Laudene Todd

Laudene Todd lived a long, happy, eventful life in the community she loved best among the many people she admired, respected and loved. Trenton was not only her home, it was her world! She made it a point to know everyone. And if you were new to town, she introduced herself and invited you to visit the First Baptist Church. After all, everyone needed a church home and her's was the best regardless of your own personal beliefs. And whether or not you could sing, you were invited to join the choir.

Laudene taught a Sunday School class for around seventy-five years. As the members of the class got older, they just changed the class name, stayed in the same room and continued doing what they had always done. After all, age was only a number. She sang in the alto section of the choir all her life and when a choir director was needed she stepped in to fill the void. Of all the music sung over the years, the Christmas and Easter music were her favorites.

Laudene loved her family, her church, Burns Cemetery and Trenton and its people...not necessarily in that order. She would stop whatever she was doing when anyone dropped in to visit (because she loved company and the latest gossip) and her phones were as necessary as life itself. Trenton's Homecoming was another intricate part of her life. She enjoyed having everyone back in town. She got to visit with the people she hadn't seen in two years. Her firm belief was that everyone ought to be proud they were raised in Trenton because of its rich history, strong values and good schools.

As with most Trentonites, Laudene enjoyed HER Trenton Tribune. If she had not received her paper on Wednesday, she was calling to find out why it had not been delivered. Many times Tom Mc would hand deliver her paper so she would not miss out on Trenton's news, get the names of people who donated to the cemetery, and have a GOOD LONG visit with him.

Above all, Laudene enjoyed the Community Center with its people, food and fellowship. It gave her a place to demonstrate her skill with dominoes. She loved a "hot" game of dominoes almost as much as she enjoyed winning. Now, the old gang made up of Bobby and Joy Connelly, Johnnie Mae and Burris Butler, Oletha and R. D. Butler, Norma Jean and Tex Robinson and Bonnie Brown.are gathered around tables in heaven playing dominoes, laughing and enjoying themselves once again. We can promise you fish and potatoes are being fried, coleslaw is being made, hot rolls are in the oven and ice cream is being churned.

She spent many, many years running the City Beauty Shop washing, rolling, giving permanents and cutting everyone's hair. Since she had so much practice working on earthly clients, we're sure there is a salon in heaven where she can (on occasion) help an angel out by doing the hair of the members of the heavenly host. And if God allows gossip in heaven, Laudene knows every story about each and every angel.

Laudene joins her husband, John Thomas Todd, and son, Ronald Thomas Todd, in heaven where they are enjoying a glorious reunion. Also greeting her will be her mother (Nancy Lavada Fowler), her father (Robert Lee Fowler), her sister and her husband (Ruth and Eldon Daugherty), her brother and his wife (Thomas and Ellen Fowler) and her baby sister (Lois Lavon Fowler). They were such a loving, caring family who enjoyed each other, games, playing the piano, singing and just visiting. Now, they are together singing and celebrating in God's loving kingdom! Also Laudene joins a very special sister and brother formed by a bond of love many years in the making: Paula and Lyndel Aldridge.

Laudene leaves behind a daughter, Donna Todd, a son and his wife Gailen and Carla Todd and a daughter-in-law by proxy, Debbie Hayes. Caring grandchildren and their families include Nechia Porter, Todd and Robin Porter, Billy and Wendy Treadway, Kristi and Mark Boggess, and Delynda and Henry Baker. Great grandchildren include Alechia Neathery and Brett Harris, Keri and Chad Davis, Ashley Porter and Chris Lawrence, Ciara and Michael Ross, Taylor Nowlin, Kris Lemons, Jordan Smith, Nathan and Nikki Henry, Seth Henry, Tyler Holman, Colt Henry, Grant Flippo, Hailey Boggess and Jamie Boggess. She was so proud of her great-great children and truly loved introducing them to everyone and expounding on their many accomplishments: Brooklynn Porter, Maddison and Olivia Ross, Jase Davis and Blaine Henry.

Even though we selfishly would have liked to keep Mimmie with us for a while longer, we know that God welcomed her with open arms and has given her a place in the alto section of the heavenly choir. We're also sure that Mim will have the choir stop singing long enough to listen when we carol through Trenton at Christmas. (It never mattered just how horrible we sounded singing Carols, Mimmie thought we made beautiful music.)

Mimmie (Laudene Todd) was born in Trenton, Texas November 1, 1922. She attended the Trenton schools where she played basketball for the Cubs Basketball team. She was a member of the Spanish, Homemaking and Music Clubs. She wrote for the school newspaper, the Broadcaster and was a member of the yearbook staff, The Trentonian. Mimmie graduated in 1939. She earned her cosmetology license in 1941 and delighted working in her profession for the remainder of her life.

Mimmie's family would like to invite their friends to celebrate her amazing life at Trenton's Community Center, Sunday night, June 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Not only will this be a time to honor a long and wonderful life, there will be a memory book for guests to sign. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Burns Cemetery at 2:00 on Monday afternoon, June 26. Officiating the service will be Brother Nathan Clinkscales, Music will provided by Tom Mac Holmes.

Because Mimmie, Norma Jean, Oletha, Joy and Johnnie Mae worked tirelessly for so many years with the youth of The First Baptist Church, the family requests that donations be made to the youth building fund so that our future generations can enjoy all her special church has to offer. (Address: Youth Building Fund, First Baptist Church, Second Street, Trenton, Tx. 75490)