Jeanne Cordell Obituary

Jeanne Drury Cordell
07/13/2025
Jeanne Drury Cordell, beloved matriarch of our family, entered into heaven on July 13, 2025, three months shy of her 99th birthday. Known to everyone as "Honey," Mom lived each day with optimism, joy, kindness, determination and a quiet but strong faith. Her long and exceptional life was an extraordinary gift to her family, friends, students and the numerous organizations she cheerfully served.
Mom grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and met the love of her life, Second Lt. Philip M. Cordell, Jr., at Broadway Baptist Church in December, 1942. They were engaged in 1943. Following the conclusion of World War II, Mom and Dad married on August 1, 1946, and enrolled in Baylor University to complete their education. The better student of the two, Mom graduated first and taught school in Hillsboro while Dad completed school and received his B.B.A. They moved to Philadelphia where Dad received his M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Business. Mom again taught school to make ends meet. Following Dad's graduation, they moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma where they welcomed their first child, Philip, III ("Corky"). Next came a move to Houston, and the births of Claire and Tom.
Mom and Dad joined South Main Baptist Church in Houston in 1952, their church home for the rest of their lives. They faithfully served South Main in every imaginable capacity, with Mom teaching Sunday School, and volunteering in the church library each Sunday until she was in her 80s.
At Mom's urging, they built a house in the "boonies" of Hedwig Village, and moved into their home in 1956. Their move was motivated in no small part by Mom's life-long belief in public school education and the newly opened Bunker Hill Elementary School. The close-knit neighborhood provided lifelong friendships for our parents and for us, and was a nurturing community for Mom throughout her life. We are so grateful for Mom's kind and caring neighbors who loved and cared for her until the end of her life. Mom adored each of you.
Mom loved teaching at Bunker Hill Elementary. She felt privileged to mold the minds and character of her students. Mom also served as a volunteer teacher for over 30 years in the international education program at South Main ("SMILE"), teaching English and Texas History to foreign residents of Houston. Her long service to SMILE and her students was recognized in December 2015 with a Proclamation by the Mayor of Houston for Jeanne Cordell Day.
Mom was the glue that held our family together. She oversaw our school work, held countess spelling sessions, spent endless hours with math flashcards, taught us how to tie our shoes, gave bicycle lessons, helped with college applications and selection, encouraged us in all aspects of life and let us be ourselves. Mom was always present for any event in our lives. She worked hard to make sure that each of us could attend summer camp, took us traveling across the country, and drove us to multiple school and church activities each week. Mom taught values and character through her own actions, as did our Dad. She will be missed more than words can express.
Mom is preceded in death by our Dad, Philip M. Cordell, Jr. Mom leaves behind her three children, Philip M. Cordell, III, Claire Cordell Wilkins and Thomas Drury Cordell; their spouses/partners Joan Cordell and David Kelley; her grandchildren Philip Fletcher Cordell (Molly), Philip Ryan Wilkins (Natalie), Nan Wilkins Pollock (Zade), Sidni Cordell Winetroub (Jay), Hunter Cordell; her great-grandchildren McCulloch Cordell, Olivia Cordell, Sloane Pollock, Cord Winetroub, Brooks Winetroub and Vivienne Wilkins; her nephews, cousins, numerous friends, and her Horton family. Mom cherished every one of you.
Our family is grateful for the care, kindness and affection shown to our mom by her caregiver team, led by Liliana Montes, R.N., and including Dorca Flores, Janeth Hinojosa, Sonia Delgado, Ana C. Roth, Micheline Noel, Evelyn Rojas, Elisa Salmeron and Ana Delgado.
A memorial service is to be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 1, in the Westmoreland Chapel of South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main Street in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to a reception in Fellowship Hall.
For those desiring to do so, memorial contributions may be sent to South Main Baptist Church Smile Program, 4100 Main St., Houston, TX 77002, to Baylor University Libraries, One Bear Place #97148, Waco, TX 76798, or to the charity of your choice.