Texanna Birchette

Texanna Watford (Tex) was born in Tunis, North Carolina on May 2,
1926. She was the daughter of Nathan Watford and Maggie Ellis.
She graduated from Huntington High in Newport News, Virginia in
1944. Tex married Lawrence Nathaniel Birchette of Newport News and
raised three children, Margaret, Lawrence Jr. and Terrence. She graduated from Cheyney State College in May of 1967 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and was a member in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Tex attended Temple University and finished with a Masters equivalent in Elementary Education. Tex started her teaching career at Thornbury Township Elementary School in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania in the late 1960s.
In 1979 Tex went on sabbatical leave and traveled through the southern states and in Europe. Upon returning from sabbatical, she continued teaching until retiring from Penwood Elementary School in West Chester, Pennsylvania in May 1990.
Tex moved to Chandler, Arizona in 1992 and truly enjoyed retirement
by spending time with family and friends. She was always one with a
good come back line or a wise quote for living. She started to succumb to the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in 2009. Tex remained in Chandler until the end of March 2018 and moved to Family Tree Assisted Living in Casa Grande, Arizona. Tex left this place as the angels watched over her on April 23, 2018.
Most, if not all, who met her, believed they were proud to have known
her. She will be long remembered by the hundreds of children she taught, long remembered by many for positively impacting their lives and long remembered for her sense of style, taste and class.

Tex is preceded in death by her son, Lawrence Nathaniel Birchette Jr.;
daughter, Margaret Lester; brothers and sisters, Ruth Epps, Henry
Watford, Grace Gaines, Thomas Watford, Ella Salisbury and Katie
Sneed. Tex is survived by her son, Terrence Birchette; granddaughter,
Danetta Birchette; grandson, Ka Cee Lester; and daughter-in-law, Marcela Birchette.

Viewing will be Monday, April 30, 2018 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. at J. Warren Funeral Services, The Gardens Chapel, 525 N. Peart Rd., Casa
Grande, Arizona. Service following at 4:00 p.m. with Chaplain Troy Powers officiating.