HILDA SEXTON

Hilda Sexton Funeral services for Hilda Sexton, 98, will be held Friday, May 23, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Eufaula. The Dr. Ken Bush and the Rev. Drake Whitelaw will officiate and burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery with Chapman Funeral Home of Eufaula directing. Mrs. Sexton died Saturday, May 17, at Medical Center Barbour in Eufaula. Born Dec. 5, 1915 in Shanghai, China she was the daughter of the late Tso-Bing and Rosalia Dong Chang. Our mother enjoyed a lengthy, varied, and meaningful life. She was, at one time or another: a socialite and daughter of one of the most influential newspapermen in pre-World War II China; a wartime victim and refuge fleeing south from Shanghai to Hong Kong; a restaurateur who operated a renowned restaurant in Hong Kong; an emigrant to the US; a wonderful wife and mother of three children; a sales clerk; the Justice of the Peace in a small New England town; an office manager for a department store; an author of books; an artist; a docent for Shorter mansion; the executive director of Shorter mansion; a calligrapher; and, a volunteer church worker. But most of all, she was: a loyal friend to others; loving mother to her children; and a brilliant and joyful human being. Her life ended peacefully on May 17th. In the end, her spirit still burned brightly, but her 98 year-old body failed her. As our mother aged, we, her children, tried numerous times to move her to Houston, Texas or to Washington, DC. She would not budge from Eufaula. She was so right. We have come to understand the depth of the bond of friendship and love she shared with this community of wonderful and kind people. Of course, she could not leave. Goodnight Mom...your children and grandchildren will miss you and love you...always. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church Youth Ministry Building Fund or the St. James Episcopal Church General Fund. Survivors include two sons, David (Linda) Sexton of Vienna, Va., Roy Sexton of Dallas, Texas; one daughter, Barbara (David) Hunter of The Woodlands, Texas; two grandchildren, Emily Sexton of Richmond, Va., Belle Sexton of Vienna, Va.; one brother, Paul Chang of China; two nephews, Richard Zhang and Edward Zhang; one niece, Maria Han. Active pallbearers are Deacons of First Baptist Church. The family will receive friends prior to the service at 1 p.m. at the church. Sign the online guestbook for Mrs. Sexton at www.eufaulatribune.com.