Jewel Austin Houston

Jewel Austin Houston, 48, died Thursday, March 5, 2009, in Clarendon.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2009, in the First Baptist Church in Memphis with Elder Jeff Riles, Pastor of the True Church of God in Christ of Clarendon, officiating. Private burial was held in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis. Services are under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Jewel was born on December 26, 1960, in Memphis to Pink Wesley and Odessa Cooper Austin. She grew up in Memphis and graduated from Memphis High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Library Science from Texas Women’s University, and later achieved her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas. While in college, she was a big part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. She married Billy Houston on March 23, 2002, in Clarendon. She was a member of the True Church of God in Christ in Clarendon where she served as secretary, board member, and head of the youth ministry. She was the Sunday school field rep for the Borger District COGIC. She was also the Texas NW COGIC Editor of Newsletter.

She was the library director for Clarendon College for many years; then later at Frank Phillips College in Borger, and then again at Clarendon College until her death. She was also was very involved in the Adopt a Student Ministry at Clarendon College.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Margie Montgomery.

Survivors include her husband, Bill of Clarendon; a stepson, Bill Houston, Jr. of Dallas; a niece/adopted daughter, Aleisha Dickson of Amarillo; three brothers, Kenneth Wayne Austin of Amarillo, Travis Austin of Denton, and Willie Earl McDonald of Dallas; five sisters, Cleola Johnson and Robbie Jackson, both of Memphis, Zetta Riles and Etta Austin, both of Amarillo, and Vernell Scott of Dallas; four grandchildren, Vanessa Houston, Jazmine, Zamiyah, and LaKenzee Dickson; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

The family will be at 201 West 4th in Clarendon.
The family request memorials be to the True Church of God in Christ Youth Ministry, PO Box 1433, Clarendon, Texas 79226.