Catherine “Cathy” Bernice Jones Lamb, 71, died peacefully on Mar. 7, 2017, in Caldwell, TX. Throughout her life she was known for her patience, kindness, and compassion, which she demonstrated through her care for family and friends, and through her volunteerism.
She was born on Jan. 7, 1946, in Washington, DC, the fourth and last child of Harry and Margaret “Margie” Jones. She grew up in the close-knit community of Capitol Heights, MD, and graduated from Central High School.
After high school, Cathy worked at the National Symphony Orchestra and GEICO Insurance. She married Charles Lamb on Jun. 29, 1969. They later lived in Georgia and Indiana where she worked as a bookkeeper and a restaurant hostess.
Cathy gave birth to her only child, Jennie Lynne Lamb, on Nov. 18, 1973, in Gainesville, GA. She moved with her family to Austin, TX, in 1975, where she attended Austin Community College and was a stay-at-home mom.
In 1981, she and Charles divorced and she moved back to Maryland with Jennie and her mother. She worked as a secretary at a real estate agency and later become a Realtor. She went on to work at the Naval Ordinance Station–Indian Head as an executive assistant before retiring on disability in 1990.
After her retirement, she moved to Florida, with her sister Peggy, and then back to Maryland, with her sister Rita. In both instances, she helped to care for her family.
In 2000, Cathy moved to College Station, TX, near Jennie. She was a member of the Senior Advisory Committee for the City of College Station, the St. Joseph’s Gold Medallion Club, and volunteered as hostess/coordinator for several Brazos Heritage Society holiday high teas. She continued her lifelong devotion to Christ as a member of First Baptist Church in College Station.
As her health declined further, Cathy moved to Crestview Terrace Apartments in Bryan, where she lived for almost 10 years, and enjoyed participating in potluck meals and Bible Study.
In Oct. 2016, she made the brave decision to entrust her care to Hospice Brazos Valley and moved to CHI St. Joseph’s Manor Skilled Nursing in Caldwell for the last six months of her life.
Her parents; her sister, Rita Redmon; her brother, Thomas Jones; and her ex-husband/friend, Charles Lamb, and his parents; preceded her in death. Her daughter, Jennie L. Lamb, and son-in-law, Martin A. Tapia III, of College Station; her sister, Peggy A. Senneville, of Fort Pierce, FL; several relatives; and many dear friends; survive her.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to the many doctors and nurses in the Brazos Valley that cared for Catherine over the last 17 years, especially the staffs of Crestview Retirement Community, Cornerstone Home Health, Hospice Brazos Valley, and CHI St. Joseph’s Manor Skilled Nursing in Caldwell.
A memorial service will be held on Sat., Mar. 18 at 3 pm in the “Margie’s Diner” dining hall at Crestview Terrace Apartments, 2501 E. Villa Maria, Bryan, TX 77802. A time of fellowship with refreshments, including hot tea and Cathy’s Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Jelly, will follow.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Brazos Valley (hospicebrazosvalley.org), The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity (lilithfund.org), or the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org). Cremation Services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation Centers in Bryan/College Station.
Its hard to say goodbye to a friend I have known for 65 years through good times and bad. no matter where Cathy was living we always kept in touch she had a loving attitude toward everyone and life in general. of all Margie’s children she had the sweetest personality and if you became her friend it was for life. I shall miss you catbird God keep you in his care