Lamar County Texas Cemetery Records

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Braswell, Rachel Clark (Howison) 154100

Birth: 04/16/1930 Death: 06/25/2018 Marriage: TWICE

Cemetery: Evergreen (36-44-03)

Record Source: Headstone, The Paris News

See Image Braswell, Rachel Clark
See Image Braswell Family Marker
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If you copy this information, please cite this as your source:

Betsy Mills and Ron Brothers. The Death and Cemetery Records of Lamar County, Texas, ReBroMa Press, 2008, http://www.lamarcountytx.org/cemetery. (12/17/2025)

Notes

THE PARIS NEWS, Friday, 29 Jun 1918: “Rachel Clark Braswell, age 88, died Monday, June 25, 2018, at her home.
     Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 28 from 6-8 p.m. at Pryor-Roden Funeral Home and services will be held on Friday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Paris.
     Interment to follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
     Rachel was preceded in death by her parents, Buck Morrison Clark and Louise Hill Clark; her first husband, Henry G. Braswell; her second husband, John M. Howison; her sister, Donna Johnson and cousin, Margaret Jane Lyday.
     Rachel is survived by her daughters, Lauren Braswell (Chris Fondell) and Amy Burrows (Rob Robertson), as well as her step-children, Martha Howison, Steve Howison (Nancy) and John Howison (Sheila). She is also survived by beloved grandchildren, Dayna Rachel Fondell, William Henry Fondell, Jill Suzanne Nutt (Josh), Shannon Braswell Burrows; and former son-in-law, Steve Burrows. In addition, she leaves behind niece, Lea Dunn (Jeff) and nephews, Byron Johnson (Staci) and Richard Johnson (Patricia); as well as great-nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends. She is also survived by a most adored dog, Willy Nelson Mandela.
     Rachel was born in 1930 in the family’s home in Blossom, Texas.
     She attended Blossom schools, graduating as valedictorian of her high school class. Rachel loved growing up in Blossom and relished telling stories of the adventures she had with her sister, cousins and Blossom friends as they created their own fun during hot Texas summers.
     Rachel attended Paris Junior College (PJC) where she met Henry Braswell. Rachel then attended and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin. At UT, her involvement with the University YWCA and the University Baptist Church inspired her to work for civil rights for all, and from 1950 until her last days she was an advocate for equal justice and equal opportunity, especially educational opportunity, for all of God’s children. As a working mother, she later completed two Masters degrees from what is now Texas A & M at Commerce.
     Rachel and Henry married on Nov. 23, 1953 and lived most of their married life in Paris, with the exception of four years in Austin, Texas.
     Rachel taught high school and 8th grade prior to taking time from her career to raise her daughters. After a 10 year hiatus, she returned to work with the Paris Independent School District (PISD), teaching fourth grade and special programs for homebound students and students who were pregnant.
     After earning her Masters degrees, Rachel worked as a special education counselor, eventually becoming the director of special education services for PISD. Through these years, she was also an active leader in the Texas State Teachers Association. Working in special education was a true calling for Rachel. She was committed to providing each child with the best education possible. She loved working with her PISD students and colleagues. She retired in 1991 to care for Henry during his battle with cancer until his death in 1992.
     In 1997, Rachel married John Howison of Bogata. John and Rachel enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends, and participating in activities in both Paris and Bogata.
     In addition to being a wonderful mother, supportive grandmother and dedicated educational professional, Rachel maintained an active life in the community. At various points in her life she was very engaged with the Paris Modern Music Club, the Paris YWCA, the United Way, the First United Methodist Church, the NAACP, the Lamar County Democratic Party, the Paris Education Foundation, Red River Valley Council for the Aid of Persons with Mental Problems, Habitat for Humanity, the Housing Authority of the City of Paris, and the PJC Alumni Association. She was also deeply honored to serve as a member of the PJC Board of Regents and to be recognized as a distinguished alumnus of PJC.
     Family, friends and colleagues have all been blessed by Rachel’s radiant smile, generous nature, and unfailing hope for all. Even as disease impaired her sharp and curious mind, she maintained her positive and loving nature.
     The entire family is very grateful for the care provided by Martha Howison who made it possible for both John and Rachel to remain in their home until the end of their days on earth. We are also very appreciative of the special care provided by Christi Bruce over the past year and for the more recent assistance of Gail Turner, both of On-Call Eldercare. Special thanks are due to Summit Hospice Services for their attentive and supportive care in the last weeks of Rachel’s life.
     In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial donations to either Paris Education Foundation-Braswell Scholarship, at 2255 South Collegiate (PHS), P. O. Box 356, Paris, TX 75461 or the PJC Memorial Foundation –Braswell Scholarship, at 2400 Clarksville St., Paris, TX 75460 are suggested.”

