
Stacy Davids of Santa Fe
Jamie Lindsey and husband Thomas of San Augustine
Kristy Dunn of Charleston, Arkansas
Courtney Moore of Arkansas
Kateleen and Hanne Keiling of Leander

15 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by her parents, Marshall Chapman Thomason and Zora Lane Thomason; husband, Austin Moore; husband, Hans Keiling; and son, Mark Moore.

Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com

01/22/2021

John Franklyn Mathews, age 71, of San Augustine, TX passed away Monday, January 18, 2021 at Holiday Nursing Home in Center, Texas.

Graveside service is 1pm Saturday, January 23, 2021, at St. Luke Cemetery with Rev. Orvin Garrett, Officiating. Visitation is from 9am until 12 noon on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Garner and Son Chapel.

He is survived by:

Daughter, Jessica Davis(Demarcus) of San Augustine, Texas

2 Granddaughters

Sister, Minnie Berry (Terry) of San Augustine, Texas

As well as a host of other relatives and friends.

Services are under the direction of Garner and Son Chapel, San Augustine, Texas.

01/21/2021

Thelma Miller Moore, 85, of Green Cove Springs, Florida passed away on January 19th, 2021. Born September 17th, 1935, in Bossier City Louisiana, Thelma is the daughter of James Paul Miller and Opal Era Miller.

Graveside Service will be held at 2pm on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Texas.

Thelma was a long time resident of Bossier City, LA. 

Thelma was survived by:

Daughter, Debbye Knotts

Grandchildren: Brandy Hammons, (Jason Lamar), Danielle Knotts, Shannon Knotts, Carrie Reiser and Mark

4 Great-Grandchildren

Preceded in death by husband, Hubert Moore; son, Lester Glenn Moore; and son-in-law Randy Knotts.

To send condolences and sign the online guest book you may go to www.mangumfh.net. Mangum Funeral Home, Center, Tx is in charge of arrangements.

01/21/2021

Damien Demone Davis, 41 of Garrison, passed away January 15, 2021 in a car accident.

Visitation is at 11am Saturday, January 23 at Community Funeral Home Chapel of Center, Texas. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

He is survived by:

Wife, Latersa Lasha Davis of Logansport, LA

Daughters:
Destiny Davis of Shreveport, LA
Taylor Davis of Garrison
Namiya Davis of Garrison
Stacy Davis of Garrison

Son, Damien Davis, Jr. of Garrison

Father:
Cloudie Chumbley of Shelbyville
William Charles Davis of Houston

Brothers:
Nicolus Davis of Center
James Dodd, Jr. of Center
Howard Dodd of Center
Maurie Dodd of Center
Christopher Chumbley of Center

Sisters, Evyone Dodd of Center

Services entrusted to Community Funeral Home of Center, Texas.

01/20/2021

Gaylon D. Pratt, 74 of Joaquin, TX passed away at his home on January 18, 2021. Gaylon was born August 3, 1946 in Randolph, TX to Paul D and Lila (Rigsley) Pratt.

He is survived by:

Wife of 31 years Debra Eaves Pratt of Joaquin, Tx

Daugher: Michelle Pratt of Garland, TX

Step-Daughters:
Michelle Askew Ukairo and husband Fidelis of Lancaster, TX
Christina Askew Sims and husband Ricky of Center

Grandchildren:
Jessica Tennison and husband Michael of Dallas
Taylor Partlow and wife Hannah of Nacogdoches
Trevor Partlow and wife Sierra of Center
Paige Sims and fiance James Jones of Center
Mallory Sims of Center

Great-Grandchildren:
Kylian Tennison
Maverick Partlow
And 2 that will be born in April of this year.

Sister, Virginia Pratt Todd and husband Bobby of Randolph, TX

Numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.

Gaylon is preceded in death by his parents Paul D. and Lila Pratt, Sister, JoNeta Pratt Lewis, Brothers, Charles Pratt and Larry Pratt, Father and Mother-in-law, Jackie and Adell Eaves of Tenaha, TX

Gaylon was very loved by many, he was a man who never meet a stranger and you could always count on him to tell you a joke to just make you laugh. He was a very hard worker, who loved life and his family and many friends. Gaylon will be greatly missed, may he fly high and rest in peace.

01/20/2021

Naomi Goodwyn, 94 of Center, died on January 18, 2021, at Focus Care Nursing Home in Center, Texas. Mrs. Goodwyn was born on April 17, 1926 to George Greer and Emily Mathis Greer.

Graveside service will be Saturday, January 23, 2021 at St. John Cemetery in the Africa Community at 1:30 P.M. Bro. Marlin Cloudy will be officiating.

