“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”
2 Corinthians 5:8
Colleen was born in Dyersburg, Tennessee on April 8, 1938. After graduating high school Colleen attended Baylor University where she met her beloved husband, Dave. They fell in love and were married September 14, 1958. Throughout their 59 years of marriage, Colleen and Dave had a special meeting time. Dave would say to Colleen, “Meet me at 7:07.” On the morning of February 22, God’s beautiful child, Colleen, met her precious Dave at 7:07. Upon Dave’s graduation from Baylor, Colleen and Dave moved to Dallas where Colleen enrolled at Southern Methodist University; receiving her Bachelor degree in advertising in 1960. They later moved to Odessa, Texas where their son, Mark, was born.
Colleen and her husband then moved to Houston, Texas in 1965 and became members of Tallowood Baptist Church in March 1966. Tallowood was to become their church home.
Colleen and Dave moved to the Memorial area of Houston in 1966 where Colleen and her family resided for the last 54 years of her life. The following year, Colleen gave birth to their youngest child, Nancy. Colleen was a well known and loved member of the Memorial community. Her love of nature, plants, and gardening compelled her to become a Charter member of the Sprig & Sprout Garden Club for 54 years, serving as its President from 1975-1976.
Colleen was also a member of the Wilchester West Women’s Club hosting home tours in 1972 and 2007. She had a special way of making a house feel like a home; Colleen Newcomb’s home was always full of love.
Colleen’s children, Mark and Nancy, gave her great joy and she was happiest when she was able to be involved in their lives and extracurricular activities. She taught Vacation Bible School and was a Troop Leader of Girl Scout Troop 1356. She attended Nancy’s ballet recitals and cheered enthusiastically at Mark’s baseball games. She was a constant, consistent, and loving presence in their lives; someone they could always count on.
She was a member of Stitchery Group and served as Docent to Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and Docent for the Heritage Society Foundation.
Colleen, a gifted teacher, taught 7th Grade Language Arts at Spring Branch Middle School from 1992 – 2002 and was a Spring Branch School District Teacher of the Year recipient during her tenure in the district. Colleen was a member of the Wilchester Antique Study Group and served as President from 2003–2006.
Colleen, an avid reader, was a member of the Wilchester West Book Club. She also enjoyed being a member of the “Lunch Bunch” with her lifelong friends. She was blessed to have many close, personal friends with whom she shared her life, love, thoughts, hopes, and dreams. She opened her loving heart and shared her aspirations and disappointments; her inspiration, and her blessings.
Colleen loved the Lord and was privileged to serve Tallowood Baptist Church as a Sunday school teacher for the Abundant Life class from 2006-2021. Preparing her Sunday school lessons and teaching Sunday school was one of her greatest joys. Teaching was a rewarding experience for Colleen and it strengthened and deepened her faith and her love of God’s word.
Colleen was the consummate homemaker as she loved gardening, cooking, and entertaining. She derived great joy from having family gatherings and she had a gift for making every occasion and holiday memorable and special.
Colleen was kind, gentle, compassionate, loving, patient, funny, sweet, genuine, and beautiful on the inside and out. Her family, friends, and loved ones will forever be changed by her presence in their lives. They will miss her every day until all are reunited with her in Heaven.
Colleen was preceded in death by her devoted and beloved husband of 59 years, David Allen Newcomb; her mother, Maurine Lanier Childress; her father, Fred Childress; her sister Laura Childress Dill, and her sister Carolyn Childress Dickerson, all of whom are waiting for her in Heaven for a joyous reunion.
Colleen was loved beyond measure and is survived by her two children, Mark and Nancy, and by her daughter-in-law, Esther and son-in-law, William. She was a wonderful Grand Ma to her grandchildren: Sergio, Daniel, Lizzy and Michael, and a great-Grand Ma to Jacob, Joshua, Domingo and Razner.
Colleen led a full and amazing life which will be celebrated on Thursday, March 11, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel at Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood Road, Houston, Texas 77024. The service will be livestreamed as well at: www.tallowood.org/live.
Immediately following the celebration of Colleen’s life, there will be a reception at the Tallowood Baptist Church. Colleen will be entombed next to her husband in the Texas Liberty Mausoleum at Memorial Oaks Cemetery. You may visit www.dignitymemorial.com to leave words of condolence for the family.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the following:
Fred and Maurine Childress Endowed Scholarship Fund, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, TX 76798-7050 or online at baylor.edu/give. For online gifts, click “Featured” and then type “Fred and Maurine Childress” in the “Select Funds” box. Please note the gift is in memory of Colleen Childress Newcomb.
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