Typed and spelled as written.  -----Pearl Vanderbilt

MRS. MABEL ALTHEA TYRONE

September 20, 1906  -  December 7, 2001

Mrs. Mabel Althea Tyrone  -  Mrs. Mabel A. Tyrone, the second of two daughters of Mr. Sanford J. Taylor and Mrs. Essie (Wallace) Taylor, was born September 20, 1906 in Ceder Valley Community of Chilton, Falls County, Texas.  She received her high school education at Booker T. Washington High School of Marlin, Texas.

She earned her B.A. Degree from Samuel Houston (now Houston-Tillotson) College in 1944, and received her Masters of Arts Degree from Prairie View A & M University in Prairie View, Texas.

In 1929, Mabel (affectionately called "Sister"), began her educational career in the Shields Academy District, teaching for fifteen years at the Tomlinson Hill Elementary School.

In 1944 she was employed by the Marlin Independent School District and taught English at the Booker T. Washington High School.  When school integration became mandated in 1968, Mabel was transferred to Marlin High School where upon, she continued to teach English.  She was appointed head of the English Department and remained there until her retirement in 1972.

Mabel confessed Christ as her personal Savior at a very young age, becoming a very devout Christian.  One of her childhood churches was McGill Chapel Baptist Church.  She made frequent visits to the Ceder Valley Methodist Church in Falls County.  In early adulthood, she united with the Marlin Missionary Baptist Church where she remained as a faithful member and servant.  Her services included Choir member, Sunday School Teacher of Bible Study, Program Coordinator, just to name a few.  Her civic involvement included President of the Local A.E.S., Johnson and Clover Leaf Clubs, Vice President of the Carrie Adams District of the Texas Association of Colored Women's and Girls' Clubs, and Vice President of the National Association of Colored Women in the South Western Region.  She was a charter member of the Zeta Beta Sorority, Inc., Gamma Phi Zeta Chapter.  She served as Gammateus (Secretary), Basileus (President) and all other offices and standing committees.

She was a member of the Hiawatha Court #183, Heroines of Jericho, serving as Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Queen of Hiawatha Palace No. 57, Most Ancient Matron and Chairman of many committees.  Mabel served as Secretary and Librarian of the Falconer Stamps Library, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Falls County Historical Commission, United Charity Board and many of Falls County Community Boards, she was one of the founders of the Falls County Historical Museum.  Mabel was a life member of the NAACP and one of the organizers and founder of the Booker T. Washington Alumni-Student's Association, serving as its first president.

On December 28, 1932, Mabel entered into marriage with her high school sweetheart, Eugene Tyrone.  To that union, no children were born, but they helped to rear and/or educate three relatives, a nephew, Attorney Hiawatha T. Roberts, Jernice M (Taylor-Hood) Smith, a niece of Mabel's mother, accepted and treated by the Tyrone's as their own blood born child, and so was Bettie Jo (Evans) Price, a niece of "Sisters" father.  Mabel's love, caring, and mentoring was infectious she opened their hearts and to relatives, among whom were: Rommie Tyrone, Travis Washington, Jr., Sanford Marc Roberts, Jackie Keggins and later, his wife, Carol.  The keggins and their three children assisted and cared for Sister in her declining years, until Hiawatha and Jernice took her to California to reside with Jernice.  Of the numerous relatives who became members of her extended family, the following names immediately come to mind: The Taylors, Wallaces, Hoods, Scruggs, Hendersons, Barnes, the Stewarts, Tyrones, James and the Pauls. generally, and two sets of Herman Paul's
children, specifically.  Of the hundreds of children she taught and mentored, special mention should be made to the Thelma/Herman Paul Group (relatives).

Included in the non-relatives, among others necessarily omitted, special mention is made of reference to; the Sodas children, Ernest Walker, James Lorder, "Sister Hurdle and Carolyn Bradley.

Preceding Mable in death were her mother, Essie Taylor, father Sanford Taylor, sister Euna Lee Tucker, husband Eugene Tyrone and surrogate grandson, Kevin D. Poole.

Recognizing her failing health, Mabel reluctantly relocated to El Cerrito, California in October 1996 to live with and be cared for by the same daughter she raised and accepted as her own, Jernice and her husband
Cero.

Upon Mabel's arrival in California, she was placed under the pastoral (watch) care as an affiliate of the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church.

At about 8:00 o'clcok p.m. on December 7, 2001 and minutes after Jernice sang "Sweet Hour of Prayer" and read scriptures from the books of Psalms and Revelations to Mabel, she quietly slipped away and went to be with her God.

Mrs. Mabel A. Tyrone "Sister" leaves to love and cherish her memory: her surrogate daughter, Mrs. Jernice Marie Smith, and her husband Cero of El Cerrito, California, one nephew; Attorney Hiawatha T. Roberts and wife, Jane of Oakland, California, one granddaughter; A. Marie Linthicum, of Hercules, California, one grandson; Travis Washington Jr. and wife, Paula of Hayward, California, one great grandson, one great granddaughter and one great, great granddaughter; five grand nieces, Althea (Roberts) Griffin, Karen (Roberts) Knight, Sandra (Roberts) Stokes, Marion Roberts and Marie Roberts; one grand nephew, Sanford Marc Roberts, fourteen great grand nieces and nephews and three great great grand nieces; cousin (reared by the family) Bettie Jo (Evans) Price, and her husband Rayfield and their children and a host of relatives and friends.

Special Tribute:  Mrs. Tyrone, on behalf of every student you taught or touched in your lifetime, and, indeed, there were many, we say "Thank You".  You will sorely be missed.  ----p.t.v. -2003