Ernestina Broughton Barrera

1925 - 2025

Port Isabel, TX - Ernestina Broughton Port Isabel, Texas - Ernestina "Tina" Broughton Barrera, 99, of Port Isabel, Texas peacefully entered into eternal rest on March 5, 2025, at her residence in Port Isabel, Texas.

Tina was born on April 7, 1925, in Port Isabel and was a lifetime resident of the community she dearly loved and devoted so many years of her life to.

She graduated as Valedictorian of Port Isabel High School in 1945. Tina was an employee and contributor to the City of Port Isabel for more than 45 years and served the City in various roles to include, City Secretary and Executive Director of the Port Isabel Urban Renewal Agency. Tina served as a role model and mentor to many residents of Port Isabel, and did an incredible amount of work to help the City grow and prosper since she began working for the City of Port Isabel.

Throughout the years, Tina served her community in a variety of capacities. Among them included serving on the boards for the Port Isabel Housing Authority, Port Isabel Friends of the Public Library, Port Isabel Historical Museum and Historical Preservation Advisory Board, Habitat for Humanity, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church Finance Committee, and many other organizations. Tina was a devoted parishioner and a lifelong member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church and a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Original Court No. 2096.

In 2019, Tina was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame, and in 2022, she was inducted into the Point Isabel I.S.D. Wall of Fame to honor her work and service to her community.

Tina was more than just a pillar of public service; she was also a friend and teacher to many, and all who knew her, or knew of her, will refer to her as an icon of the City of Port Isabel.

While our Aunt Tina had no children of her own, she loved all of her many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews as her children, and they all loved her and admired her dearly. She was a devout Catholic and there was no other person more dedicated to serving her community, church, and family in the ways that she did throughout her life.

Tina Barrera is preceded in death by her parents, Rafael and Margarita Broughton Barrera; her sister, Rosita Barrera and her brothers, Rafael Barrera, Jr., William B. Barrera, Ramiro Barrera, Jose D. Barrera, Gustavo Barrera, Ruben A. Barrera, and Roberto Barrera.

She is survived by her sister, Margaret Barrera Davis, along with numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, along with her cousins, numerous extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a Holy Rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 309 Railroad Street, Port Isabel.

Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 705 S. Longoria Street, Port Isabel, followed by interment at the family plot at Port Isabel City Cemetery.

Honored to serve their beloved Aunt Tina as pallbearers will be Ruben Abel Barrera, Jr., John William Barrera, Alan Barrera, Hawk Scott, and Jeremy Davis.

Honored to serve their beloved Aunt Tina as honorary pallbearers are William H. Owen, Ruben Abel Barrera III, and Dean Davis.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family of Tina Barrera at www.thomaegarza.com and floral tributes can be sent to the attention of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors for Tina Barrera's services.

For those opting in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barrera Scholarship Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 72, Port Isabel, Texas 78578.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, (956) 399-1331.