2025 Pierre Robert Family Association Reunion Dates

Our president Andrea Williams McCoy has reserved the rooms at Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, LA for our next reunion. Hold these dates:

June 6-7, 2025

Hope to see you then!

Obituary - Betty Jo Cook Williams (December 20, 1943 – May 12, 2024)

Betty Jo Cook Williams, a servant leader, purveyor of history, and self-appointed community beautifier, passed away at home on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024, surrounded by her family.

A World War II era baby, Betty was born on December 20, 1943, at the Station Hospital at Eglin Airforce Base in Florida, during her father’s tour of duty.

Betty grew up on a small family farm in Henderson County, Texas, blessed with the care and nurture of a loving family. This childhood experience helped cultivate Betty’s passion for horticulture, conservation, and the values of self-reliance, and civic and personal responsibility. She remained close with many of her childhood friends throughout her life, a trait she is well-known for - if you were Betty’s friend, you were her friend for life.

Betty, a teacher, graduated with honors from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas with both her Bachelor of Art and Masters of Education. It was at East Texas State University that she met her husband of 58 years, Doug Williams. She taught 32 of her 33 years in a Texas public classroom, and 20 of those years with the Texarkana Independent School District (TISD). A lifelong learner, Betty regularly participated in professional development workshops and lectures, including training with the Hatton W. Sumner Institute. After retiring from TISD, she remained active as a regular volunteer with Highland Park Elementary and with new teacher training programs.

Quiet and unassuming, Betty preferred to affect change behind the scenes, with little or no recognition. Often described as generous, kind, hardworking, astute, and humble, Betty was most happy when she was spending time with her family and serving others, as evidenced by her long record of civic involvement.

Betty is the Past Chairperson, Board Member & Tutor for the Bowie & Miller County Literacy Council, a Texas Legislative Committee Member for Delta Kappa Gamma, District 8 Director, and Local Treasurer & Member of Texas Classroom Teachers’ Association (TCTA). She was also selected as the “Retired Teacher of the Year” for the State of Texas by TCTA in 2003.

Betty was a Member, Officer and Past Regent of the Lone Star Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Reverend Pierre Robert (Huguenot) Association as well as a Member of the District 1 Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas. She served as a Bowie County Election Judge for more than 2 decades as well as a Republican Precinct Chairperson and a Delegate to County and State GOP Conventions.

Betty is a Past Member of the Building & Standards Commission for the City of Texarkana, Texas and served as the Texarkana, Texas City Councilperson for Ward 3 from 2016 until her passing.

Betty is survived by her husband Doug, two children - Andrea Williams McCoy (Pat) and Alton Williams (Trinh), 4 grandchildren - John Landen Wiliams, Atticus Wilson, Tung Vy, and Ella Coffey (Jacob), and 2 great-grandchildren - Adeline and Eamonn Coffey, sister Pat DeRosa, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, close friends, and colleagues.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joe & Ruth Cook, parents-in-law, Merle & Helen Williams, and brothers-in-law, Marshall Williams, and Duane Williams.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Walnut Church of Christ in Texarkana, Texas on Friday, May 24th @ 10am. The family invites attendees to join them for a visitation and lunch immediately following the service in the church family life center – all are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to:

Lone Star Chapter, DAR – Scholarship Fund
Contact: Tammie Duncan tammieduncandar@gmail.com
Texarkana Museums System – Ace of Clubs Restoration Project
Contact: Emily Tarr emilytarr@icloud.com
Salvation Army of Texarkana
Contact: Beth Pesek bpesek82@gmail.com
Walnut Church of Christ – Homeless Ministry
Contact: Angela Gideons office@walnutcoc.org

(copied from https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/texarkana-tx/betty-williams-11811105)

Obituary - Gloria Mae Robert Bundick (January 9, 1926 - April 2, 2019)

Funeral services for Gloria Robert Bundick will be Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Landry Baptist Church with Rev. Wayne Holston officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Theresa Catholic Church Cemetery under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie.

The family requests that visitation be observed at the St. Landry Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and resume on Thursday at 8:00 a.m. until service time.

Mrs. Bundick, age 93, of St. Landry, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. She was a very active member of her church, St. Landry Baptist Church, until her health declined. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sewell Bundick; her parents, Lee and Keelie Robert and her son-in-law, Richard Milligan, Sr.

She is survived by her three daughters, Henrietta Marcotte and her husband, Donald, of Bunkie, Cheryl Milligan of Bunkie and Robbie Dru Franks and husband, Lawrence, of St. Landry; her two sons, Shannon Bundick and his wife, Kathie, of Prairieville and Robert Lee Bundick and wife, Debbie, of Swords, LA; sixteen grandchildren, thirty-eight great grandchildren and fifteen great, great grandchildren.

Obituary - Robert M. Hockenhull

Hockenhull, Robert Marvin, at the age of 75, Fri. Aug. 30, 2019, beloved husband of Rita C. Hockenhull (nee Thompson), dear father of Julie (Charles), Noelle (Clark), Tracy, Benjamin, Nicholas and Maria. Dear grandfather of Kyle, Abbey, Sam, Elise and Logan.

Visitation at KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY CHAPEL

5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. 

St. Louis, MO

Interment at J.B. National Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Siteman Cancer Center.

Rev. Pierre Robert Family Association 2021 Reunion

The 2021 Reunion is a go! We’ve abbreviated the usual reunion schedule so if folks can’t commit to the whole weekend, they can still join us for the meat of the reunion on Saturday, June 5, 2021. However, for those who plan to spend a night or two, we will have informal meals and chances to get to know each other better throughout the weekend.

