Mary Loretta Singletary

Mary Loretta Singletary (Bacon) was born on July 22, 1943, in Houston, Texas. Loretta was the eighth child out of ten children born to Leslie and Margaret Bacon. She was the youngest of six daughters born to this union. Loretta graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She was a majorette in the school band, which was one of her many school activities.  After high school Loretta moved to Los Angeles, California where she attended Los Angeles City College before moving back to Houston. In August of 1963, she migrated back to Los Angeles, California with the rest of her siblings. She spent most of her adulthood in Los Angeles. Loretta was a people person with a welcoming smile for all. Her career choices were well suited for her personality. From a previous union, Loretta bore two girls Kimberly Ann and Lisa Renee’.  For a number of years she was employed in the medical field at a private physician’s office. She did administrative work which frequently brought her in contact with patients. Both patients and staff loved her for her upbeat personality, encouragement and understanding of their particular situations. Loretta married Julius Tyrone Singletary, her high school sweetheart, on August 26, 1992 in Los Angeles after which she moved back to Houston, Texas. She remained in Houston for the duration of her life. In Houston, she was employed as a Senior Administrative Assistant at Texas Southern University until she retired. This position was well suited for her outgoing personality, infectious smile, and helpful persona. Loretta had a gifted voice for singing which started early in life. She sang in the church choir at her childhood parish, St. Anne De Beaupre Catholic Church in Houston, and then Ascension Catholic Church in Los Angeles, and finally Holy Family Catholic Church in Missouri City, Texas. It was uplifting to hear her sing. She loved gospel music.  Her faith in God also began as a child because of her devout Catholic mother. Over the years, her faith in God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit deepened. She studied the Bible often for wisdom, understanding, comfort and direction in her life.  Loretta was a prayerful person. During her illness her faith did not waiver. She prayed with family, friends, and strangers. On one occasion, she was in the store and a woman who was obviously in distress opened up to her about her problems. Loretta listened attentively and afterward asked her if she would like to pray with her. The woman responded “oh yes, please pray with me.” She led them in prayer. Her prayers were always spontaneous and soothing. After praying with Loretta, one just knew things would be better. Loretta had a persistent way of making the quiet ones come out of their shell. Her nieces and nephews found her most enjoyable. When she told a joke, she would be the first to laugh. She loved to dance and insisted that you dance too. If a new dance was out, she wanted to learn it. She was full of life. Loretta was such a part of the lives of family and friends. It’s difficult to comprehend that she is no longer with us in this life. She was very private about her illness which eventually took her life. Loretta will surely be missed, but not forgotten. Loretta is survived by her husband Julius Tyrone Singletary; two daughters, Lisa Renee’ Bickems (Glaze) and Kimberly Ann Gay (Glaze), step-daughter Dr. Kellye Singletary-Cunningham; grand children Jalen and Tyler Bickems, Reginald James Gay, step-grand children Malcolm and Danielle Jones; brothers Leslie and Anthony Bacon; sisters Carlos Ann Butler and Cynthia Covington, brother in law Robert Covington and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. Loretta was preceded in death by her parents Leslie and Margaret Bacon (Syon), her siblings, Geraldine Bacon, Dorothy Ingram (Bacon), Patricia Roberts (Bacon), Martin Bacon, Isaac Bacon, and son-in-law, Reginald Gay. Rest in peace