John Clifton

Mr. John Franklin Clifton passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at his home in Katy, Texas.  

Mr. Clifton was born March 19, 1921 in Dickson, TN.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis Clifton; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Albert Clifton of Shaw, MS; and one brother, Homer Dalton Clifton of Shaw, MS.

He is survived by two sons, John Franklin Clifton, Jr. and wife Cindy of Katy, Texas, and Joe Bruce Clifton and wife Jenny of Larchmont, New York; two grandchildren, Michael and Emily Clifton of Larchmont, NY; one brother, James Robert Clifton and wife Claudia of Benoit, MS, one sister Mrs. Barbara Jean Whittington and husband Dick of Bartlett, TN, and one sister-in-law, Mrs. Ann Clifton of Shaw, MS; three nephews, James Whittington, Jay Clifton, Bobby Clifton; one niece, Sherry Swales, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Clifton graduated from Benoit High School in 1941.   He earned a B. A. Degree from Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS in 1948. He served overseas in the US Army from 1942 – 1946 during WWII as part of the 533^rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment.   He worked more than 40 years in the Mississippi Delta engaged in various agricultural/horticultural enterprises, specifically, Delta Brokerage and Pearson’s Nursery in Indianola, MS and Delta State University in Cleveland, MS where he retired from the Campus Beautification Department.  Mr. Clifton has been an ordained Baptist Deacon since 1956.

A memorial service will be held at the Bolin Chapel of First Baptist Church in Katy, Texas on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 10 AM.    A visitation will be held at the Madisonville Funeral Home, located at 1511 E. Main (Hwy 21), Madisonville, TX on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 2:30 PM with graveside services to follow at 3:30 PM in the Madisonville City Cemetery.    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Katy First Baptist Church, 600 Pin Oak Road, Katy, TX 77494.

Gladys Arnold

Gladys Arnold was born May 25, 1921 in Bellville, Texas to Henry and Hulda Waak.  On July 3, 1942 Gladys married James Arnold in Houston, Texas.  James passed away in 1976, and four years later she married his first cousin Jeffie Arnold on March 1, 1980.  She moved to Katy and loved Katy and all her friends.

Gladys passed away in Katy on Friday, April 1, 2011, at the age of 89 years.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Norman & Wanda Bond of Houston; son and daughter-in-law, Ken & Cathy Arnold of Burleson, Texas; two step sons and their spouses, Larry & Carolyn Arnold of Katy, and Leonard & Brenda Arnold of Conroe; 11 grandchildren and their spouses; 18 great grandchildren; as well as many other loving family members and friends.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, 2011, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2011, at the First Baptist Church of Katy, with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Tom Bolin officiating.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at the Oak Knoll Cemetery in Bellville, Texas.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Elvina Thompson

Elvina Caroline Thompson born October 7, 1917, passed away March 18, 2011. Her husband Daniel Glenn Thompson Sr., her son Daniel Glenn Thompson Jr. and her granddaughter Sherri Lynn Thompson preceded her in death. 
She is survived by her children Carolyn Boyce and husband Byron, Stanley Thompson and wife Davalyn and Beth Thompson, wife of the late Daniel Glenn Thompson, Jr. Her grandchildren include Leighnea Phillips and husband Ron, Michelle Talley and Gerry, Stephanie Tibbetts and Todd, Marybeth Meeks and Mark, Patrick Boyce and Tiffany, Rodney Thompson and Christy, Scott Thompson and Nancy and Mark Nelson and Melonie. Her great grandchildren include Sherry and Stacy Phillips, Brittany and Beau Talley, Autumn, Hunter, Barrett and Sloane Meeks, Ashley and Brooklyn Boyce, Brendan, Austin and Caroline Tibbetts, Kendall and Mallory Thompson, Ella Thompson and Cole, Elise and Landry Nelson. 


Mrs. Thompson is a graduate of Alief High School where she was the Valedictorian. She diligently worked with her husband founding and managing the family's wholesale and retail gasoline business. First Baptist Church of Katy awarded her its Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her serving faithfully for over 40 years. She and her husband Glenn assisted a local Southern Baptist missionary in starting the First Baptist Church of Alief. 


In addition to her selfless devotion to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she enjoyed creating mementos such as Christmas ornaments and designing dresses for our family. She was a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter ("OES") No. 1121, a fifty-year member of the OES and she received the Community Builder Award from the Katy Mason Lodge #1439. 


The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2011 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 21, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Katy, 600 Pin Oak Rd., in Katy. Interment in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.

Ted Friedman

Ted Friedman passed away at Katy Memorial Hospital on Thursday, January 6, 2011.


A memorial service for Ted Friedman will be held Friday, January 14, at 2:00 PM in the Bolin Chapel of First Baptist Church of Katy.


A note from Gerri--


Thank you and the class for your many prayers for Ted's recovery.  It appeared the Lord was finished with him here on earth and took him home.  He is now rejoicing with all the Saints in glory.

Ted II and I are left with a void in our hearts, but we know the Lord will guide us through the upcoming days.  He was a wonderful husband and father and I am so glad that the Lord gave him to me for 48 years.  Most of all he loved the Lord and witnessed up to the day he died.  His hope was to fully recover and be able to tell you all personally what you meant to him and thank you

for your many prayers, but I will take the liberty of doing that since he was called home in a hurry. He loved you all and is waiting at the door to welcome us all home.  Thank you so much.

Love in Him.
Gerri Friedman

Tom Edwards

Thomas Asa Edwards, born October 2, 1932 in Kennett, Missouri to John Millard Edwards and Audra Jones Edwards, passed away October 17, 2010 after a long illness.  On October 14^th, he had held the hand of his loving wife of over 50 years, Margaret Edwards, and shared with her that he would fight no more.

