Billie Mae (Ham) Colwell

Billie Mae Ham Colwell left her earthly body on Monday, October 24, 2022. She was 99.

Summarizing 99 years of the life of an extraordinary person who was devoted to the Lord, her family, her friends, her community, and her country is an impossible task. But, this is a task that is required in order to bear witness to a strong and intelligent woman who survived epidemics, post World War I, the depression, and World War II.

Billie Mae Ham was born July 23, 1923, to an entrepreneurial couple, Burness and Bertie Ham of New Summerfield, Texas, who had a new trucking business. With the onslaught of the Great Depression she quickly became the daughter of farmers who toiled nonstop to produce crops for sale.

Little did they realize they had given birth to an exceptionally strong willed, intelligent, beautiful, and giving individual. Billie learned at an early age, by her parents' side, how to work. Therefore, she continued her entire life working, giving, educating, and being educated. Truly her calling on earth was to help others use their own unique God given gifts and opportunities. Her faith was evidenced by her actions.

While at SFA in Nacogdoches, she met a young man from Zavalla, Texas, by the name of John D. Colwell. Five years her senior, a very persuasive John convinced Billie to elope with him at the end of her freshman year. After completing her master's degrees at SFA and John completing his superintendent's certification, in 1951, they accepted the superintendent and teacher jobs with Broaddus Consolidated School District. At the time Broaddus was in danger of losing their school and being joined to other districts so the next few years were crucial for both the town and the school. However, with community support, Broaddus ISD soon became independent. The next few years Billie and her husband John worked vigorously for consolidations with neighboring schools which ultimately increasing the financial growth of the district through timber and minerals.

If anything was needed in the district, she would provide. Even though she was certified to teach both business and English, she voluntarily went back to college to earn principal, superintendent, librarian, counselor, and math endorsements.

Billie was school business manager and upon her husband's retirement in 1982, she was made superintendent of Broaddus ISD. During the early 1980s a female superintendent was very unique. This shows how much trust the board and school district had in her abilities.

Academia was not her only strong suit. She spent many summers beside her husband helping him build classrooms, laying flooring, painting, planting shrubbery, doing maintenance and cleaning...all with no pay but just because it was the right thing to do. They both believed strongly in hiring locally and the district tried to use Broaddus graduates. If someone in the community needed a job they would reach out to the many people they knew to try to help them find employment.

Even after retirement, she continued to try to help her beloved community and school. She obtained federal grants to help people maintain their homes. She provided FREE income tax service to anyone. Billie served as Worthy Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star. She was superintendent of the Vacation Bible School at Broaddus Baptist Church. She served as chairman of the Democratic party for San Augustine County during a time when that party was truly patriotic. She especially enjoyed raising cattle with her husband and was a very good, well dressed fence builder. Always beautifully styled and groomed, she could work cattle with the best of any ranch hand.

In addition, Billie liked to have fun and truly enjoyed life. Some of her fun times included traveling, playing forty-two and dominoes, playing board games, watching sports, watching western movies, and visiting during the holidays. She was a very active lady physically and mentally for all of her 99 years.

After Billie had major health problems, she helped her employees any way she could. Those who worked for her had the opportunity, time, assistance, and encouragement to complete their college degrees or to learn health skills in order to provide for themselves and their families. She has given her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren assistance in order to graduate from college with advanced degrees, travel to many places on the globe, and do mission work in other countries and states.

To those of us left behind she would tell you to prepare all of your life for work and to be prepared to work all your life--not just for yourself but for others also. And, most important of all, never forget the One whose example you should follow...our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, John D. Colwell, in 2005.

Billie leaves behind her two daughters and their families: Virginia (Ginger) Kott and son-in-law Randy Kott, Billie Lynne Davis and son-in-law Larry Davis; grandchildren, Lisa Kott Shults and husband Toby Shults, John Colwell Kott and wife Chandee Kott, Hollie Lynne Davis, and Shane Edward Davis and wife Maria Davis; great-grandchildren, Peyton Shults, Parker Shults, Danielle Asbjornson and husband Christian Asbjornson, Paxton Shults, Chloe Capps, Jordan Kott, Julie Kott, Nikaila Davis, and Aurora Davis; and great-great-granddaughter, Eleanor Asbjornson.

Special thanks goes out to caregiver supervisor Davana Sanders; caregivers Pamela Marshall, Patricia King, Cissy Wright, Hollie Davis, Robert Williams, Dorothy Dubose, and many others who have helped along the way. Billie loved all of you.

At the family request, in lieu of flowers for her please send donations to the building fund at First Baptist Church, PO Box 600, Broaddus, TX 75929 or to the church of your choice.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 28, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Broaddus, located at 207 Buchanan Street.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 28, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Broaddus. Committal service and interment will follow at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, located on Hwy. 147 North in San Augustine.

Visit www.WymanRobertsFuneralHome.com for memories and condolences.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine.

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