Irma Jean Moody

Ninety-four years ago, on May 10, 1932, an energetic and lovely baby girl, Irma Jean Horne Moody, was born in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to Rev. Jake Horne and Virilla Pearson Horne. Irma was the fourth child of six children.

When Irma’s parents moved from Oklahoma to Texas, her father organized Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas. After several years, the family moved to Chester, Texas where Irma accepted Christ and was baptized at nine years of age by her Pastor, Rev. Nicholson.

Eventually, during the 1940’s, her family settled in Dickinson, Texas, and joined Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. Irma was a faithful member at Mt. Carmel throughout the years. She helped the youth prepare for holiday programs, served as secretary of the Church, sang in the Choir, and was a member of the Women’s Mission under several pastors prior to the present leadership of Pastor Lewis D. Little, Sr. Irma Jean Horne Moody was also the “Mother of the Church,” at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church until she departed this earthly home.

Irma was extremely enthusiastic about attending Sunday School and church. She was an avid and knowledgeable Bible scholar and studied her Bible daily. As a prayer warrior and wise mentor, Irma was always willing to help others to understand and find a particular scripture in the Bible. She was even able to recite the Books of the Bible forward as well as backwards!

While attending Dunbar High School, Irma enjoyed playing basketball. Upon graduating from Dunbar, she enrolled in Prairie View A&M College of Texas majoring in Home Economics and was a member of the PV basketball team. She was a seamstress in the community of Dickinson as well as a dedicated and skilled Vocational Nurse. Irma worked at several surrounding hospitals including John Sealy, St. Mary’s in Galveston, and Alvin General Hospital. She retired in 1996, from Clear Lake Hospital in Webster. Irma enjoyed traveling as long as it was not by airplane! She loved singing to her children, singing solos for programs at other churches, and singing praises to the Lord! Irma Jean Horne Moody sang and praised God daily throughout her illness.

Irma was united in marriage to Bennie Ray Moody for twenty-nine years until God called him home. She was a loving wife, a nurturing yet firm and compassionate mother and aunt. Children loved to be in her presence. Irma had an endearing and affectionate bond with her sisters, adored her family, and was a devoted daughter although sometimes mischievous as a child. Helping her father with outdoor chores suited her, as opposed to cooking in the kitchen with her mother. She enjoyed building, repairing, and mowing the lawn with the old-fashioned lawn mower (no motor) with her dad, and she diligently mowed her own huge lawn until the age of ninety-one. She finally stopped after her children lovingly insisted that she release the lawn mower handle! Irma Jean Horne Moody was creative and generous, exhibited unconditional love for all, and truly lived for Christ! “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, KJV)

Irma was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie Ray Moody; father and mother, Jake, and Virilla Horne; son, Robert D. Jenkins, Jr.; and sisters, Essie Taylor, and Doretha Mack.

Her loving memory will live on in the hearts of her beloved children, Beverly Hatchett-Nays (Yumi), Jerry Jenkins (Celeste), Gregory Jenkins; her sisters, Annie Lou Ellis and Catherine Turner; seven (7) grandchildren; eleven (11) great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends, and her Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church Family.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Dickinson, Texas with a service to start at 11:00 am and a reception to follow. Graveside service to be held at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, Texas on Monday, September 21, 2026 at 12:30 pm.