Palestine High School Alumni Association

Palestine High School Alumni Association, Palestine, Texas

Mary Elizabeth Burkhalter Freeman – PHS 1937

08 / 31 / 1919  –  06 / 16 / 2012


Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Freeman, 92, of Palestine will be held at 10 am Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at Cedar Creek Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Randall Reeves officiating. A private burial will follow at Fort Houston Cemetery in Palestine under the direction of Herrington / Land of Memory Funeral Home. 

Mrs. Freeman died on Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Trucare Living Center. 

She was born on August 31, 1919, in Palestine to John and Bertha Burkhalter. Mrs. Freeman was a resident of Palestine most of her life and a member of the Cedar Creek Baptist Church for 72 years, where she served as a Sunday school teacher, church clerk, Ladies Auxiliary officer, and nursery worker. She was also employed by the Industrial Garment Factory, Palestine Independent School District as a cafeteria worker, and retired from the Southside Baptist Church Day Care. Mrs. Freeman was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Willard Freeman; brothers, J.C. Burkhalter and Joe Burkhalter; and sisters, Ella Bea Pavelka Ackerman, Jonnibele Toole, and Doris Bassett. 

Survivors include brother, Don Burkhalter of Riverside; sister, Bettie Sheppard; sons, Harold Freeman and wife Nell of Hope, AR and Troy Freeman of Palestine; daughter Verna Walling and husband Jack of Palestine; 5 grandchildren, Wayne Freeman of Hot Springs, AR, Ronnie Freeman of Hope, AR, Theron Walling of Crockett, Ronda Carroll of Neches and Terry Walling of Palestine; 11 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; and special friends, Stephen, Laura, Joseph, and Sarah Bates. 

Pallbearers will include Wayne Freeman, Theron Walling, Brent Carroll, Ronnie Freeman, Terry Walling, and Jerrod Carroll. 

Visitation will be held from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at Herrington / Land of Memory Funeral Home.