Thelma Black, 90, of High Island, died Tuesday, October 28, 2014, at Harbor Hospice, in Beaumont. She was born July 28, 1924, to Nola Dailey Berwick and Dick Berwick in Beaumont, Texas. She graduated from High Island High School in 1941 and soon thereafter married the love of her life Richard Allen Black, Sr. on August 30, 1941 and they spent 65 wonderful years together. They owned and operated Black’s Store in Gilchrist, Texas from 1951 to 1961 and the High Island Fishing Pier while raising their four beautiful children Ricky, Sidney, Terry and Sharon.
After Hurricane Carla, Thelma and family returned to High Island, Texas where she lived the remainder of her life. Her greatest joy was providing an inviting warm and loving home where friends and family could gather and enjoy her incredible cooking. She was incredibly proud of her family and was overjoyed with the arrival of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Holidays, the Black Family summer reunion and yearly Family GumboFest were her crowning glory where she hosted family and friends and treated all to her famous seafood gumbo and Cajun cooking. The GumboFest became so popular that she easily cooked for a hundred people at each gathering. Most importantly is was time for her to adore and be adored by her family and friends during these very special times.
She sacrificed so much in her lifetime and cared deeply for everyone. She was totally devoted to family, friends, her church and community. She loved living next to her Methodist Church in High Island and having her home filled with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren during hunting and fishing season as she expertly delivered on being the base camp cook and entertainer.
Survivors include daughters, Terry Bonno and her husband, Louis, and Sharon Blankenship and her partner, Mike McRill, all of Houston; grandchildren, Rich Black; Jason Black and his wife, Christy; Robbin Howard and her husband, Geoff; Jake Weaver and his wife, Kelly; Zach Weaver; Steven and David Bonno; and Jake Blankenship and his fiancé Stacey O‘Neil; great-grandchildren, Ryan Black, Madeline Black, Luke Black, Kaitlyn Black, Brett Black, Parker Howard and Keaton Howard; numerous nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Louise Smith and Bernice Purcell; faithful friend, beloved Eva Gail Riley; loving caregiver Charlotte Stark and poker club friends, Donna and Mike Hambleton and Houston Sliger.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard A. Black, Sr.; son, Ricky Black; daughter, Sidney Weaver; and sister, Ella Rankin.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 31, 2014, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie, Texas. Mrs. Black’s funeral will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 1, 2014, at St Matthew United Methodist Church, 1308 Weeks, High Island, Texas with interment to follow at High Island Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 297, High Island, Texas 77623.
