Lonnie Charles Lewis
Lonnie Charles Lewis, 55, of Freeport, Texas, passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2002, at Bayshore Medical Center in Pasadena, Texas.
He was an area resident since 1981. Lonnie was formerly of Beaumont, Texas. He was a member of the Local Union 450 Operating Engineers and also a member of the Redman’s Lodge.
He is survived by six children, Ricky Steininger of Beaumont, George Steininger of Beaumont, Danny Richards of Wild Peach, Tammi Wessels and husband Wayne of Freeport, Perry Richards and wife Renee’ of Angleton and Barry Richards of Wild Peach; six grandchildren; one brother, Martin Lewis and wife Beth of Vidor; one sister, Carolyn Gresham and husband James of Vidor; and a special loving companion, Kathy McGee of Freeport.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and his wife, Betty Lou Lewis.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, January 17, 2002, at Freeport Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2002, at Freeport Funeral Home in Freeport, Texas.
Interment will follow at Gulf Prairie Cemetery in Jones Creek, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests contributions to Anchor Baptist Church of Surfside or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Freeport Funeral Home in Freeport, Texas.
Mary Lee Prewitt
Funeral services for Mary Lee Prewitt, 78, of Brazoria, Texas, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, January 19, 2002, at Greater St. Paul Baptist Church in Brazoria, Texas, with Rev. John Elder officiating.
Burial will be in Peaceful Rest Cemetery in Brazoria, Texas.
She died Saturday, January 12, 2002, at Angleton-Danbury Hospital.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2002, at the Dixon Funeral Home Chapel in Brazoria.
Mrs. Prewitt was a member of Greater St. Paul Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, two sisters and a stepson.
Survivors include her husband, Arthur Prewitt Sr. of Brazoria; one daughter, Deborah Sue Thomas (Jerome) of Sweeny; a step-son, Arthur Prewitt Jr. (Ruth) of San Francisco, Calif.; two brothers, Sylvester Bullard (Liz) of Galveston and L.C. Bullard of El Campo; three sisters, Dorothy Bullard of Freeport, Ineta Bullard of San Francisco, Calif., and Jessie Helm of Brazoria; one grandson, Roderick Allen of Brazoria; two great-grandchildren, Temetria Allen and Rejina Allen, both of Bay City; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Active pallbearers will be Jay Cridell, Grady Johnican, Don Morgan, Marshall Wade Tims, Jackie Jackson and John L. Bonner.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jerome Thomas, Roderick Allen, Raymond Waddy Jr., Leroy Bryan Jr., Leslie Davis, Sylvester Bullard and L.C. Bullard.
Arrangements by Dixon Funeral Home of Brazoria, Texas.
Joe Angel Banda
Funeral services for Joe Angel Banda, 88, of Angleton, Texas, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, January 18, 2002, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Angleton, Texas, with Father Jamie Abercrombie officiating.
Visitation will be begin at 5 p.m., with a Rosary service at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 17, 2002, at Palms Funeral Home in Angleton.
Mr. Banda was born to Creseno and Annetta Banda in Yorktown, Texas, on August 3, 1913. He died on Tuesday, January 15, 2002, at Methodist Hospital in Houston.
His wife, Maria Banda; son, Shorty Banda; and sister, Margaret Rosette preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Samuel Banda and Joe Banda, both of Angleton; one daughter, Cruz Zapata of Angleton; one brother, Thomas Banda of Cuero; four sisters, Carmel Rivera of Lubbock, Martha Olvera of Galveston, Pauline Banda of Victoria and Marcellina Moreno of Santa Fe; 18 grandchildren; and 40 great-grandchildren.
Active pallbearers will be Arthur Zapata, Adolf Banda, Ruben Dorbeckor, Santos Banda Jr., Sammy Banda Jr. and Manuel Zapata.
Arrangements by Palms Funeral Home in Angleton, Texas.
Ruby Faye Sherman
Funeral services for Ruby Faye Sherman, 79, of Angleton, Texas, are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, January 17, 2002, in the Palms Funeral Home Chapel in Angleton, Texas, with Dr. Rodney Bowman officiating.
Graveside services will beheld at 2 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2002, in the Mt. Mariah Cemetery in Briggs, Texas.
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2002, at Palms Funeral Home Chapel in Angleton.
Mrs. Sherman passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2002, in Angleton, Texas.
Ruby Faye Sherman was born August 22, 1922, in Williamson County, Texas, to Norman Hubbard and Katie Cornish Insall Seward. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Angleton, the Friendship Sunday School Class for more than 50 years and the Order of Eastern Star-West Columbia Chapter No. 705. She had served as past Worthy Matron and was past Mother Adviser for Rainbow Girls in Angleton.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Floyd Seward; and her husband, Aubrey Sherman, in 1991.