THE PARIS NEWS, Friday, 29 Jun 1918: “Life of Service With a Smile”
     Paris lost a jewel of a woman when Rachel Braswell left for Heaven early Monday.
     Her smile, her contagious attitude, her encouragement, her love for children, her wit and her leadership abilities will all be missed by those who knew her. Our community will miss her influence.
     However, her legacy will remain at Paris Independent School District, Paris Junior College and the many organizations she contributed to for so many years.
     Both former Paris ISD Superintendent Elaine Ballard and Paris Junior College President Pam Anglin share in this tribute to a remarkable woman.
     ‘Rachel Braswell was a dear, dear person in every way both inside and outside the workplace,’ Ballard said. ’There are not enough words of praise to describe Rachel. She was always upbeat and positive with the most energy of anyone I ever worked with. She loved everybody, and everybody loved her. She was always happy, friendly, sweet-spirited, and refreshing to be around.
     ’She served Paris ISD as a teacher and counselor prior to becoming Special Education Director. She performed her job to perfection. If a problem arose, Rachel could solve it with her great communication skills and her big, genuine smile. She was a caring, dedicated educator and greatly respected by students, teachers, parents, and other administrators.
     ‘When Rachel retired in 1991 after 25 years in the school district, it was a great loss for PISD. Now with her passing, it is a great loss to the Paris community. We will all miss her pats and rubs on the back and her big smile.’
     Anglin recalled Braswell as a member of the PJC Board of Regents who she interviewed in 2003.
     ’I quickly learned that she believed strongly in education and the open door philosophy and purpose of the community college. Providing all individuals the opportunity to be educated and better themselves was very important to her. She was small in stature but a giant advocate and leader.
     ’A few of the adjectives that I would use to describe Mrs. Braswell are smart, strong, tough, wise and witty. She had attended PJC and loved to tell me stories about her days attending the college, the activities she participated in and meeting Henry Braswell. She also shared stories with me about her time at the University of Texas and living in a co-op with a number of other young women. She was a woman ahead of her time.
     ’Mrs. Braswell cared about Paris Junior College. She was a force to be reckoned with when she wanted to right a wrong and advocated for under-served populations. She cared about her community and worked to make both a better place. She mentored me to navigate the challenges of being the first female president of Paris Junior College.
     ’Mrs. Braswell served from 2002 to 2011 as a PJC Regent. During that time, I had the great fortune of attending community college workshops for regents with her. She was always interested in learning and embraced new ideas and research findings that could help the college serve students more effectively.
     ‘She lived life to the fullest and had a huge impact on education in Paris through PISD and PJC. I will always treasure knowing her, remember her contagious smile, her laugh and her encouraging words. She will be greatly missed and always loved.’
     As a reporter and friend, I spent a November afternoon not too many years ago visiting in her home. I experienced her warm hospitality, her cheerful nature, her smile and an excellent cup of coffee. And yes, I remember her gentle pats on the back.
     I regret never meeting her husband, 6th District Judge Henry Braswell, who served this county for 23 years. I can only imagine what a powerful force the two of them must have been. Judge Braswell is remembered for his fairness, friendliness and humor in an endowed Paris Education Foundation scholarship. Those are some of the same characteristics we remember about Rachel Braswell. Perhaps her quick wit came from years of friendly exchanges with the judge.”

On the same stone with Henry Gordon Braswell.

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