Marjorie Mozelle (Pollard) Barrington passed away peacefully on July 15, 2021, just eight days shy of her 97th birthday, in Houston, Texas. She was born on July 23, 1924, on the Pollard family farm in Shelby County, Texas, the baby of 12 children born to Kizzie Antoinette (Weaver) Pollard and Daniel Fling Pollard. Mozelle attended elementary school in the Tennessee Community, near Tenaha, Texas and graduated from Timpson High School in 1940, at 16 years of age. She learned everything she really needed to know about life from the farm and the Tennessee Community.
Following high school, Mozelle spent time recovering from a head injury from an errant Shot put in her senior year. Once recovered, she went to work for Western Union Corporation in 1942, as a telegraph operator. After the United States entered WWII, Western Union dispatched telegraph operators around the country to meet communication demands. During the war years, Mozelle accepted work assignments in Los Angeles, Washington, D. C., New York City and Denver. After the war, a Houston co-worker introduced her to Quentin Barrington, a dashing, young, decorated WW II Veteran, whom she married in January 1949. They settled in the Heights and bought a home a year later in nearby Brooke Smith. Daughters Susan and Vicki were born in 1950 and 1953, respectively.
Mozelle retired from Western Union in 1983, leaving behind many friends and numerous accolades. After one gap year, she began a second career with Baker Botts. As a Receptionist, she flashed her winning smile, gift of gab and hospitality to firm clients and staff for the next 18 years, until 2001. She loved the years with her Baker Botts family, where she met people from all walks of life. From James Baker, III, to the housekeeping staff, Mozelle never met a stranger, and she hardly thought of those years as "work.
By 1994, Mozelle was living on Lilyann in Timbergrove Manor, playing 42 with neighbors, gardening, walking, traveling around the country and abroad, enjoying family and friends. In 2010, she moved to Holly Hall Retirement Community and spent the next five years enjoying life as one of the "Cottage People". She moved to Holly Hall's Healthcare section in 2017 where she was referred to as, "Cool Breeze" by some of the staff, for her youthful fashion and hairstyle.
Mozelle committed her life to serving Jesus Christ at a young age. This commitment and her strong faith informed the life she lived. In life's struggles, she never lost sight of God's grace and protection. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for 40 years where she taught 5 year-olds in Sunday School. She was an active Girls Auxiliary Mom and forged life-long friendships with the young women in that organization. In later yeas, she was a member of Keenagers until its dissolution. She later attended First Baptist Church and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Having no biological grandchildren, she "grandmothered" the children around her. One of those young children dubbed her "Granny Mo", a name which stuck until the end of her life.
Mozelle was a "giver", a "doer" and a lifelong "student". Gifted with a quick mind and a sharp wit, she was fully committed to life. Mozelle not only encouraged the importance of a higher education, she supported the opportunity for her children, nieces, nephews and young people in her sphere. She wanted to be a better speaker so she completed a Dale Carnegie public speaking course. After surviving breast cancer in 1981, she served as an outreach Volunteer for Reach to Recovery until age 80. Following the burglary of her car while she was fueling, she turned her anger to service and volunteered with the Honorable Belinda Hill to serve a term on the Harris County Grand Jury. She wanted to learn more about the criminal justice system. Always a natural athlete, she had a life-long interest in amateur and professional sports, especially baseball. She loved her Astros and was thrilled to be present for Craig Biggio's 3000th hit on June 28, 2007.
Mozelle is survived by her daughter Susan and husband Pablo Sanchez of Houston, her daughter Vicki and husband Larry Patchell of Houston, nieces Barbara Jean Stallones, Beverly Phillips, Ginny Sue Barnett, Lawanda Gallegos, Linda Loudon, Carole Sears and Diane Brault; nephews Joe Dan Risinger, Gale, Joe, Dan, Cleon Harris, Eddie Harris, Charles and John.
Mozelle was preceded in death by her husband Quentin. Also preceding her in death were her parents Kizzie and Daniel Pollard; sisters Francis Teal, Pauline Risinger, Mary Hughes, Wilma Skinner Hinton, Mildred Harris, Martha Porter; brothers, William, Wilson, Marshall, Joe and Curtis; nieces Louise Risinger and Sherry Baxley; nephews Doyle, Tommy, Phillip Skinner and Billy Don Skinner.
Mozelle will be interred at Earthman Resthaven, 13102 North Freeway in Houston. There will be a visitation on July 23, 2021 at 9:00am and a Celebration of her Life Service at 11:00am in Earthman Resthaven Chapel. Burial will immediately follow in the cemetery. Mozelle had a special passion for children and families living with food insecurity. Having experienced the The Great Depression and the deprivations of a world war, Mozelle was a lifelong "saver", committed to supporting her family, church and community. She always had money to share with the stranger, the Salvation Army, Houston Food Bank, St. Jude Hospital and other children's causes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army, Houston Food Bank, St. Jude's Hospital or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to give a special acknowledgment of appreciation to Caregiver Ericka Ferrioli whose loving care made Mozelle's life special every single day for the past three years. Thank you
