Nina McConnell (Aunt Nina) 99, of Edna, died December 28, 2004. She had lived for many years with Ralph and Joan Burgess of Edna. She was born January 14, 1905 in the Southern part of Milam County near Thorndale to the late Ervin and Leona Survant. She was one of twelve students to graduate from Thorndale High School in 1923 where she was class valedictorian and is the oldest surviving Thorndale ex-student. Using a scholarship, she received a teaching certificate from Mary Hardin Baylor at Belton, Texas. Her first assignment was teaching in a ward school in the Sharp School District in Milam County. There were 19 students through the 5th grade. Attending classes at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos in the Summer and later full time, she earned a Bachelor's degree in 1933 and later a Master's degree from the University of Houston. Mrs. McConnell ended her 34 year teaching career in Hempstead but had taught in several Texas school districts. Nina was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers' Association of Texas, Jackson County Retired Teachers' Association, The First Baptist Church of Edna and was a faithful member of her Sunday School Class and Wednesday night fellowship before entering Care Inn of Edna. Survivors: sister, Alice Davis of Dallas; nieces, Joan Burgess of Edna, Betty Jo Stewart of Bellaire, Bobbie Mardis and husband Gerald of Bay City, Neva J. Orton of San Luis Obispo, California; nephews, Hardie Davis and wife Jane of Kingwood, and Frank Green and wife Sherry of Angleton, TX; and numerous great nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by husband, Alton Truman McConnell; brothers, Ervin Survant, Frank Survant, and Bill Survant; sisters, Neva Umangst and Glorice Green; and nephew, Ralph W. Burgess.

Graveside Services were held at 10:30am, Friday, December 31, 2004 at Fieldstore Cemetery in Waller, TX under the direction of Canon Funeral Home of Waller. Reverends Danny P. Reeves and Joe McClanahan of The First Baptist Church of Edna, Texas officiating.

Memorials: First Baptist Church, Edna, TX; Jackson County Retired Teachers' Scholarship Fund, Edna, TX; The Hospice of Victoria, Texas
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Nina married Truman "Heavy" McConnell. She taught in the Hempstead School for years. She and Truman was one of the many contributors to the Waller County History Book published in 1973.

Nina lived to be99 years, 11 months and 14 days old just shy a few days of being 100.


Submitted by J.B. Haney