Hometown: Waco;
Present City: Dallas;
Education: BBA, Baylor University, 1962; postgraduate work at the University of Houston;
Profession: Taught school in Houston, after which I devoted my time to raising our three children.
Tell us about your family.
I was married to Maxey Abernathy for 59 years and have three children: Jean Ann, who lives in Kansas; Glenn, who lives in Colorado; and Paula, who lives in Dallas. I have five delightful grandchildren: Emma, Lottie, Garrett, Ku and Kathryn. I also have a 5-year-old Yorkie-Pomeranian named Lucy.
How about your work or volunteer life?
Giving of my time and talents has been an important part of my life journey, both at church and in the community. A few of my most memorable volunteer experiences are serving on the Personnel and Finance Committees at FBC Tyler, chairing and volunteering for the Medical Alliance Book Fair and serving as an officer and volunteer for the Women’s Symphony League of Tyler.
Favorite hobbies?
Photography, reading, sewing, Mahjong. I am trying to pick up knitting and crocheting.
What are your favorite places to travel?
Travel was an integral part of my early marriage as Maxey’s job took us across the U.S. and overseas. When our kids grew up, we continued to travel extensively. It’s hard to pick just one spot! Some of my most favorite are the Rocky Mountains, Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey and Ireland.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
We lived in Tyler for 45 years, and it became necessary to be near one of our children. We moved to Ventana by Buckner Senior Living in August 2019. At that point we began attending Wilshire with our daughter, Paula Woodbury, and her family and joined shortly thereafter.
What has surprised you most about Wilshire?
We joined Compass Class because our dear friends from my Baylor days, Brenda and Gwin Morris, are members. I love the class and have found they discuss diverse topics very honestly.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I was baptized in third grade, and I feel like God has been leading me all of my life.
What’s something interesting most people would not know about you?
I worked for Senator Ralph Yarborough in Washington, D.C., after graduating Baylor.
What adjectives best describe you?
I believe I am very accepting and open to different ideas.
*If you are interested in being featured in an upcoming I Am Wilshire feature, contact Carolyn Murray (cmurray@wilshirebc.org)