Maxine Yawn Hillman

Maxine Yawn Hillman, a long-time resident of Sugar Land, Texas, passed away January 8th, 2017 at the age of 87. Born December 15th, 1929 in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, Maxine attended Co-Lin Community College, where she met the love of her life and future husband, Grady Hillman. She graduated as a registered nurse from Tulane University and worked for a few years while she and Grady started their family. Maxine then turned her attention and devotion full time to her family and to supporting Grady’s career in the oilfield services industry, living overseas at times and traveling world-wide, always making lifelong friends along the way. Grady’s successful career was due in large part to Maxine’s excellence in extending the warm Hillman hospitality and friendship to clients, friends, family and even total strangers. A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was also an avid bridge player, an excellent cook, and especially enjoyed ballroom dancing with Grady. Although a member of many organizations, it was in the Houston Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Auxiliary that she was the most active, holding many positions over the years, and making many of her closest lifelong friends. After his retirement from Schlumberger, Grady and Maxine continued to reside in Sugar Creek where they were members of Sugar Creek Country Club for over 30 years. Maxine was an authentic Southern lady, with a keen sense of humor, and her gracious and kind personality made everyone that entered their home feel welcome. When you met Maxine, her big smile immediately put you at ease and you knew you had made a new friend. With Maxine’s talent for cooking, they were famous among friends and clients for their dinner parties and Mardi Gras brunches, although she could also whip up a quick meal for the unexpected guest that Grady would inevitably show up with after a round of golf. But what she enjoyed more than anything else was having the Hillman house filled with the love and laughter of their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her, especially her children, Grady Hillman Jr. (Mandy), Marsha Winstead, Sandra Lowe (Dean), and Tracy Yemma (Bill), nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Maxine was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Grady Hillman, and her grandson Wesley Winstead. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff and residents of The Sycamores in Sugar Land, for their loving care and friendship to Maxine the past two years. A memorial service to honor Maxine will be held on Saturday, January 14th, at 3:00 pm at Christ United Methodist Church, 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Houston Area Parkinson Society, 2700 Southwest Freeway, Suite 296, Houston, Texas 77098.

Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day, Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.