Mary Elizabeth Bickham

1940 - 2020  (79 years)

• Name	Mary Elizabeth Bickham  [1, 2, 3]
  Birth	14 Nov 1940	Jefferson County, Texas   [2, 3]
  Gender	Female
  Death	6 Jan 2020	San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas   [2, 3]
  Burial	Liberty Hill Cemetery, Bland Lake, San Augustine County, Texas   [2, 3]
  Notes	Excellence in Education Award The April 1, 2010 issue of the San Augustine Tribune reported that Mary Whittlesey had received the Buddy Low Excellence in Education Award established by Buddy Low, a Beaumont Lawyer and graduate of San Augustine High School. The award was established in honor of three San Augustine teachers who made a great impression in his life, Harlowe Johnson, Anna Kathryn Holbrook and Dorette Barr. The 2010 awards were presented to Willie Faye Garrett and Mary Whittlesey. Mrs. Whittlesey received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Social Studies from Stephen F. Austin in 1963 and her Master of Education from the same institution in 1972. She began her teaching career at Tenaha High School in 1963, and began teaching in San Augustine in 1968 and had been employeed by the SAISD ever since, with the exception of one year at Brookeland High School (1969-1970). Through the years she has taught High School Speech, Sophomore and Senior English, World History, American History, Texas History, Junior school Language Arts and Honors English. She has also served as a UIL Coach in Writing, Impromtu Modern Oratory, Spelling and One-Act play. She was noted to have received numerous awards and recognition for her service to her school and her community, and commented that "Life is truly about living, learning and sharing with others. Education without kindness to others is not a "whole" education." (Pages 1 and 13). Obituary Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Whittlesey of San Augustine, Texas, passed away Monday, January 6, 2020, in San Augustine at the age of 79 years, 1 month, 23 days. Mrs. Whittlesey was born November 14, 1940, in Port Arthur, Texas, to parents Howell Bickham and Maxine Sharpton Bickham and had lived in San Augustine most of her life and was a member of First Baptist Church. Mary was a dedicated teacher with 56 years of service, the last 52 years at San Augustine Independent School District, where she was still a member of the faculty at the time of her passing. She adored her students and through these years as a teacher, she made many close ties to the student body and friends. Mrs. Whittlesey had received numerous awards and accolades during her career, including VFW Teacher of the Year and the Buddy Lowe Award. Her survivors include her husband, Henry Whittlesey of San Augustine, Texas; daughter, Leslie Nichols and husband Terry of Nacogdoches, Texas; son, Joe Whittlesey and wife Jennifer of Center, Texas; grandchildren, Aaron Nichols and wife Megan of Nacogdoches, Texas, Carsen McFarland and husband Wil of Spring, Texas, Dylan Whittlesey of Center, Texas, Andrew Nichols of Nacogdoches, Texas, Lexie Nichols of Nacogdoches, Texas, and Mary-Grace Whittlesey of Center, Texas; a sister, Charlotte Davis and husband Mike of Hideaway, Texas; a cousin, Rebecca Cowart of Jacksonville, Florida; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kim Whittlesey; her parents, Howell and Maxine Bickham; and brothers, Hal Bickham, Travis Bickham, and Robert Bickham. Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 8, 2020, from the hours of 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, located at 316 W. Columbia Street in San Augustine, Texas. Funeral services are set for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2020, at San Augustine High School Gym, located at 702 N. Clark Street in San Augustine, Texas, with Bro. Jim Moss officiating. Committal service and interment will follow at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, located on Texas Hwy. 147 North. Arrangements are under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas. Copied from the Wyman Roberts Funeral Home Website Visit www.WymanRobertsFuneralHome.com for memories and condolences. Also published in The Sabine County Reporter, January 22, 2020, Page 5 (Research):ASSUMED to be her record on the Texas Birth Index: Mary Elizabeth Bickham 14 Nov 1940 Female Jefferson Howell Bickham Maxine Sharpton
  Person ID	I24362	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	16 Jun 2024

  
  

  Father	Howell Bickham,   b. 8 Jun 1904, Texas d. 11 Aug 1992 (Age 88 years)
  Mother	Maxine Sharpton,   b. 27 May 1919, Texas d. 30 Sep 2006, San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas (Age 87 years)
  Marriage	Y  [4]
  Family ID	F14318	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Kimberly Lynn Whittlesey,   b. 8 Dec 1969, Angelina County, Texas d. 23 Jun 1978 (Age 8 years)
  Family ID	F8122	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Jan 2021

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 14 Nov 1940 - Jefferson County, Texas Death - 6 Jan 2020 - San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas Burial - - Liberty Hill Cemetery, Bland Lake, San Augustine County, Texas  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S336] The Sabine County Reporter, P.O. Box 700, Hemphill, Texas (Published Weekly), (Founded in 1883, The Sabine County Reporter (USPS 474-660) is published once a week on Wednesday. The Reporter is Published by Sabine County Reporter, Inc. Postmaster: Send change of address to P.O. Box 700, Hemphill, Texas 75948-0700. The Sabine County Reporter and The Rambler merged March 1, 1988. Member National Newspaper Association and Texas Press Association.), January 8, 2003, Page 12 (Reliability: 3). [S336] The Sabine County Reporter, P.O. Box 700, Hemphill, Texas (Published Weekly), (Founded in 1883, The Sabine County Reporter (USPS 474-660) is published once a week on Wednesday. The Reporter is Published by Sabine County Reporter, Inc. Postmaster: Send change of address to P.O. Box 700, Hemphill, Texas 75948-0700. The Sabine County Reporter and The Rambler merged March 1, 1988. Member National Newspaper Association and Texas Press Association.), January 22, 2020, Page 5 (Reliability: 3). [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), Memorial ID 206013877 (Reliability: 3). [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), Memorial ID 153357186 (Reliability: 3).