KCHS CBDHS EES Ex-Student Information

05/01/2026

Mr. Frank "Frogeye" Smith, Elder/Dansby Attendee

View Frank "Frogeye" Smith's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/01/2026

Mr. James Dickey, KCHS Class of 1955

Celebrate the life of James Dickey, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Robert E. Evans Funeral Home.

04/20/2026

Mrs. Ester Lee Pollard, KCHS Class member of 1955

View Ester Lee Pollard's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/24/2026

Mrs. Sylvia Randall Clark, Kilgore Colored High School Class of 1952

View Sylvia Randall Clark's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

03/24/2026

Mrs. Novella Lester, Kilgore Colored High School Class of 1950

Funeral services for Novella Lester, 91, of Overton, Texas, will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Harmony Pirtle Baptist Church with Rev. Lynnshya Ward as officiant and Rev. D. R. Coleman as eulogist. Burial will follow in Harmony Pirtle Baptist Cemetery. Victory Funeral Services of Kilgore is in charge of the services.

Novella was born in Overton, Texas, on May 20, 1934, to the parentage of Latessa Miles and Walter David Howard. She departed this life on March 18, 2026, at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home in Henderson, Texas.

As a child, she united with and was baptized at Harmony Pirtle Baptist Church. Upon relocating to Dallas, Texas, she became one of the founding members of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church and remained a faithful member as one of the last two surviving founding members until her demise. Before having to leave the area due to failing health, she served in the Mission, as a soloist in the choir, financial secretary, Mother of the Church, and wherever needed.

Her early education was garnered in the Kilgore Independent School District, with graduation in the Kilgore Colored High School Class of 1950. She was an active athletic student during her high school years as a basketball team member. Having to enter school at an early age in an effort to keep her Uncle Lorenzo from skipping school resulted in her graduating at the age of 16. Upon graduation, she attended Texas College in Tyler, Texas, seeking a degree in Nursing.

She experienced a long, fruitful working career with a 20-year stint at Beverly Hills Sanitarium and another 20 years of employment with retirement from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

She was married to Willie Lester from 1955 until he died in 1959.

Her parents, her son, Milfort Howard, her grandson, Chris Howard, her brothers, Mariel Harvey, Wendell Harvey, and Sentell Harvey all preceded her in death.

Left to mourn her passing are her son, Clayton Howard and his wife, Ann of Overton, TX; grandchildren, Quentin Riley of Longview, TX; Chezaray Howard of Overton, TX; Alaina Howard and Acacia Howard both of Dallas, TX; Rachel Howard of Jacksonville, FL; sisters, Jeanette Portley, Pauline Morgan and her husband, Augusta, and Chiketa Lilly and her husband, Larry all of Overton, TX; brothers, Larry Harvey and Gilbert Harvey both of Overton, TX; and Ronald Harvey and his wife, Vivian of Dunn Loring, VA; sister-in-law, Alice Harvey of Overton, TX; ten grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren; special friend, Barbara Ann Turpin of Grand Prairie, TX; and Joanne Sanders Lee of Dallas, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be held from noon until 1 p.m. prior to the funeral service at the church.

03/22/2026

Mrs. Betty "Boo" Louise Green Kenney, Kilgore Colored High School Class of 1951

Obituary for Betty Green Kenney Betty Green Kenney, affectionately known by many as Betty Boo and lovingly called Mama Betty, peacefully departed this life on March 13, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on July 5, 1935, in Kilgore, Texas, to the late Oscar Green and Jessie

02/26/2026

If anyone has any photos or other information regarding Lyman Luster or the Lyman Luster Relays, please send to me at [email protected] or call me at 903-738-6017.

We know he passed away in 1954, but does anyone know the exact year the Relays were named after him and the last year the Relays were held? Think they existed until the closing of Dansby in 1970, just want to verify.

All help is appreciated.

02/26/2026

Mrs. Mary Frances Brown-Johnson, C. B. Dansby High School Class of 1964

Celebration of Life Services for Mrs. Mary Frances Brown-Johnson, age 79 of Tyler, will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 1200 p.m. at the Harmony Pirtle Baptist Church, 12209 Highway 259 North, Overton . Burial will follow in the Pirtle Cemetery, County Road 181, Overton, under the direction o...

02/19/2026

Mr. George Lovell Sheppard, IV - Grandson of Elaine Portley Thompson, KCHS Class of 1955

Memorial services for George L. Sheppard, IV, 41, of Longview, Texas, will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Prayerful Temple, 1505 Ray Street, Longview, TX 75602, with Pastor Essie Mapps as eulogist. Victory Funeral Services of Kilgore is in charge of arrangements.

George was born the only child of Loretta Rena Thompson and George Lovell Sheppard, III, in Longview, Texas, on October 1, 1984. He departed this life on February 4, 2026, in Longview, Texas.

In his youth, he attended Longview Public Schools. In his young adulthood, he served in the U. S. Navy. Upon returning to civilian life, he held employment in several positions in the food service industry.

His grandmother, Lois Sheppard, aunts Lelia Thompson and Minnie L. Shephard, uncles Carl and Edward Thompson, step-son, Dallas Hill, and cousin, Marco Robertson, all preceded him in death.

Left to celebrate his memory are his mother, Loretta Thompson of Longview, TX; father, George Lovell Sheppard, III of Kilgore, TX; grandmother, Elaine Thompson of Longview, TX; his children, Legend Sheppard, and Mariah McBride both of Longview, TX; McKenzie Sheppard of Gilmer, TX; Trace Xavier Sheppard of Gladewater, TX; and Vanessa Brooks of Kilgore, TX; step-daughter, Khleesei Hill of Gladewater, TX; significant other, Marinda Phillips of Longview, TX.

His aunts and uncles who will also mourn his passing, Linda Gale Thompson, Love Monroe and husband, Gary of Amarillo, TX; Fannie M. Malone, Johnny B. Shephard. and Julia E. Dunn all of Kilgore, TX; Marcell “Wolf” Shephard, Jo Ann Allison, Eugene Shephard and wife, Belindra, Tyrone Wheat and his wife, Melissa all of Kilgore, TX; and Marcus Shephard and wife, Detric all of Longview, TX; four great aunts, Vivian Nell “Caroline” Williams, Celia Ann “Rat” Coleman, Ruby Jewel McCelland and Mildred Lee James all of Kilgore, TX; and great uncle, James Roy Portley and his wife, Gladys of Houston, TX; a great great-aunt, Mary Gatlin of Oakland, CA; a great great-uncle, Odell Davis of Muskegon, MI.

Cousins who will feel the loss as are his beloved first cousin, Taylin T. Thompson of Longview, TX; other cousins, Jessica Wheat, Tybreanna Wheat, Mia Wheat, Tyai Wheat, Zaquallion Wheat, Amari Johnson all of Kilgore, TX; Ebony Brown of Tyler, TX; Christopher Jackson, Monique Jackson, LaToya Jackson, Ben Monoe, Shanika Dunn, Sherry Dunn, Monica Taylor, Staphanie Shephard and Kay-Kay Shephard; great cousins, Kim Ray Geter of Kilgore, TX; Eleanor Stoker and her husband, Vernon Stoker, Jr. and De’Lores P. Arline all of Longview, TX; Arronda Michelle Hardeman of Houston, TX; and a host of other friends and relatives.

There will be no public viewing.

02/17/2026

Mr. Larry Shepherd, C. B. Dansby High School Class of 1965.

View Larry Sheppard's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.