Willie Holbert

On Monday, April 26, God spoke and called the name of our Mom, Willie Etta Munson Holbert. She heard his call, gained her wings and joined our other beloved family members in Glory. She was a good and faithful servant of the Lord, a Wonderful and Loving Mother, and so many other great things in this life. She was a native of Waco, a proud graduate of  A. J. Moore High School, a recipient of a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Texas College in Tyler, Texas, a Masters of Arts in Education from Prairie View A&M University with Certification in Spanish and English.

She taught for many years in Moody, Texas and retired from Waco ISD. After retirement, she was a Substitute Teacher for many years until she decided that it was time to “erase the chalkboard.”

In her early years, she united with Second Baptist Church on South Second Street and remained a member until the Holbert Family moved to Orlando, Florida when Thomas Jerome Holbert was a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Airforce. After their time in Florida, they returned to Waco and reunited with Second Baptist and continued their service to The Lord.

She was a faithful member of Second Baptist for over 80 years where she served on the Deacons and Ministers Wives Ministry, Church Clerk, Mission One, Dorcas Circle (Eastside Circle), Co-coordinator for Angel Tree, Co-Coordinator for Christmas Cards Ministry, Vacation Bible School Arts and Crafts, Tutoring Ministry, Pianist for Woodland Springs Rest Home Ministry, Pianist for B. T. U., Pianist for Youth Choir, Secretary for Sunday School, D. B. Black Sunday School Class, Soprano in the Senior Choir and Mission Chorus and as a regular Delegate to the Texas State and National Baptist Congress and Convention.

She was a longtime member of the Texas State Teachers Association and Texas State Retired Teachers Association. She served as the Basileus and Anti Basileus, President of La Cheerios of Delta Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Inc.

She was the CEO of our Family-sponsored Dinner for Senior Saints of Second Baptist and Holbert Family Cruising the Caribbean, and Vegas, for our Family Vacation Committee.

Willie Etta was the daughter of John Henry and Elsie Johnny (Frater) Munson. She married her college sweetheart Thomas Jerome Holbert, whom she met at Texas College in Tyler, Texas and began a beautiful life together. They visited at least 40 of the states in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Eastern Western and Southern Carribean, Central America, and Britain.

Willie Etta was the mother of Joan Yvonne Hubert (Alvin W.), Dennis Miles, Jr. (Sharron Riley), Robert Henry (Michele Hayes), step-mother to Jane Woods Harvey (John) and Robbie Woods (Hillary). She embraced Elsie Faye Jackson and John D. Jackson (Carolyn) and Adrian Jerome Jackson (Carol) as her “other children.” They are the children and grandchild of her deceased, sister, Cleo A. Jackson; two grandsons, Thomas Matthew Holbert and Corey Taylor Miles; great grand nephew, Andre’ Jackson; great grand niece, Diamonique Jackson; great-grandson, Harrison Robert Holbert; two great-great grand nieces, Serenity and Brelynn Jackson and one sister-in-law, Joan Chaney.

Others who called her Mama, Nannie and Nana are Marvin Watts, Ronnie Frater (cousin), Robin Haigler, Cheryl Nichols, Nell Love, Dr. Jacqueline D. Chambers, Helen and Kenneth Rutland, Kathy and Albert Black, Kenneth Jones, Rev. Thomas Dickey, Alberta Neel, Louquenda Robbins, (cousin) Walthia and Ted Smith and Vivian and Lawrence Montgomery.

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