Survivors include her son, Hubbard Sherman of Corpus Christi; daughters, Ruth Burt and LaNell Robinson, both of Angleton; brothers, James Seward of Odessa and Ray Seward of Austin; sister, Ruth Carr of Bastrop; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Sherman’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of usual remembrances, donations may be made to First Baptist Church TV Ministries, 237 E. Locust, Angleton, Texas, 77515 or Hospice Care Team, 107 West Way, No. 29, Lake Jackson, Texas, 77566.
Arrangements by Palms Funeral Home in Angleton, Texas.
Galeo Soria
Funeral services for Galeo Soria, 76, of Angleton, Texas, are pending with Palms Funeral Home in Angleton, Texas.
He died Tuesday, January 15, 2002, at Brazosport Memorial Hospital in Lake Jackson, Texas.
Jimmy Phillips
Bailey’s Prairie — Jimmy Phillips was born in Brazoria County, Texas, on May 17, 1913, and passed away Monday, January 14, 2002. Jimmy — and that’s what he liked to be called — was orphaned at an early age and raised by extended family and friends in Angleton. He helped to support himself from his earnings as a shoe shine boy and additionally by selling newspapers and magazines. He held as many odd jobs as he could find while attending the Angleton public schools. After graduating from Angleton High School, Jimmy worked his way through the University of Texas and its law school in order to fulfill his dream of becoming an attorney. Periodically, the Depression forced him to drop out of school for financial reasons, but he always returned to the University of Texas when he could raise the money and find a job in Austin. During college and law school, he worked at various times as a soda fountain clerk, booking bands for dances, gas station attendant, and as an elevator operator in the Texas capitol. While working as a state capitol elevator operator, he decided to go to work for the people and help see to it that everyone, despite their financial circumstances, could get an education and receive medical care.
In 1940, Jimmy was elected to the Texas House of Representatives from Brazoria County, and he was re-elected in 1942. Early in 1943, Jimmy resigned his draft-exempt office as a state representative and volunteered to become a private in the U.S. Army. After serving in military intelligence in the U.S. Army, he was honorably discharged having reached the rank of sergeant in 1946; and, later in the same year, was elected to the Texas senate. “Senator” Phillips served in the Texas senate from January 1947 until 1973. In his last term in the Texas senate, he was elected by the other senators to serve as president pro tem of the Texas senate. Jimmy became known to everyone as “Senator.” When the Legislature was not in session, Jimmy practiced law in Angleton.
As a state senator, Jimmy was extremely cautious about spending the money paid into the state treasury by Texas citizens. During his years serving the people of Texas, it was not uncommon to see newspaper headlines like “Phillips makes lone stand against more spending.” Jimmy believed in spending money wisely and carefully, in the right place and at the right time, and had the reputation for being a ardent champion of the poor. During his years in the Senate, the Houston Post once said of him: “He is a warm-hearted, even sentimental individual who has a sincere sympathy for the poor and unfortunate. His eyes sometimes fill with tears when he talks about the need for more charity beds to treat children with cleft palates and twisted legs, and for years he has resisted fiercely any effort by the Legislature to raise college tuition.”
His varied occupational background proved valuable in connection with all types of legislation, but he concentrated his efforts on improving the state hospital system and controlling the cost of state college tuition and keeping the state colleges growing to keep them open to new students. He conducted what amounted to a single-handed investigation of the veterans land scandal while he was a member of the Senate’s general investigating committee.
After Jimmy’s discharge from the Army, he became active in the American Legion affairs. He served as the Brazoria County chairman for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. With the help of his many friends, Jimmy also started the Brazoria County 100 Club.
After his years of service to the citizens of Texas ended in 1963, he worked for the Dow Chemical Company until 1969, and then began a law practice with his sons, Jimmy, Jr. and Michael in 1970.
The “Senator” still had his law office in the “Phillips Building” across from the courthouse in Angleton until his passing.
Jimmy Phillips leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Esther Heyne Phillips, who he married in 1938. Jimmy and Esther have two sons, Jimmy Phillips Jr. and Michael M. Phillips, who both practice law in the building built for their offices in Angleton, Texas.
Funeral services will be held on Jimmy and Esther’s farm in Bailey’s Prairie, Texas, at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2002, with burial in the Phillips family cemetery. A reception following the service will be held in the “red barn” at his home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Brazoria County 100 Club or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Palms Funeral Home in Angleton, Texas.
Lois M. Gardner
Funeral Services for Lois M. Gardner, 81, will be held at noon Thursday, January 17, 2002, at First Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. G. R. Holland officiating. Burial will follow in Peaceful Rest Cemetery in Angleton.
She passed away Friday, January 11, 2002, at Angleton/Danbury Hospital in Angleton. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 16, 2002, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Gardner Funeral Chapel in Angleton. A wake and memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 16, 2002, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church in Angleton.