 

We will be meeting at The Hotel Bentley (Claiborne Room), 200 Desoto Street, Alexandria, LA. (318) 442-2226. Website: https://www.visithotelbentley.com/

Our cousin Mary David Baker will present this year’s program -- an introduction to Mary Stone Grimball (1749 – 1807), mother of Anne Grimball. After the presentation, we’ve planned a hands-on activity. 

If you’ve recently attended one of the reunions or paid your dues, a blank 9-generation genealogy chart was mailed on 4/26/21 to the home address we have on file for you. Before you come to Alexandria, fill out your chart as best you can. When we gather, we will help each other fill in the blanks and learn how we all are connected. After that, we’ll have a closing service during which we will honor and remember those who have passed away since the last reunion in 2017.

We’re very excited about the activities we’ve planned and hope you are as ready to be out and about as much as we are.

 SCHEDULE

10:00 a.m. Signing in and mingling (nametags and goodie bags)

10:30 a.m. Introductions and business meeting (election of officers, discussion of 2023 Reunion)

11:30 a.m. Catered lunch. Please provide us with any dietary restrictions or preferences.

12:30 p.m. Program: “Our Mary Stone” with Q&A

1:30 p.m. Family genealogy activity. Additional blank charts will be available.

3:30 p.m. Memorial service

Please email marie_mcentire@hotmail.com for more information.

Obituary - Joe Bunch (January 19, 1924 - December 23, 2020)

 

Joe Henry Bunch, 96, passed away December 23rd, 2020 in Georgetown, Texas.  He was born January 19th, 1924 in Lockhart, Texas to Annie and Hewlitt Lowery Bunch, the third of six children.  He grew up in Lockhart and attended Lockhart public schools. 

Ineligible for military service during World War II for health reasons, he moved to Houston and worked for Southwestern Bell.

After the war he returned to Austin and graduated from Durham Business College.  During that time, he met and married Dorothy Richards of Smithville, Texas.  They had two daughters, Pam and Lanu.  The family was active in the Central Baptist Church which later became Great Hills Baptist Church.

Joe began a career with the Texas Railroad Commission which would span 34 years from 1953-1987.  When he retired, he started his own petroleum consulting business in 1988. 

He returned to Lockhart in 2004 and restored a home on San Antonio Street, furnishing it with his favorite antiques and paintings.  Joe also enjoyed checking on his farm south of town and had a great love of history and genealogy and was involved in numerous organizations.  He was a descendant of the Robert family of South Carolina and Louisiana.  He was President of the Fleur de Lis chapter of the Huguenot Society, honoring the Huguenots who emigrated to America in the 18th and 19th century in search of religious freedom.  He was also a member of Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Confederate Veterans.  Joe was also fortunate to have the privilege of providing an endowed scholarship in nursing to the University Mary Hardin-Baylor from which six generations of his family graduated.  He was also an active member of First Lockhart Baptist Church, which he had attended as a boy.

Joe moved to assisted living in 2014, finally residing at The Reserve Memory Care Center in Georgetown.  The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at the Reserve for their compassionate care of Joe over these past two years and especially in his final days.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Annie Lee Means, his brother, Hewlett Lowry Bunch Jr., his sister Emma Vann, his sister Lynn Bunch, and his sister Gwynne Ray.

He is survived by his daughter, Pam Manly and her husband, Walt and Lanu Hogan and her husband, Roy.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, Marc Manly and his wife, Bonnie, Matt Manly, Hilary Hogan, Ryan Hogan, and Regan Hogan.  He has three great-grandchildren, Chelsea Hutton, Stephon Manly, and Jeremiah Manly along with numerous nieces and nephews and other extended family members who are his survivors.

A private family funeral service is planned.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to First Lockhart Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements with Eeds Funeral Home 408 S Main Lockhart TX 78644 512-398-2343.

Obituary - Wade Lee Callender

Wade Lee Callender

MAY 27, 1926 – APRIL 15, 2018

Wade Lee Callender, age 91, died on April 15, 2018 in Houston, TX.

He was born on May 27, 1926 to Laura Louise Stewart and Paul Revere Callender in North Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio.

During World War II, Wade served in the U. S. Navy as an Electronic Technician's Mate Second Class. Following his service, he completed his B.A. in Chemistry from The College of Wooster and received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry in 1951 from the University of Rochester. He retired from Shell Oil Company in 1988 with over 36 years of service in research and development. Following his retirement, Wade pursued his hobbies of lapidary and metal-smithing, designing and creating unique jewelry and artwork. He was a volunteer in the Art Department at the University of Houston and at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He was active in genealogical research and an avid birder; he also appreciated National Parks, college basketball and fine food and wine with friends.

Wade was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, West Winslow Callender and Robert Paul Callender, the mother of his children, Loma Rebecca Davis Callender, and his sisters-in-law, Joan Cheshire Callender, Florence Cerbin Callender and Marilyn Joanne Dull Callender.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Mary David Baker; five children, W. Lee Callender and wife Shirley, Lynn S. "Red" Callender and wife Susan J. Siegel, Patricia A. Raedy and husband William C., Ross D. Callender, and Linda C. Pannock and husband Jürgen; four grandchildren, Valerie Rebecca Raedy, William Callender Raedy, Daniel Callender Pannock, Markus Callender Pannock; one brother, Dean Lynn Callender and his wife Mary Ann Fendley, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

An inurnment with military honors will be held at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, at 10:30 am on Friday, May 4, 2018.

An informal reception will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at The Tuscany Ballroom & The Techniplex Conference Center, 4810 Techniplex Dr, Stafford, TX 77477.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Wade's honor may be made to The Medallion/Seven Acres, 6262 North Braeswood Boulevard, Houston, TX 77074 or a charity of your choice.

Funeral Home Services for Wade are being provided by The Settegast-Kopf Company@Sugar Creek of Sugar Land, TX.