She is survived by:

Sister, Wyomia Allen of Dallas

Brother-in-law, Jim Yarbrough of Center

Sister-in-law, Mozell Smith of Center

A host of nieces and nephews 

Visitation will be Friday, January 22, 2021 at Hicks Chapel from the hours of 1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Due to COVID 19, masks are required during visitation and graveside services. All safety procedures are strictly enforced. 

Service entrusted to Hicks Mortuary 804 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Center, Texas 75935. Please visit our website for online condolences at www.hicksmortuary.net.

01/19/2021

Betsy Elaine Burke made her peaceful transition to heaven on January 7, 2021, after a brief COVID-related illness in Austin, Texas. She was born to Ward Rankin and Anna Belle Burke on June 15, 1950, in Lufkin, Texas

Betsy was born with the challenges and the blessings of Downs Syndrome. Her birth in 1950 became the genesis of many lasting contributions her parents made to Texas residents living with mental health and developmental disabilities. Her parents lived with faith-in-action daily and chose to accept Betsy’s challenges as their “call to action.” 

They also contributed their talents to the creation and improvement of many local and state programs to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health issues, and/or physical challenges, including the Burke Center, Austin State School, Austin State Supported Living Center, Lufkin State School, Lufkin Independent School District, Lufkin Adult Learning Center and Lufkin Workshop and Opportunity Center.

The Burke family enjoyed working with other parents and leaders to continuously create new solutions and opportunities to improve access to education for students of all ages and backgrounds. In addition, Mr. Burke served as a member and Chairman of the Former State Board of the Texas Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation, the Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers, the Burke Center (formerly Deep East Texas MHMR Services). 

Sweet Betsy, as her family liked to call her, lived a full and happy life and will be remembered as “living in the moment,” “overflowing with joy,” and always happy to make new friends. Her family ensured that she engaged with the community on every level; from Sunday School and church services to public school, Girl Scouts, dance classes, choir, parties, summer camps, fishing, campouts, cooking, music lessons, flying on an airplane, going on a cruise, fine art events, and volunteering. And it was through these activities that Betsy touched so many lives and, in turn, was blessed by so many people from all walks of life. 

Betsy graduated ‘beaming with joy’ at age 21 from Lufkin High School as the first student graduating from the Special Education Program. A fond family memory is her walking across the stage and receiving a spontaneous, cheering ovation led by her classmates and the entire audience.

Shortly after graduation, Betsy moved into a group home sponsored by the Burke Center, which provides services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Betsy continued to thrive and enjoy many of her favorite activities. Specifically, she loved working every day until age 68 in community day habilitation centers at either the Burke Center Workshop or the Lufkin Workshop and Opportunity Center, or the Oak Creek Center Day Habilitation and Vocational Center. At work,  she enjoyed performing a variety of jobs, which created the opportunity for her and other adults with various disabilities to become outstanding citizens contributing to the value of the community. 

What she liked BEST about working was she got paid! She was thrilled to go on Saturday shopping trips with her housemates. And then, on Sunday, she proudly put some of her paycheck in the church offering plate!  She was a chartered member of the First Baptist Church Special Education Department. 

She also liked to attend many activities sponsored by the East Texas Fun Bunch, Inc. (ETFB) – a non-profit organization whose mission was to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual, physical, and/or developmental disabilities and related conditions by offering them recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities.  These additional services are still available for people attending day habilitation programs, nursing/retirement homes, and for those living in the community through the ETFB scholarship fund at Angelina College.

The family would like to extend gratitude and appreciation to all persons whose purpose and mission in life was and remains to be not only to improve and enrich Betsy's life but enhance the lives of other citizens with physical, mental, and/or emotional challenges. Thank you for dedicating your time, talent, gifts, and money to support and improve programs that benefit those in need.

Betsy is survived by:

Sisters:
Marilyn Ruth Burke of Austin/Cozumel
Barbara Smith (who lovingly and attentively shared Betsy's 70-year journey)

Brother-in-law, James (Jim) M. Wong

Nephew, Ben C. Smith, Jr., his wife Sara

Grandnieces, grandnephews, first and second cousins.

If you would like to honor Betsy’s legacy and support others, the family requests donations are given to the (1) Betsy Elaine Burke Scholarship Fund (BEB) and/or the (2) Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and/or the (3) East Texas Fun Bunch (ETFB) Scholarship at Angelina College, P.O. Box 1768, Lufkin, Texas 75902 (Phone #: 936-633-5386), and/or your favorite charity.

On a future date, there will be a memorial service for her at Austin State Supported Living Center, the last place she resided.

Condolences can be submitted at allfaithsonline.com