James Thomas Hilliard, 68, formerly of Paris, Texas, died peacefully at his home in Henderson on July 16, 2015. Jim was born on May 9, 1947, to Weldon and Leon Rogers Hilliard of Paris.
He was the youngest of the three big boys, having been born on his older brother Gary’s 3rd birthday. Jim attended Reno schools and graduated from Paris High School. He married Barbara Whitley and though the marriage ended after 24 years, the union was blessed with three daughters, Tonya, Judy & April. Out of this marriage not only came his three girls, but also a lasting gift to his children which was the fact that Jim and Barbara remained friends throughout their lives and were together at every function the girls had whether it be birthdays, Christmases, weddings, or graduations.
He worked for Texas Power & Light in Garland on the Heavy Haulers crew which was responsible for the installation of underground power lines in the initial construction of DFW airport. He and his family moved to Paris where he drove an 18 wheeler for Merico Box and later Jelly Skidmore Trucking. He traveled the US to the extent that he was a walking map and could get you anywhere you needed to go. The family lovingly referred to as Jim-Jim, a play on the GPS called Tom-Tom.
His first love however, was playing in the dirt, operating heavy equipment. He was very good at his job and worked for both Richard Drake Construction, and the family business Hilliard & Sons, until his health would no longer allow. In his later years, he found a new calling – he was one of Santa’s special helpers by being Santa Claus for the City of Henderson and each year visited Wylie Elementary to be the Santa for the first graders. He was often known to pay a child a home visit when the child began to doubt there might be a Santa. When Santa seemed to have inside information that only Santa would know, the parents were given a few more years reprieve in the childlike beliefs of their children. In fact, a local Henderson family began to include Santa into their yearly Christmas dinners. He looked forward to visiting with the Jimerson family every year and would make certain that nothing interfered with that evening. Playing Santa brought him enormous joy and his favorite children were the special needs children that would visit him in the Santa House from Laneville Elementary. Out of season, he would often be seen and if a child recognized him as Santa, he simply played along. He will be missed especially during the Christmas Season that he came to love so much.
Jim gave his heart to Jesus as a teen at Hillcrest Missionary Baptist Church. At the time of his death, he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Henderson where he was a proud member of Brad Hearne’s Sunday Morning Class. He looked forward to the times he was able to attend.
Jim is survived by his daughters and their spouses: Tonya Davis and husband Guy of Henderson, Judy Sharp and husband Justin of Henderson, April Black and husband Chris of Hooks, Texas. His joy outside of his children were his grandchildren who could do no wrong in his eyes: Chase Sharp and wife Shawna, Jarrett Davis and wife Macy, Whitleigh Doss and husband Bo, Weldon Davis and wife Lily, Travis Davis and his fiancé Lauren Scott, Hannah Sharp, Wade Shaw, Coby Sharp, Hailey Shaw, Krislynne Black, Courtney Shaw, and Peyton Black. He was also blessed with two great-grandsons – Kyler Sharp & Aiden Doss. He is survived by brother Gary Hilliard and wife Trudy, Don Hilliard, David Hilliard, Marthanne “Cissy” Snethen and husband Barry, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He will be missed by a very special family whom he adored, and they affectionately called him “neighbor”, Joey & Alison Delarosa, Chelsea & Natalie. He also leaves behind three girls he loved and raised as if they were his own – Kim Anderson, Tammie Annette and Julie Potter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Weldon & Leon Hilliard, sister-in-law Virginia Hiner Hilliard, son-in-law, Josh Shaw and his constant four-footed companion, Alice Jean.
Visitation for the family will be held Sunday, July 19 from 3-5 p.m. at Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 20 at 10 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chase Sharp, Jarrett Davis, Weldon Davis, Travis Davis, Bo Doss, Wade Shaw, Brad Hilliard and Justin Wideman. In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
M. “Junior” Blackshear, 89, of Tigertown, passed away on July 16, 2015.
Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 19th, at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Blackshear & Rev. Gordon Barnes officiating. Burial will follow in Tigertown Cemetery.
Mr. Blackshear, the son of Charlie & Maggie Jackson Blackshear, was born on December 17, 1925, in Bagwell, TX. He retired from B & W and was a rancher for many years. He was a member of Cottonwood Church of God.
Junior was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Virginia Collins Blackshear, brothers, Curtis Blackshear, Joe Blackshear, and R. B. Blackshear, sisters, Ernestine Hindman and Wanza Lou Offutt and several half brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Lavell Blackshear, two daughters, Latricia Miller & husband Gerald and Brenda Grooms & husband Ronnie all of Paris, grandchildren, Michelle Williams and husband Allen, Michael Miller & wife Sarah, Misty Ray & husband Jason, Britni Julian & husband Wade, Brandon Grooms & wife Rachel, great grandchildren, Ashley & Mallory Miller, Sydney Williams, Pierson & Riley Julian and Austin Grooms, two brothers, Wayne Blackshear & wife Alice and Paul David Blackshear & wife Billie, step-daughters, Mary Eskue & husband Johnny, Freda Osborne & husband Phillip and Daphna Warren, several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, his caregivers who lovingly cared for him, Sandra Evans & Faye Blackshear along with numerous nieces & nephews and a plethora of friends.
Casket bearers will be the grandsons; Michael Miller, Brandon Grooms, Allen Williams, Jason Ray and Wade Julian. Honorary bearers will be: Tyler Kelley, Ray Spencer and Garth Robinson.
The family requests that memorials be made to Cottonwood Church of God, 8296 FM 38 N., Sumner, Texas 75486.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com.
Herminia Avila Cortes, 91, of Paris, passed away Friday, July 17, 2015, at her home while surrounded by her family.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 20th, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church led by Father Ambrose Chinnappa. Burial will follow in Union Grove Cemetery. A Rosary will be recited on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at Bright-Holland Funeral Home.
Mrs. Cortes, the daughter of Isidro Avila & Magdalena Bolalnos Avila, was born April 23, 1924, in Mexico.
She has been a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church since 1998.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Cortes-Delgado, following fifty-three years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by five children; Concepcion, Mario, Juan, Herlinda and Linda, one grandchild; Andres, and all her siblings.
Survivors include her children, Jose & wife Cleofas, Luz & husband Ismael, Chuy & husband Sebastian, Irene & husband Enrique, Magdalena, Isidro & wife Candelaria, grandchildren; Francisco, Jesus, Carmela, Juan, Mireya, Adolfo, Alfredo, Maria Cruz, Cristobal, Josefina, Martin, Jaime, Carlos, Veronica, Gemma, Marisol, Guadalupe, Antonio, Alicia, Alejandro, Ismael, Felipe, Leticia, Lety, Junior, Ramiro, Ruben, Elizabeth, Sandra, Eloy, Ana, Oscar, Omar, and Bruno, 98 great grandchildren along with many nieces & nephews and a plethora of friends.
Her grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com.
