Catherine Genelle Jennings

Catherine Genelle Jennings, of Abilene, passed away Saturday, December 20, 2008 at the age of 100. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. today, Monday, December 22, 2008, at the First Baptist Church Chapel, directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. November 15, 1908, Genelle was born in Abilene, Texas to the late William K. Jennings and Carrie (Christian) Jennings. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1926 and from Hardin-Simmons University in 1930. Genelle later went on to graduate from Texas Women's University in 1950 with a Master's Degree in Library Science. She was employed by the Abilene Independent School District for 42 years. During those 42 years, she taught at Travis Elementary School and then was the Librarian for 32 years for North Junior High School, which later became Franklin Junior High School. Genelle also volunteered teaching English as a second language through the city of Abilene. After her retirement, she was the assistant Librarian at Dyess for several years. Genelle was a lifelong resident of Abilene and was a member of First Baptist Church since 1921 where she was very active and served in many different capacities. She was a member of the Cowgirl Association at Hardin-Simmons University and former president of the Ex-HSU Cowgirls. Genelle was a longtime member of the Abilene Woman's Club. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and sisters-in-law, Walter G. Jennings and wife Ita Marie, W.K. Jennings and wife Maude, Leroy C. Jennings, Sr., and Jim H. Jennings and wife Hazel; and two nephews, Leroy C. Jennings, Jr. and William C. Jennings. Genelle is survived by one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Jennings, of Abilene; six nieces, Genie and Robert Carson, Janice and Gordon Asbury, Jr., Margaret and Glen Belew, Dorothy and Jim Urlaub, Barbara Jennings and Gladys Jensen; several great-nieces and nephews, as well as a number of extended family members and friends. "Auntie" was a loving mentor to all her nieces and nephews, and she has left a complete history of the Jennings/Christian families for the present and future generations. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Library, 1333 North 3rd, Abilene, Texas 79603 or to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas 79601.