BERTHA
MAE JONES of Houston died in Beaumont, Texas, on Saturday,
September 29, 2007, at the age of eighty-eight from
complications from a fall that she experienced in August. Bertha
Mae, born on May 7, 1919, in Personville, Texas, was the
youngest child of Marion and Nettie Lane Sims Oakes. She was
welcomed by her sisters Antoinette, Lucille, Pauline, and Bonnie
and one brother Clayton. At the age of twelve Bertha Mae moved
Houston and graduated from Deady Junior High and Milby High
School. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from
the University of Houston. She was a third generation teacher
and spent her entire career in the Houston Independent School
District teaching most of the time at Henderson Elementary. She
was a celebrated and much loved fifth grade teacher. Bertha Mae
Oakes and Frank Andrew Jones met and married in Houston in 1941
at Milby Methodist Church. They enjoyed forty-four years of
marriage. In addition to teaching full time, Bertha Mae helped
Frank at Frank's Grill by keeping the books and preparing
delicious pies. Many of the customers called her, "Mrs.
Frank." Her dearly loved Frank preceded her in death as did
her parents, brother, sisters, one niece and two nephews. Bertha
Mae was a quiet, independent, and remarkable woman. She was
dedicated to her family and her church. She was a woman of faith
and daily Bible readings. She was a member of Garden Villas
United Methodist Church for fifty-seven years and served as
church attendance secretary for over twenty-three years. She was
a member and secretary of the Friendship Class, where she had
many close and special friends. She was also a former Sunday
school teacher and a member of the United Methodist Women.
Bertha Mae's legacy to her family is rich and enduring. She is
survived by her daughter Jeanette Russell and her husband S.A.,
her daughter Suellen Kirby and her husband Chuck, her beloved
grandchildren Kristi and Taylor Gray, Chuck and Jennifer Kirby,
Seth and Elizabeth Russell, Susan Kirby, and Paul and Melissa
Russell. Bertha Mae delighted in her great grandchildren Kirby,
Taylor, and Katie Gray, Abbey and Emma Leigh Kirby, Catherine
Russell, and Luke Russell. She is also survived by her niece
Elizabeth Berry and husband Charles, other nieces and nephews,
and countless friends. Visitation is at Forest Park Lawndale on
Monday, October 1, from 5:00-8:00PM. Services will be held
Tuesday, October 2, at 10:00 AM with visitation starting at
9:00am at Garden Villas United Methodist Church at 7155 Ashburn.
Interment will follow at Forest Park East.
BERTHA
MAE JONES of Houston died in Beaumont, Texas, on Saturday,
September 29, 2007, at the age of eighty-eight from
complications from a fall that she experienced in August. Bertha
Mae, born on May 7, 1919, in Personville, Texas, was the
youngest child of Marion and Nettie Lane Sims Oakes. She was
welcomed by her sisters Antoinette, Lucille, Pauline, and Bonnie
and one brother Clayton. At the age of twelve Bertha Mae moved
Houston and graduated from Deady Junior High and Milby High
School. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from
the University of Houston. She was a third generation teacher
and spent her entire career in the Houston Independent School
District teaching most of the time at Henderson Elementary. She
was a celebrated and much loved fifth grade teacher. Bertha Mae
Oakes and Frank Andrew Jones met and married in Houston in 1941
at Milby Methodist Church. They enjoyed forty-four years of
marriage. In addition to teaching full time, Bertha Mae helped
Frank at Frank's Grill by keeping the books and preparing
delicious pies. Many of the customers called her, "Mrs.
Frank." Her dearly loved Frank preceded her in death as did
her parents, brother, sisters, one niece and two nephews. Bertha
Mae was a quiet, independent, and remarkable woman. She was
dedicated to her family and her church. She was a woman of faith
and daily Bible readings. She was a member of Garden Villas
United Methodist Church for fifty-seven years and served as
church attendance secretary for over twenty-three years. She was
a member and secretary of the Friendship Class, where she had
many close and special friends. She was also a former Sunday
school teacher and a member of the United Methodist Women.
Bertha Mae's legacy to her family is rich and enduring. She is
survived by her daughter Jeanette Russell and her husband S.A.,
her daughter Suellen Kirby and her husband Chuck, her beloved
grandchildren Kristi and Taylor Gray, Chuck and Jennifer Kirby,
Seth and Elizabeth Russell, Susan Kirby, and Paul and Melissa
Russell. Bertha Mae delighted in her great grandchildren Kirby,
Taylor, and Katie Gray, Abbey and Emma Leigh Kirby, Catherine
Russell, and Luke Russell. She is also survived by her niece
Elizabeth Berry and husband Charles, other nieces and nephews,
and countless friends. Visitation is at Forest Park Lawndale on
Monday, October 1, from 5:00-8:00PM. Services will be held
Tuesday, October 2, at 10:00 AM with visitation starting at
9:00am at Garden Villas United Methodist Church at 7155 Ashburn.
Interment will follow at Forest Park East.