Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries



Mexia Daily News - Mar. 29, 2005 edition

Margaret Olena Rosanah (Bounds) Black

Margaret Olena Rosanah Bounds Black was born September 8, 1912, in Limestone
County, Texas. Her parents were Marion Sylvanus and Mattie Mae (Barry) Bounds.
She married John Pierce Black in 1934; J.P. Black died in 1978. Olena died in
Waco on March 28, 2005.

Olena was graduated from Wortham High School, Westminster College in Tehuacana,
(B.A. Education), and Sam Houston State University in Huntsville (M.A.
Education). She began her teaching career in a three-room school house in
Tehuacana Valley, riding her horse for transportation. She continued teaching
in Mexia, Fairoaks , and Wortham until her retirement at age seventy-two in
1985. Many students in Limestone and Freestone Counties have been influenced by
Olena's zest for knowledge and her zeal for learning.

Olena was active in many organizations during her life, often in leadership
positions. She was a member of the Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, the
Jonathan Hardin Chapter of the D.A.R., the Limestone County Retired Teachers
Association, and the Wortham Study Club. She was a lifetime member of the First
United Methodist Church in Wortham, where she continued to be active as
membership chairman until her death. Her participation in the church's Women's
Society (United Methodist Women) led to district offices. She taught a Sunday
School class from age sixteen until she was past eighty, only stopping when her
students were unable to attend class because of their infirmities.

Two sons survive Olena, John Marion and wife Kay of Nacogdoches, and James
Allen and wife Vickie of Wortham. She is also survived by six grandchildren,
the Reverend John R. and wife Misty Black of Anahuac, Joel Black of San
Francisco, CA., Melody and husband Don Allen of Wortham, Tommy Black of
Wortham, Sylvana and husband Trey Padgett of Shiloh, and Brandy Johnson of
Groesbeck. Fifteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren are
also survivors, as well as her sister-in-law, Georgia Black Ennis of Canyon
Lake. Her special care-givers were Emma Thomas, Rilla Lewis, Juanita Barnes,
Virgie Majors, Anita Cypert, Ruby Henson, Hazel Calame, Bobbie Berry, Jan
Rhodes, Jean Majkszak, Patsy Kimbrell, Laverne White, Betty Hodge, and Kay
Dockery.

Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2005, at the First United
Methodist Church in Wortham. The Reverends John R. Black and Martha Bessac will
preside. Pall bearers will be Wayne Poe, Jerry Hogan, Dan Bateman, Gerald Ray
Eddings, Dwayne Craig, and Alton Frost. She will be buried beside her parents
and husband in the Wortham Cemetery. Family visitation will be from 6:00 to
8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at the Porter Funeral Home in Wortham.