Martha Agnes (McMillan) Brazil
April 29, 1935 - June 23, 2010
Martha Agnes McMillan Brazil was born on April 29, 1935 in San Angelo, Texas to Aubrey Wheeler McMillan and Mamie Agnes Hill McMillan. She passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2010 in Lufkin. She graduated from San Angelo High School in 1952. She graduated from Baylor University in 1956 with a BA degree and was certified to teach in the public schools. Although she was raised in West Texas, she had many family ties to East Texas. Her father was from Cushing, TX and her mother was from Appleby, Texas in Nacogdoches County. She was a descendent of the Coon family, a prominent family of early settlers in Nacogdoches County.
She married Dan McCall Brazil on November 17, 1956 and moved to Lufkin. She immediately joined several organizations, including a music club and the Lufkin Service League. She remains a sustainer in the Junior League and always supported the League by singing in and accompanying several Follies productions. A fond memory was when the League brought Helen Corbet to Lufkin to present a cooking show at the Pines Theater. Mrs. Brazil taught music at St. Cyprian's School before beginning to teach private lessons in Speech, Piano, Organ and Violin. She also taught organ lessons at the Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin, TX. She even drove to Tyler to play the violin in the symphony, as that was the nearest at the time.
She directed plays for the Lufkin Community Playhouse and later Community Theater at Angelina College. She strongly supported the arts by being an officer and working in Community Concerts for many years. She believed in bringing quality entertainment to Lufkin.
She began playing the organ at First Christian Church in 1958. She moved to First Baptist Church in 1965. She worked under many pastors: Rev. Sydney Spain (one of her favorites), Dr. Arthur Deloach, Dr. Charles S. McIlvene, Rick Williams, Dr. Nolan Duck, and Dr. Andy Pittman. Ministers of Music included Hugh Byrd, Howard Daniel, Bill Schann, Charles Hogan, Glenden Sanders, James Jones, Don Thrasher, Steve James, Brent Dyer and Perry McCain. She remained friends with all and continued to get phone calls and Christmas cards from all. She also worked in Vacation Bible School and directed the Youth Choir. Several of that group still contacted her regularly. She and her husband were directors of the College and Career Department for many years.
She also worked with the local Jaycees and directed several Miss Lufkin Pageants. Many have forgotten that the Lufkin Pageant was one of the strongest in the state. Lufkin even hosted a state pageant one year. Besides directing, she helped many girls with talent selections. She played the organ for high school productions directed by Tom Jack Lucas. She also played the violin with Dr. Turner's orchestra every year for the musical at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Martha was a loyal friend. Once she was your friend, she was your friend forever. Her childhood best friend Ethel Ann Gray Sneed was born on April 25, 1935 and she was born on the 29th. They lived next door to each other and even roomed together at Baylor. They recently celebrated their 75th birthdays together. She met long time friend Sarah Austin after moving to Lufkin and worked with her at First Baptist Church for over 35 years, with Martha on the organ and Sarah on the piano. They remained extremely close until Martha's death. Another college roommate, Billie Yount Lipscomb, has been there for Martha through her illness. That she was friends with people from all walks was one of Martha's best qualities. She could truly love a person no matter who they were. Her son-in-law always said the world would be a better place if everyone was like Martha. One of the happiest days of her life was when her Christmas Carol was born on Christmas Day 1959.
Heartfelt thanks go to Hospice in the Pines, Dr. Sid Roberts, Evett Hart, Napoleon, Melinda, nurses Cheryl, Teresa Blair, Frank and Peggy, and Regena and Gail at Castle Pines.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, John Aubrey McMillan; and her beloved dog Dickens.
Survivors include her husband, Dan; daughter Carol and husband Jack Brown of Gatesville, TX; sister-in-law, Sarah Jane Thames and brother-in-law, Dr. W. D. Thames, Jr.; nieces, Ina Jane Thames and Mary Anne Thames Clement and husband Jay and children Jake and Sarah of Austin, TX, Susan McMillan Wilson and husband Rodney of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jan McMillan Freeman and husband Steve of Corpus Christi, TX; and nephew, Miles Aubrey McMillan and wife Laura and children Miles Aubrey Jr., John and Sarah of Christoval, TX.
Memorial services for Martha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Lufkin's First Baptist Church, with Reverend Andrew G. Pittman officiating. Private family interment will precede the service in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.
Mrs. Brazil will lie in state at Gipson Funeral Home on Thursday and Friday until 5:00 p.m. each day.
Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com.
Gipson Funeral Home; directors