NELL PHILLIPS CLYBURN died on July 15, 2006 in Houston, Texas after a brief illness. Born on July 22, 1914, in Groveton, Texas, to Nathan Howard Phillips and Lena Kelley Phillips, Nell was one of six children. The family moved from Crockett to Huntsville during the Great Depression in order to allow the children to attend college. Nell graduated from Sam Houston State Teachers' College in 1934 and began to teach in Huntsville. There she met George Lee Clyburn on a blind date for the Texas A&M Thanksgiving game and they married June 21, 1936. Excluding the World War II years, they resided in Conroe where she was an active community leader, loving wife and mother, and dedicated teacher. A woman strong in her faith, Nell co-founded of the First Presbyterian Church, Conroe, in 1936 and was awarded the Lifetime Presbyterian Woman Award by that church. She was a patient and untiring elementary school teacher in Conroe until her retirement in 1980 and believed that every child had promise. She proudly followed the growth to adulthood of many of her students.

Nell is survived by her sister Serena P. Miller, Sacramento, California; her children John Howard Clyburn and wife Carolyn of Galveston; Lee C. Clyburn of Austin; Laura C. McWilliams and husband Brad of Houston; Miriam C. Vaughn and husband Robert of Austin; her grandchildren Julie Cuenod and husband Marc; Edie Harrington and husband Kevin; her great grand children Kevin and Alex Harrington; and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband George Clyburn and infant daughter Serena Clyburn.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel, First Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas on Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at 11:00 o'clock in the morning, followed by a reception at the church. A private family burial will occur in Crockett, Texas. The family wishes to thank the staff of Holly Hall for their loving care.
Published in Houston Chronicle from July 23 to July 24, 2006

Thanks you David Cross for this memory and obit.