She leaves to cherish her memories: one daughter, Janet G. Johnson (John); three sons: Edwin Gardner (Cabrienna), Roy Gardner (Michelle), Gilbert Gardner (Michele) all of Angleton; 13 grandchildren: Adrian, Sandy, Lakievia, Carla, Raylon, Edwin Jr., Gerry Jr., Janyce, Gilbert Jr., Frederick, Byron, Lance and Johnee; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Remaker and Esther Brooks (James) both of Houston; one brother, Aaron Dean (Barbara) of Houston; four sisters-in-law: Zella Thompson of Galveston and Nedra Gardner of Los Angeles Cal., Rachel Gardner of Houston, and Gertrude Gardner of Cuero; three brothers-in-law: John D. Gardner of Los Angeles, Cal., Zeno Gardner of Cuero and Bennie Brown Sr. of West Columbia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Active pallbearers will be Matthew Thompson Jr., William B. Brown, Oscar Brown, Benny Brown, Willie R. Jackson, Jeff Jackson, Shed Waddy, Gordon Waddy, Harry Waddy, Willie Dean Jr., Rev. Ronnie Dean, Demon A. Dean, Lagette Kemp, Lee Williams, and Joe Shelton. Honorary pallbearers will be deacons and officers of First Missionary Baptist Church.
Arrangements by Gardner Funeral Home of Angleton.
J.R. Glenn Sanders
Funeral services for J.R. Glenn Sanders, 82, of Cat Spring, Texas, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2002, at St. John Lutheran Church in Cat Spring, with Rev. Eugene Timm officiating.
Graveside services are under the auspices of Sealy Masonic Lodge at Cat Spring Cemetery.
Born in Dallas, Texas, J.R. was the son of Powell Glenn Sanders and Clara Mae (Tapp) Sanders. He grew up in Brownsville and Harlingen and attended school there. On February 21, 1939, Mr. Sanders and the former Miss Ethelyn Brooks were married in Los Fresnos, Texas.
J.R. worked as an oil field Machinist, was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Cat Spring and a member of the Sealy Masonic Lodge.
He died Friday, January 11, 2002, in a Temple, Texas, hospital.
Survivors include his wife of almost 63 years, Ethelyn Sanders of Cat Spring; daughter, Mary Kathryn Sanders of Spring; sons, Ralph Lee Sanders and wife Frances of Lake Jackson, Robert David Sanders and wife Shirley of Cat Spring, and Russell Glenn Sanders and wife Dorothy of Houston; sisters, Dorothy Hill of Arkansas, Patsy Scott and husband Robert of Washington State, Anna Mae Schoefield and husband Bob of LaMarque and Jean Boles and husband Jerry of LaMarque; brothers, Albert Sanders of Baytown and Wayne Sanders and wife Frances; 17 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents, Powell and Clara Sanders; son, James Richard Sanders; sisters, Barbara McDonald, Ruby Jean Sanders; and brother, Lloyd Sanders.
Funeral services are under the direction of Knesek Family Funeral Chapel, 34 North Masonic, Bellville, Texas. 979-865-3121.
Leonard Martin Vaught
Leonard Martin Vaught, 78, of West Columbia, Texas, passed away Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston.
Leonard was born Aug. 19, 1923, in Munkstown, Texas, to Ed and Jewell Vaught. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. During his military career he served in the 36 Division and during the Italy and France campaign and was held as a prisoner of war in Germany. Leonard graduated from Southern Methodist University and received his master’s degree from the University of Texas. He worked for the U.S. Corps of Engineers, E.I. DuPont and retired from Dow Chemical Co. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 0503. Leonard also was a member of Columbia United Methodist.
He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Vaught, of West Columbia; three children: Elliott L. Vaught of Houston, Karl M. Vaught and wife Pam of San Antonio, Sheryl E. Sherbrook and husband Phillip of Angleton; three step-children: Susan Gosler and husband Richard of Galveston, Vickie Gosler of Houston and Greg Gosler of Houston; five grandchildren: Duane Sherbrook, Travis Vaught, Sarah Sherbrook, Tyler Vaught and Austin Vaught; one brother, Edward L. Vaught and wife Ann of Sherman; brother-in-law, James Earl Riley and wife Wanda of Pensacola, Fla.; sister-in-law, Mary D. Thompson and husband Freddie of Coatesville, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Doris Jean Vaught.
Family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Lakewood Chapel. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2002, at Columbia Methodist Church with the Rev. Rex Carleton officiating.
Pallbearers will be Ernest Harnden, Howard Parker, Jack Newport, A. Carroll, Eddie Groth and Duane Sherbrook.
Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Clapp, Tommy Hanks, Earl Harrell, Joe Marshall, Jamie Pugh, Bob Swan and Adolf Wobbe.
Janice Y. Swinford
Funeral services for Janice Swinford, 67, of West Columbia, are pending with Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia.
She passed away on Monday, January 14, 2002 at her residence.
Retha L. Wishert
Funeral services for Retha Wishert, 60, of Brazoria, are pending with Baker Funeral Home in West Columbia.
She passed away on Monday, January 14, 2002 at Diagnostic Hosptial.
