Joseph Marion Bracewell

ELIZABETH WEAVER BRACEWELL passed away on Saturday, the 28th of November 2009. at her home in Houston, Texas. She was a member of Second Baptist Church and the Encouragers Class. Elizabeth was a native Houstonian, born in the Heights on the 25th of November 1920. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Weaver and Lizzie Lacy, as well as her husband, Searcy Bracewell, a prominent attorney and former State Senator. Elizabeth and Searcy enjoyed more than sixty years of happy married life together. A graduate of Sam Houston High School, Elizabeth was a founding member and third president of the Houston Junior Forum. A legal secretary before she met and married Searcy in 1940, Elizabeth was a meticulous record-keeper and organizer who exercised her artistic vision in everything she did. While Searcy was overseas during World War II, she began studying art and was a prolific painter throughout her life. She was also an avid collector of Early American antiques. From 1969 to 1971, she served as president of the Harris County Heritage Society where she was instrumental in the Society's development o f Sam Houston Park. Elizabeth is survived by her son Joe Bracewell and his wife Peggy of Washington , D.C., her daughter Betsy Machac and her husband David of Roans Prairie, Texas, her seven grandchildren Eric Machac and his wife Staci, Clare Bracewell and her husband Jeff Schmitt, Melissa Machac and her husband Rick Burleson, Stephanie Machac and her husband Kent Boring, Patrick Bracewell and his wife Meghan, Charles Bracewell, and Jacob Machac, her four great-grandchildren Crystal Machac Scheinost, Courtney Machac, Henry Joseph Schmitt, and James Bracewell Schmitt, and her great-great grandson Owen Maxwell Scheinost. Other survivors include her niece Lyn Bracewell and her husband Judge Tom Phillips and their sons Thomas Kirkham and Daniel Phillips, and her nephew Brad Bracewell and his wife Kathy and their children Bradley, Laynie, Mollie, and Edward. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six until eight o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 16th of December, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. All are invited to join the family at the graveside service to be conducted at ten o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 17th of December, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale Avenue in Houston. A uniformed steward from Geo. H. Lewis & Sons is to be positioned at the cemetery's entrance so as to guide guests to the interment site. A memorial service is to be conducted at one o'clock in the afternoon, also on Thursday, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston. In lieu of usual remembrances, kindly consider donations in Elizabeth's memory to the Music Ministry of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas, 77057.

Houston Chronical