Judith Ann Siverson

She was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and attended Mark Twain Elementary, Pershing Jr. High and Lamar High School. She was chosen as the most outstanding Speech and Debate student at Lamar in 1973-74, 1974-75 and 1975-76. She excelled at debate, and also attended the National Forensic League's National Championship in Extemporaneous Speaking, held at the Air Force Academy in 1976. She was selected to attend Girls State and was honored to be asked back to serve on the staff in subsequent years. She was chosen to participate in a program organized by Senator Lloyd Bentsen's office. She was later selected to attend a program in Washington D.C., sponsored by Union Carbide. She was named most outstanding female student at her high school graduation and received a Mary Gibbs Jones Scholarship from Houston Endowment.

While attending Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, Ms. Siverson was chosen to serve as an intern at Revlon in New York City. She was a Resident Advisor and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. She graduated cum laude.

After graduation, Ms. Siverson remained in Durham and created the Community Service program in the first year of the N. C. School of Science and Mathematics. Later, she opened Baskets and Bows, Inc., a gift store serving Duke students and the community. While in Durham, she also served on the Board of Directors of the Volunteer Center, a United Way Agency.

In 1990, Ms. Siverson moved back to Houston to help her parents. She served as a community volunteer on numerous neighborhood projects. She was an early supporter of neighborhood recycling, and coordinated monthly recycling drop offs, which at the time were required for an area to qualify for curbside recycling. She volunteered on the organizing committee of her neighborhood's first July 4th celebration, an event which was held annually for over 20 years. She continued to assist with the party for many years. She served as Secretary, and later as President, of the Braeswood Place Homeowners Association. She wrote articles in over 100 monthly issues of ‘The Sentinel’, a neighborhood newsletter. She helped assemble The Sentinel for over eight years.

In 1998, the Astrodome Rotary named Ms. Siverson outstanding Citizen of the Year. She served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Karl Young Park Renovation Committee, which raised over $500,000 to improve the park. She organized the petition drive to secure street reconstruction for Braeswood Place, a project which brought over $40 million of street improvements to her neighborhood and was the largest neighborhood street project ever undertaken by the City of Houston.

Ms. Siverson served as Office Manager for State Representative Martha Wong's successful 2002 and 2004 campaigns. She ran for Houston City Council, District C, in 1999 and 2005. Through the years, she supported several neighborhood park renovation projects and was honored with a paver for her efforts from the Jaycee Park Renovation Committee. She also consulted on the Mark Twain Elementary Spark Park Project.

She was always working to improve her community. She never backed away from a challenge and spoke up whether or not her position was popular. Her neighborhood was better because of her courage.

Ms. Siverson is preceded in death by her beloved parents, Eunice Scott Siverson and Garfield Clinton Siverson, Jr., and her brother Roger Scott Siverson. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Olivia Franklin, and niece and nephew, Anna Siverson Lemons and Erik Louis Siverson. She is also survived by Myles and Cooper Lemons and Zoe, Jonah, Hope Louise, Rosemary and Victoria Siverson, and the addition last year of Eleanor Jean, Rebecca Price, and other cousins.

She was grateful for the love and support of her family and friends including Stacey Berg, Mary Brandt, Karen Brehm, Bruce and Lynn Dayton, Elizabeth Edwards, Olivia Franklin, Ann Guerra, Leigh and Mike Hines, Kari and Jim Imlay, Shanta Jones, Charles Kelly, Linda McKeon, Nneoma Obisi, Shirley and Fred Prince, Regina and Ed Seale, Susan and Tim Strobel, Kathy Wadley, Phil and Linda Wetz, Verladyne Williams and Dawn York. Her family and friends strengthened her and were incredibly important in her life. Special thanks, also, to Dr. Robert Hust for his excellent care, friendship and concern these last several years.

She will have a private burial at Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Houston, Texas, with a memorial service at Pines Presbyterian Church at a time and date to be determined.

Memorials can be sent to Pines Presbyterian Church (12751 Kimberley Lane, Houston, TX 77024) or the charity of your choice.

Judy was a tireless volunteer for projects she believed in and a loyal daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She will be missed. Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care.