Effrage Fannie (Aunt Baby) Tennard was born
April 29, 1912 in Pine Springs, Texas, the youngest of nine children
born to the union of Georgia Virginia Lacy and Riley Franklin
Denman. She was preceded in death by her parents, her
brothers, sisters, and a foster daughter, Effrage Davis.
She
attended public school in Houston and Anderson Counties, graduating
from Lincoln High School and Mary Allen College.
Her life was
exemplified in Christian service. She joined Pine Springs
Church at an early age. She was a member of West Union Baptist
Church and a charter member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. She
was a loyal member who remained active until her health failed.
She was the Mother of the Church; President of the Senior Choir and
Lifetime Church Treasurer. She served as a trustee, Sunday
school teacher, BYPU President and any other positions she was asked
to hold. She was a charter member of the "Just We" Club; a
member of the Porter's Wives Club; a charter member of the Negro
Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc.; insurance salesperson
for Universal Life Insurance Co. She worked at the old
Memorial Hospital until she retired to begin her full time nursery
position. Many children benefited from her loving care and
guidance.
She was united in holy matrimony to Herman Davis, the
late Walter Furlough and McClellan Tennard. She was one of the
longest residents of Texas Avenue. She was the matriarch of
the neighborhood who couldn't say 'no' to anyone. her home was
open to all who needed a place to stay. Many young couples and
their children shared her home.
Aunt Baby had so many special
nieces, nephews and 'children'. She was not afraid to tell you
what she thought, and everyone was a 'heifer', a term of endearment.
Family members who will cherish her memory are: foster
daughters, Joyce Lumpkin and Effie S. Denman of Palestine, Texas and
Jerry D. Bowens of St. Louis, Missouri; grandchildren, Cedric Davis,
Leslie Bowens, Beverly Davis, Nikki Lumpkin all of the Dallas Area,
and Sharon Davis of St. Louis, Missouri, Emilie Mangrum of Ft.
Worth, Texas, Andre T. Denman of Indianapolis, Indiana, Yolanda
Gilbert of Henderson, Texas and eight great-grandchildren:
Leslie Bowens and LaQuita Davis whom she helped raise from infancy:
special cousins, Chester Denman, Edward Barrett, Reba and Minnie;
Sister-in-law, Ella Mae Johnson of St. Louis, Missouri; many nieces,
nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.
She departed this
life on March 9, 1999.
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