Socorro V. Barajas

She and her husband, Manuel Barajas and their daughters moved to Houston in 1963. Mrs. Barajas known to family as Sockie and to friends as Bea, or Mrs. B.

Mrs. Barajas was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great great grandmother. She was a very strong confidant woman ahead of her time. She was a natural leader that positively impacted many people through her work as a social worker, educator, and volunteer.

Anything she put her mind to she accomplished. She was a strong role model for her daughters and many who crossed her path. Mrs. Barajas loved children and started a free pre-school for neighborhood children in her community in McAllen, Texas. She went on to teach elementary school with the Catholic Diocese of McAllen. She held various leadership positions in the PTA, was active in her children’s school activities and did fundraising and volunteered for her local church.

After moving to Houston, she volunteered for Neighborhood Centers, Inc. and was hired as a social worker with them. She retired from that agency after a long successful career. After retirement, she was an active member of the Magnolia Senior Center as a participant and also helping many of her peers with navigating government forms and programs, teaching arts and crafts, and doing whatever needed doing. She was admired by many for her varied skills, resourcefulness, and willingness to help anyone in need.

She is survived by her beloved and loving husband, Manuel Barajas, daughters Gloria Barajas of Arlington, VA and Marinela Anderson; grandsons Officer Steve Leija, Manuel and Emilio Barajas-Alexander of Arlington, VA, great granddaughter Alyssa M. Leija; and sons-in-law Rodney Anderson, John Leija, and Gordon Alexander also of Arlington, VA. She was preceded in death by her mother Manuela Hinojosa Renteria, stepfather Filiberto Renteria, daughter Melva B. Leija, and most recently by her grandson, John Michael Leija.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. followed by a funeral service and internment at 2 p.m. at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, Texas.

A reception will follow internment at the Forest Park Funeral Home.