Hilda Mae Yeldell

Hilda Mae Yeldell entered her heavenly home on April 2, 2019, at the age of 84. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at First Baptist Church, Mexia, with the Rev. Marcus Sheffield, the Rev. Ed Spivey, Dr. Greg Barmer and Mr. Jack Ballard officiating. Interment will follow in the Mexia Cemetery. Andrew Barmer, Evan Yeldell, Jayce Black, Jon Ross Black, Hadley O’Hair, Kent Lawson, Chris Gruver and Ken Gruver will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation with the family was Friday, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.

Hilda was born Nov. 25, 1934, in Collin County, to Richard Thomas and Claudia Press O’Dell. She grew up in Collin County and graduated Valedictorian of Alla Hubbard High School, Class of 1953. She began college at North Texas University, then transferred to Mary Hardin-Baylor College, where she played on the first women’s basketball team.

Hilda began her working career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Houston. It was in Houston in 1960 that she met her husband, Jack Yeldell, while attending South Main Baptist Church; they married on March 25, 1961. After moving to Mexia, she went to work for the U.S. Postal Service, retiring after 20 years of service as a Rural Letter Carrier.

Faith, family and friends were Hilda’s life. She always enjoyed having her family at home, cooking for everyone and nurturing the grandchildren. She was a longtime active member of First Baptist Church, where she was a member of WMU and the former Ruth Sunday School class. She made every effort to participate in the projects of WMU, even in times when her health wasn’t the best. Hilda was described as having a “humble servant’s spirit.” She never judged people, but instead tried to find the good. Hilda’s willingness to help people sometime included opening her home to them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 56 years Jack Yeldell; and daughter Jacqueline Lynn Yeldell in March of 1965.

Hilda is survived by her loving children, Stephen Yeldell and wife Melissa, of Caldwell, Paul Yeldell, of Mexia; Lisa Barmer and husband Greg, of Washington, N,C., and Leslie Black and husband Russell, of Wortham; 12 grandchildren, Sarah and Andrew Barmer, Jaclyn, Jayce, Jessica and Jon Ross Black, Evan, Lauren and Emily Yeldell, Paige O’Hair and husband, Hadley and Hannah and Sophie Yeldell; sister Sarah Lawson, of McKinney; brother William O’Dell, of Sherman; and sister-in-law Elizabeth Gruver, of Auburn, Ala.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to Jessica Silva and Megan Perez of Jordan Home Health; and caregiver Linda Jones Phillips for their loving support.

Visit blair-stubbs.com to leave the family a message of condolence or sign the guestbook.