Willie "Billie" Lee Bell Lambert

OBITUARY OF W. L. BELL (BILLIE) LAMBERT
Willie Lee Bell Lambert (known by family and friends as "Billie ") was never called by her birth name but by the name Willie, named after her father; the fourth child of William Henry and Una Oda Stafford Bell, born in Texas City, Texas. She went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 9, 2022.
Billie was one of the last students to attend Gunn School on 8th Avenue North in Texas City before it closed. Mrs. Birdie May Emken-Linton was her first-grade teacher. She later transferred to Wolvin School and was one of the last students to attend at Sixth Avenue before the school closed, and Mrs. Edith Canant was her teacher. She transferred to a new school named Danforth Elementary, located om 4th Street. After completing her junior high years, she graduated to Central High School located at 4th Avenue and 6th Street until she graduated in 1948. The Central High School was closed after she graduated because of damages from the 1947 Texas City Explosion. Billie laughed as she would say, "I close schools down as I move to the next school".
Billie's long list of accomplishments include, being a 1948 graduate of the Central High School in Texas City; a graduate of Evans Business College; a graduate of Metropolitan Business College; certified from School of Tailoring and Mannequin Sculpturing in Dallas; she took classes on flower arrangement from University of Houston; a graduate of John Powers of Modeling; three years nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, instructor for library science under Dr. Ruth Long; a graduate of College of the Mainland; receiving an AA and AS degree; and a BS degree. College of the Mainland invited her to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa and a graduate of business administration, computer science, and library science.
She had Certification in hand, foot and face reflexology, certified in touch therapy, certification in yoga, certification in pilate by the founder Joseph Pilates. She was asked to study under Romana Kryzanowsa, a protegee of Joseph Pilates, founder. She had two years nutrition classes at UTMB in Galveston. Julliard Conservatory School in New York contacted her to teach in the Julliard Conservatory School.
An instructor of credit yoga, continuing education yoga and senior citizens classes in yoga, taught many workshops pertaining to hand and foot reflexology, not only at the College of the Mainland, San Jacinto, Lee College, University of Texas Medical Branch plus other surrounding colleges and senior citizens centers. She had the love of sharing her knowledge and experience.
Numerous years listed in Who's Who in American Women and in Outstanding Women in America; and was named to Texas Women's Hall of Fame; and listed in Memorial International Platform Association. For many years she volunteered with Heart and Cancer Fund. Billie was honored with the award of Outstanding Santa Fe Citizen. She was also a benefactor member of Mainland Museum in Texas City; a life member of Crime Stoppers, a member Carbide and Dow Retirees; in 1990, named Mother of the Year of Texas City/La Marque Chamber of Commerce; and Unsung Hero Award - Texas City 1995-2005, and nominated Instructor of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
As a small girl, Billie loved the 91st Chapter of Psalms. She began quoting the scripture in her Sunday school class, attending the First Baptist Church on 7th Avenue in Texas City, where she was baptized at the age of thirteen. Mrs. Carle Rust, her Sunday school teacher, inspired her to memorize the scripture. She has quoted the scripture many, many times in and out of church. She credits her life being spared at the exact time she was standing and reading the scripture on April 16, 1947, the day the Texas City explosion happened.
She would have been cut beyond recognition if she had not of got out of the bed to read the 91st Chapter of Psalms, as she did every day. Her mother instructed her to stay in bed and don't get out, suffering from migraine headaches and severe allergies all night. She explained something kept encouraging her to get up, even though she was very weak, "you have the strength to get out of bed and read the scripture you love".
As she quotes, God works in mysterious ways; some are spared, and others are taken. A survivor of the 1947 Texas City explosion that destroyed the family's home with her in it; not only did she survive with numerous injuries. Billie lived with the pain from the injuries all her life. She was unable to bend her fingers on her left hand and three on her right hand because all the bones were crushed, fused together, or had screws in them. She laughs as she explains "see they work".
Many asked why you don't get on disability? You qualify for it. Billie explained "I'm not disabled, I do things different". Several of her family members were not so lucky as they were killed, and their bodies never found. Some were injured in the explosion. Her father became bedridden from the injuries he sustained from the explosion. Her mother was crippled the rest of her life from her injuries. Her mother worked to carry the financial load because there was no government assistance, help or food stamps. If a person got injured but survived, they never received compensation for out-of-pocket medical bills or food.
Billie's story is one of many in the book of memories of April 16, 1947, the Texas City Explosion. She explains, "the fires were put out, the dead buried, the injured healed, all the wreckage disappeared but the scars, the heartache, the tears still flow, and the pain has never disappeared because memories cannot be erased or diminished chairs empty on birthdays and holidays".
When Eddie Roy Lambert asked Mr. and Mrs. Bell if he could marry their daughter and become a member of their family, Billie's mother and father explained our daughter sustained many injuries in the 1947 Texas City explosion and has had multiple surgeries. Eddie Roy said, "I love her and will take care of her as long as I am alive and care for her even after my death".
Billie was united in marriage to Eddie Roy Lambert for thirty years. They built a life together, raising two children, Eddie Lee Lambert and Sondra Lambert Bradford. She was devoted to her Baptist faith, placing the greatest value in God, and family, a devoted homemaker, loving and caring wife, and mother.
