. . . was born Sunday morning, March 16, 1930 in Hewett, Texas. As the only child of Miss Lena Mae Holmes, she was raised by her grandparents, the late Mr. & Mrs. Julius and Ethel Margaret Hogans Holmes. She completed an early education in Bosqueville and graduated with honors from A. J. Moore High School in the Class of 1946. Ethel was attending Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas when her natural beauty and scholarly achievements caught the attention of another student, Rev. William Henry Moss. In those days, a man was expected and required to ask a young lady’s parents or guardians permission to marry their daughter. Permission was granted on one condition, that Ethel be allowed to continue her education. She continued her course of study, but labor pains interrupted and the first of five(5) children was born to their union, Larry who passed away during birth. The family was living in South Waco in a neighborhood that is now encompassed by Baylor University. Due to an on-the-job injury, Rev Moss passed away in January, 1957, leaving behind a 26-year-old widow with four children under the age of nine(9). Through her strong faith in God and with the support of family, friends of Second Baptist Church, the Baptist Ministers Union and neighbors, the young family survived difficult days.
Ethel later met and married Mr. Richard Hemphill, moved to Fort Worth, Texas and had five(5) children. The family united with Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend C. C. Carson and later moved their membership to the New Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, with Reverend R. A. Toliver, Pastor, and she never failed to let everyone know just how much she loved and adored her Pastor and her church family.
On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, she was surrounded by family and friends as we celebrated her 91st birthday. She was overjoyed to see and hear everyone express their love and appreciation for her even though she was not able to speak but she smiled and looked with joy at each of us.
Ethel was very active in her church and served with the Pastor’s Aide Auxiliary and the Andrew’s Pantry Culinary Committee. She took great pleasure in serving meals to the community on Wednesdays; and delighted in serving during Registration for the Women’s Ministry of the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Fort Worth Coalition.
After 31 years, she retired as the Executive Business Manager of the FWISD - Transportation Department in 2002.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, two sons – Larry and Julius – husband Richard Hemphill, (a retired Sheriff’s Deputy, Funeral Director & Baptist Preacher); three(3) grandchildren, four(4) aunts, three(3) uncles and three(3) cousins.
To continue the legacy and cherish her memories includes: Ethelyn Marie Taylor, Arlington Texas; Pastor Edward Lewis Moss, (Dongloria) of DeKalb, Texas; Ronald Wayne Moss, Plano, Texas; Alice Faye Hemphill, Fort Worth, Texas; Patricia Ann Harris, Fort Worth, Texas; Daryl Hemphill, Arlington, Texas; Reginald Hemphill, Burleson, Texas; and Sharon Denise Knowles, (Alfred) Fort Worth, Texas; sixteen(16) grandchildren, thirty(30) great-grandchildren and three(3) great-great-grandchildren.
