Britta Cobb

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Emma Badders, and by her late husband, Jimmy Cobb. She is survived by her three children, Molly (Win) Burkett, Jeff (Naomi) Muckleroy, and Erin (Jason) Golan; her ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and countless friends and admirers.

From her early days as a ballerina at Widman School of Dance in Beaumont to her final days at the Querencia in Austin, Britta was a star. She had the gift of gab and enjoyed nothing more than catching up with loved ones, telling stories and cracking jokes all night long. Britta was a devout Methodist and joined the First United Methodist Church in every place she lived without fail. From Jasper to Sugar Land to Austin, she was an active member of the church, always telling fellow parishioners that she was happy to volunteer for any event but for everyone’s benefit she would not be joining the choir.

A woman of many talents, Britta worked hard at local government offices in Jasper, volunteered with hospice for many years, taught herself to play the dulcimer and made a mean pot of gumbo, but her best-known role was that of “Mimi” to her grandchildren and all their friends. As Mimi, Britta showed up. She never missed a game, performance, school carnival, graduation, recital, or race, always dressing the most festively and cheering the loudest. She never met a stranger and if you spotted her in a crowd at any event, you could bet she would be holding court, surrounded by new friends, keeping them laughing and hanging on her every word. She made such an impression on everyone she met that even after a brief encounter with her, her children and grandchildren’s friends remembered her vividly and always asked if she could come to their next party. Her grandchildren will never forget that she always recalled all their friends’ names, encouraging them to keep in touch when they moved from Texas to California and back. This was Mimi in a nutshell: a quick wit and flawless manners, instilling her children and grandchildren with both grace and a good sense of humor.

Mimi was our matriarch and the pillar of our family. She gave us a shoulder to cry on when we needed it but adored a celebration most of all. While we will miss her terribly, we honor her memory by celebrating her life in a private ceremony with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family owes a debt of gratitude to Britta’s hospice caregivers. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you donate to your local hospice.