Billie and her husband build five houses, eleven garages and five storm cellars together. She worked beside her husband building their lives together. She helped her husband build pulpits for several churches where her husband cut them out, she did the finishing.
She loved working in the vegetable garden, enjoyed cooking, and canning fresh vegetables. Her recipes are in many cookbooks, plus directions for canning or sun dry foods. Many of her recipes were selected and printed for years in the Texas City Sun.
Billie was an avid seamstress and could make anything including hats. She had a millinery shop in her home where she made many beautiful hats, belts, covered purses and shoes. She was a fabulous seamstress and even taught sewing at Singer Sewing Center.
She enjoyed making and sharing her beautiful porcelain dolls, often donating many porcelain dolls that she handmade and dressed. She also made security blankets for charity, painted portraits on China plates, known as China portrait paintings and a foster mother of many babies.
Billie had a great love for learning and sharing her knowledge in reference to the ten talents in the bible, "if you do not use it, you lose it". She taught by example and when someone would ask, "how would you describe your profession", she would reply, "I am a professional learner, a desire for learning".
Billie was a perfect example of the scripture in Proverbs 31 a woman/lady who was very caring, modest, loving, gentle, and godly with a pleasant personality; always willing to share with others no matter the need, plus always looking around to find if someone who was in need of a helping hand. She was unselfish in giving and genuine in her concern for others. Billie volunteered for years in many events, but you would not recognize her because of the attire she would be wearing, bringing joy and happiness to thousands every year (this is the way she wanted it and believed in giving back. She expressed it as you do things not for glory and recognition of yourself, but to bring happiness to as many as possible making memories).
Billie donated to many causes; she even donated her blood numerous times. She donated bone marrow and was a volunteer with the UTMB's Dr. Pepper programs. She volunteered in many programs that benefited not only the senior citizens but all ages. She was a member of Ladies VFW lodge in Santa Fe; Coalition on Aging vice-president; selected most glamorous grandmother in 1985; employed as bookkeeper/instructor with Singer Sewing Center, Secretary for Judge Hopkins and Judge Reddell, secretary with Union Carbide Chemicals, and Charles Martin Petroleum Company until she moved to northeast Texas for a few years.
Billie was a manager/co-owner of Mobile Air Conditioning, Inc. until it sold. She was owner of Kivert Inc. and Star Bell Ranch in northeast Texas. Billie was never a person doing one thing at a time, she always had many things going at one time; this is how she liked it.
Billie was a long-time employee with the College of the Mainland, employed from 1967 until 2020. She was employed at College of the Mainland in 1967, as a full-time employee until her husband became bedridden with cancer. Her priorities changed as she was caring for her ill husband. She kept teaching part-time credit classes, non-credit yoga classes, substituted teaching business classes. As she explained, "I am never too busy that I can't find time to share my experience and knowledge with others". Billie's senior yoga classes moved September 2005 from College of the Mainland to Carbide Park in the Wayne Johnson Community Center,
Billie was a member of Memorial Baptist Church in La Marque, she worked many years in the PTA as president, vice-president, secretary, and chairperson over projects for the school, financial budget for playground equipment, library encyclopedias and books, and world maps window fans for each classroom. Billie was named outstanding volunteer at Heights Elementary School; band booster officer for six years; YMCA volunteer and secretary; Heights school library and the Santa Fe library volunteer; Santa Fe band booster officer; brownie leader; girl scout leader; cub scouts, boy scouts; counselor/cook/ teacher at church camp for many years; Sunday school teacher/officer; choir member; volunteer teacher in many classes at Nessler center pertaining to various subjects.
She volunteered to make by hand and donate the handmade soft sculptures representing the volunteers of Union Carbide Chemicals that was on display in the Texas City Museum. She made donations to the fundraiser for Christmas in August; donated treadmills, a double door stainless steel commercial refrigerator, toys and clothing to handicapped on Hwy 3; volunteered to teach various subjects to senior citizens at the senior citizens centers, home and churches; collected and delivered clothing and items to storm victims of Carla, Alecia, Katrina and Rita.
Billie's expressed her greatest inspiration came from a hardworking, loving mother and a loving father taught her to be a leader not a follower, represent your faith and your family wherever.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Eddie Roy Lambert, parents, William Henry Bell and Una Oda Stafford Bell; two sisters and a brother, killed in the Korean War. Billie and her family resided in Texas City until 1963. She always considered Texas City her home and moved to Santa Fe where she lived until her death.
Billie is survived by two children, daughter, Sondra Lambert Bradford and husband Brooks G. Bradford, Sr; son, Eddie Lee Lambert; three grandchildren, Heather Lea Wallace, Brooks G. Bradford, Jr., and Brooklyn G. Bradford; five great-granddaughters, Kingsley, Leah Michelle, Clare Elizabeth, Emily Brook, and Eleanor of Houston.
Billie expressed with great compassion she has been so blessed to see the great accomplishments of her children, grandchildren and great-granddaughters.
She was blessed to have had a wonderful friend in Jack Kivch, and to have had a wonderful family and hundreds of yoga students. She was loved by everyone who knew her, and she would always end her conversation with her loved ones with, "I love you".
Interment will be at Bethlehem Cemetery, Highway 995, in Red Hill, Texas on Friday June 17, 2022 at 1 pm.