Harriet Jane Brooks Higginbotham

Born Thursday, October 5, 1939 in Dallas, TX. Swimmer. Equestrian. Counselor. Devoted wife. Loving mother and grandmother. Faithful worker in God’s kingdom. She was brought Home while she slept during the morning of Friday, July 21, 2023.

She spent her early years in Tyler, Texas, and enjoyed playing “Cops and Robbers” with her neighborhood friends...on horseback. She graduated from Tyler High School in 1957, where she was Senior Favorite and Senior Class Vice-President. In 1959 she was Duchess of Texas to the Tyler Rose Festival. She spent the summer of 1960 completing some college course work at the University of Hawaii. This included hula and religion. She graduated Southern Methodist University in 1961 where she was President of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, president of the Umphrey Lee Student Center, a Rotunda Favorite, a member of the Mortar Board, and Baptist Student Union Social Chairman. She was also a Homecoming Queen nominee. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Therapy and immediately applied her training in Dallas Independent School District.

She later served the Dallas Regional School for the Deaf at Stonewall Jackson Elementary School. She graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1989, earning her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Guidance. She was a Licensed Professional Counselor until she retired. She continued learning on her own terms through classes in Greek, which she applied to personal Scripture study. She married Larry Higginbotham on Nov 3, 1962. Together they taught and shepherded countless people in their church community. She remained devoted to him until his death.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Olin Darryl and Martha Brooks; husband Larry, and grandson Robert, Jr.

She is survived by 3 sons: Robert Higginbotham (wife Lucy) and their children, Mary Jane Higginbotham, Margaret Dittmar Higginbotham, and Harriet Anne Nussbaum (husband Mark Nussbaum); Scott Higginbotham; and Brooks (wife Celia) and their children, Joshua Higginbotham, Stephen Higginbotham (wife Falicity), Celia Elizabeth Higginbotham, and Arthur Brooks Higginbotham.

We miss you, Meemaw. We know you now behold your Savior face to face. Give Dad and Tex a hug for us.

She will be buried at Sparkman Hillcrest Cemetery on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 at 9:00 am, followed by the memorial service at Park Cities Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am.