Meredith Kathryn Berryhill Fitzgerald, 92, of Beaumont, died Saturday, August 3, 2013. Meredith was born January 1, 1921, and grew up on a farm near McKenzie, Tennessee, which is half-way between Memphis and Nashville. She had lived in Beaumont since 1951. Meredith attended and graduated from a two-room, two-teacher elementary school. She was a graduate of Bethel University in McKenzie, TN, and received advanced graduate degrees from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
She was a member of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities” and later “Who’s Who Among Early Childhood Education Specialists.” After graduating from college, she enlisted in the United States Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service), serving for two years during World War II. It was during this service that she met and married William (Bill) Fitzgerald, her husband of sixty-eight years, who was also enlisted in the United States Navy.
Meredith was a retired teacher from South Park Independent School District and a charter faculty member of Regina Howell and C.W. Bingman elementary schools. She spent the last fourteen years of her teaching career as an educator at Lamar University, where she helped develop the kindergarten curriculum degree program. Meredith became attached to her students—both the young and the college-aged—and was a great influence in their lives, as evidenced by her large albums of thank you letters. She was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church and an active member of the Friendship Sunday School Class, having served as treasurer and president of the class numerous times.
Meredith loved her family and greatly enjoyed family gatherings. The family enjoyed traveling and spent summer vacations in an RV seeing America. After retirement, six of the seven continents were visited. She enjoyed the W. B. C. C. I. Airstream Club and her many friends from there. Meredith enjoyed reading and playing card games. She also belonged to a book club, a bridge club, and the Lamar Women’s Club.
Survivors include husband, William Taylor Fitzgerald; daughters, Susan Gaye and her husband, Dale E. Fincke, of Chocowinity, North Carolina; Pamela Carol and her husband, Bill Pearson, of Kountze; Nancy Ellen Fitzgerald and her husband, Randy Robinson, of Humble; and Kathryn Ann and her husband, David Turner, of San Antonio; grandchildren, Dale E. Fincke, Jr., Christopher Fincke, Amy Glach Turner, K. Stephen Baltz, Jr., Thomas Baltz, and Emily Fitzgerald; and great-grandchildren, Christopher Fincke, Carla Fincke, and Holden Turner. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Brown Berryhill and Hattie Lucille Simmons Berryhill; and a brother, Elmer Simmons Berryhill.
A gathering of Mrs. Fitzgerald’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 9, 2013, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, the family is honored to accept donations made payable to Lamar University Foundation on behalf of the Meredith Kathryn Berryhill Fitzgerald Scholarship in Early Childhood Education, P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
The family would like to thank Bessie Lomax for her care and dedication.