Tommy was retired from a long career in transportation operations management.  As he and Margaret journeyed through life together, they planted deep roots of love and friendship.  They have treasured their four children, eight grand-children, three great grand-children and countless friends and extended family.  “Grandad’s” cherished memory will be honored as traditions established over the years are celebrated in the Edwards home by his beloved family.

In addition to his true love, Margaret, Tommy is survived by sisters Peggy Mitchell of Red Bay, MS, Pat Bowlin of Byhalia, MS, and Yvonne Hall of Las Vegas, NV; sister-in-law Lois Edwards of Palm Desert, CA; children Chaundra Edwards and husband, Joe Morris of Houston, Tom Edwards and wife Cheri of Baton Rouge, LA, Denise Larivee of Austin, and John “Jae” Edwards and wife Alissa, of Denver, CO; grandchildren Joseph Queen, Nicole Queen and husband, Hassan Tahat, Anna Edwards,
Amy Shehadeh and husband Haleem, Kate Morris, Peyton and Archer Edwards; great grandchildren Ethan Queen, John Daniel Edwards and Riliegh Joy Shehadeh of Baton Rouge, LA. He was predeceased by his mother and father, brother Millard Edwards, sister Melba Looney, and grandson Daniel Edwards.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers, family and friends who have helped care for Tom over the course of his illness.  We are especially grateful to Dr Miguel Franco and his staff and to the staff of The Plaza at the Buckingham for the care and respect with which they treated our loved one.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, October 21^st at First Baptist Church of Katy.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association, The Willed Body Program at UT Health Science Center at Houston, First Baptist Church Missions, or the charity of your choice.

Daniel Dean O’Brien

Daniel Dean O’Brien was born on July 11, 1957, in Farmington, New Mexico, to Walter Harold O’Brien and Ruth Loretta O’Brien.  On August 22, 1987, he married Judith Warner in Cypress, Texas.  Daniel was a very strong Christian.  He was a loving and wonderful husband and father.  Daniel was very active in his children’s activities, including the Katy High School Aqua Tigers and the Tiger Swim Club.  He has lived in Katy for 16 years, where he attended First Baptist Church.

Daniel went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, October 3, 2010, at the age of 53 years.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Judith O’Brien; daughters, Katie O’Brien and Victoria O’Brien; sister, Sharon O’Brien Smith; as well as numerous other loving family members and friends.

Pallbearers are Mike Riley, Paul Ortego, Larry Gore, Mark Rowe, Ralph Oliver, Gary Dean, Jeff Gilliland, and Ryan Radenz.  Honorary pallbearers are Kevin Gilliland, Ashton Bishop, Corey May, Jason Oliver, Logan Dean, Matthew Mallazo, and Sidney Devillier.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at the Schmidt Funeral Home Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, October 8, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, in Katy, with Dr. Randy White and Rev. Bronson Stewart officiating.  A private, family graveside service will be held following services.

Funeral services held under the direction of

Schmidt Funeral Home

1508 East Avenue  ~  Katy, Texas  77493  ~  (281) 391-2424

Rev. Andrew Jackson Pate

RICHMOND — A memorial service for the Rev. Andrew Jackson Pate, 91, of Richmond, will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, at First Baptist Church, 502 South Fifth St., Richmond, with Dr. John Lockhart officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Cemetery, Eagle Lake, Texas.

Andrew Jackson Pate was born May 9, 1919, in Montgomery County, Texas, to Grover Jackson Pate and Nora Ivey Pate.

Brother Pate (Andy) went home to be with the Lord and his beloved wife of 70 years, Cyrene, on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

He graduated from high school in Dickinson, Texas. He attended Howard Payne in Brownwood, Texas, Chaplains School in Massachusetts (WWZ) and Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. A chaplain in World War II, he lived his entire adult life on a mission field to make the world a better place by helping people seek and find the Lord Jesus Christ. He served as a Baptist minister in many churches, including Belle Plain Baptist Church in Brownwood, Spring Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, Jones Creek Baptist Church in Freeport, Texas, First Baptist Church in Eagle Lake, First Baptist Church in Sweeny, Texas, First Baptist Church in Columbus, Texas, Tri-City Southern Baptist Church in La Puente, Calif., College Park Baptist Church in Houston, Texas (Houston Baptist University) and First Baptist Church of Katy, Texas. He also served as director of Texas Baptist Encampment in Palacios, Texas, for a three-year term.

In his “retirement” years, he continued to look for ways to help people find Jesus in various ministries in the Texas Hill Country such as the V.A. Hospital in Kerrville and the First Baptist Church of Harper, Texas. Andy was active in numerous civic and church-related organizations throughout his lifetime. He was especially active in Rotary Club in all the cities where he lived and served as pastor.

Survivors include three children, Glenda Holcomb and husband, Richard, Ron Pate and wife, Shirley, and Don Pate and wife, Linda; seven grandchildren, Shawn Pate, Heather Rutt and husband, Chris, LaJuana Post and husband, Gregg, Richard T. Holcomb and wife, Cristina, Michael Holcomb and wife, Janett, Kristen Fraley and husband, Steve, and Drew Pate; six great-grandchildren, Jacob Rutt, Allie Rutt, Richard Holcomb II, Hannah Holcomb, Declan Fraley and Michael Glen Holcomb Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Cyrene Follett Pate.

His three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren will continue to carry with them forever the wisdom of his words, the inspiration of his faith and the example of his unconditional love.

Memorials may be given in his memory to First Baptist Church of Richmond/General Fund, 502 South 5th St., Richmond, TX 77469.

Condolence messages may be written for the Pate family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471; 281-342-4671.