Vesta Elberta Hammonds

Vesta Elberta “Bertie” Hammonds, age 95, of Kingwood, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, January 28, 2026, at her residence. She was born on September 16, 1930, in Chandler, Arizona, a daughter of the late Leora and Alfred Meyer.

Bertie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harvey Dean Hammonds, her brothers Burton and Delbert Meyer and her sisters Velma and Veda Meyer.

Bertie is survived by three sons, Gregory Hammonds of Kingwood, Jeffry Hammonds (Michelle) of Kingwood, and Bret Hammonds (Cindy) of North Richland Hills; Grandchildren, Remington, Jacob, Tyler, Chance, Kyle, Garrett; Great grandchildren, Dakota, Fennec.

Bertie met Harvey in June 1952. She had graduated from Texas Tech in May and went straight to Morton to teach Home Making. Harvey was the parts man in the John Deere store. Bertie and another teacher rented one side of a duplex next door to a funeral home. The owners of the funeral home thought Bertie and her roommate should meet Harvey. In Bertie’s words, “from the time we met, there was never anyone else for either of us.” Ten months after they met, they were married in Clovis, New Mexico. The preacher received $5 for marrying them and lucky to get that. They were married on April 3rd, and Harvey’s birthday was April 4th. Bertie said she was his birthday gift – one he would keep for the rest of his life.

Seven months after the “I do’s”, Harvey was drafted into the Army for two very long years. Bertie stayed in Morton teaching at school. When Harvey came home from Japan, their debts were all paid and there was money in the bank. A few months later, Harvey took the Post Office Exam, passed, and they moved to Houston. After 8 ½ years, they adopted Greg. Then two years later they adopted Jeff. Then, just 9 months and 22 days later, Bret made his grand entrance into the family. Bertie stopped working outside the home and spent the best years of her life raising her much wanted family.

Fast forward, they had 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren who they thought were the greatest.

After Harvey passed away in 2005, it was 10 months before she moved her sister Veda in with her. Bertie was also working as a docent at the Humble Museum and retired after 10 years. She needed to work 10 years so she could collect her own social security. Bertie needed help with Veda so Jeff would go over to their apartment and work from their dining room table – and keep an eye on his aunt. Bertie and Veda eventually moved in with Jeff and Michelle, after an addition had been built so they could have their own space – but be close enough to get help if they needed it.

When Harvey and Bertie moved to Houston in 1956, they started meeting with the Sunset Heights congregation except for a period when they helped establish a congregation in Baytown and then an attempt to start a congregation on Miller Road #2 in East Houston.

Bertie cherished and loved her Christian brothers and sisters; she sat through a lot of services even when she couldn’t hear what was being said much less see what was going on. Being partially deaf and blind, she did the best she could and never complained about the health issues that life had given her.

She loved God, , she loved her Harvey, she loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved her church family, and she loved her friends.

A visitation will be held on February 7, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Fairbanks Church of Christ, located at 7710 Fairbanks North Houston Rd, Houston, TX 77040.

The funeral service will follow at the same venue from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A committal service will take place on February 7, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm at Brookside Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 13747 Eastex Fwy, Houston, TX 77039.