Randolph -- Julia Mullenix passed away on Wednesday, February 14, in Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, surrounded by her loving family members, as the result of complications from a stroke. She was born on November 26, 1916 in Randolph, Fannin County, Texas, and will be laid to rest in Randolph on Sunday, February 18, at 2:00 p.m. Services will be at the First Baptist Church of Randolph (Julia's childhood place of worship) with interment following at Randolph/Lindsey Cemetery. The land for the church and the cemetery, as well as the local school, was donated by Julia's maternal ancestors, the Lindsey family.
Julia was the fifth child of nine born to Edward A. Anderson, a fun-loving, joke-telling farmer, and Alice Jones Anderson, a serious, loving mother who emphasized education as the most important thing she could give her children. These two qualities – education flavored with fun – formed a strong basis for the way Julia lived her life. The family lived on a Depression-era farm, leaning about hard work and a love for the outdoors and animals, all of which played an important part in her life.



Julia was preceded in death by her parents, as well as siblings, Aubrey M. Anderson, Effie B. Hembree, Evelyn P. Reynolds, Douglas S. Anderson, C. Melton Anderson, Edward Marshall Anderson and Vera Nell Anderson. She is survived by one sister, Alice M. Kincade, also of Randolph. Julia is also preceded in death by husband, Amos A. Mullenix, Jr. and infant daughter, Sarah Beatrice Mullenix.



Julia was a star basketball player at Randolph High School, graduating at the age 16. In 1932, she boarded the train down Highway 11 armed with a $60 scholarship, two changes of clothes, and a strong desire to follow her four older siblings who were already in school at East Texas State Teacher's College in Commerce, Texas. While working at a summer job in Dallas to earn money for school, she met tall, dark, and handsome Amos "Amy" Mullenix, Jr., a Dallas Police Department officer and Austin College football and track star, and soon she added a husband, two children, daughter, Dolores Nell and son, Jackie Lynn, to her pursuit of a college degree. Not long after, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education as well as her first teaching job in Grand Prairie, where Amos had begun a new career in the Security Division of Chance-Vought. The family then moved to Oak Cliff, where Julia began a 33-year career as a teacher in the Dallas Independent School District, with most of those years being spent at Trinity Heights (now Harrell Budd) where she lovingly taught fifth and sixth grades. Nearing the end of her career, Julia felt a special calling to teach Special Education, with her final years being spent at Arcadia Park Elementary. She often said she couldn't wait for September to come so she could get back to her classroom and "her other kids". In addition, she coached boy's softball during the summers, worked in a local movie theater concession stand in her "spare time", and went back to E.T.S.T.C. for her Master's degree in Library Science. During this time, she also took on the role of her mother and encouraged two of her sisters to go back to college in their middle age years. As a result, both sisters graduated and became teachers – a very proud moment for all three sisters. Julia, or "Mimi" as she was known by her devoted and beloved grandchildren, was also extremely proud to see all four of her grandchildren graduate from college, which was one of the things that she said "kept her going!" Julia also did post-graduate work because she loved learning anything that would make her a better teacher and mother. One of Julia's former students once told her that she never knew learning could be fun until she had her as a teacher. One of her accomplishments during her time as a teacher was receiving a Lifetime Membership Award by the PTA, although she never sought or desired the public spotlight. She much preferred preparing others to prepare themselves to receive recognition.



In 1982 after a career spanning five decades, Julia retired from public education, became a widow, and moved back to her beloved Randolph, Texas, where she called on an early passion and became a cattle rancher in partnership with her son, Jackie. Julia spent 25 wonderful years with her cattle. It was an inspiring sight to see this 110-pound lady in her white farm truck hauling hay to feel her cattle in the winter months.



In addition to her sister, Julia is survived by daughter, Dolores Nell Spence and husband, Mike of Richardson, Texas, son, Jackie Lynn Mullenix and wife, Debby of Randolph and grandchildren, Amy Alise Spence of Richardson, Steven Lindsey Spence and wife, Brandy of Dallas, Merrie Nell Spence of New York City, and Jeffrey Lindsey Mullenix of Randolph. She is also survived by numerous loving nieces and nephews.



Julia's family is especially grateful to her loving caregivers, DeeDee Allen, Debbie Taylor and Joy McGuire, and Dr. Irwin Korngut, MD, Julia's personal physician for many decades.



Pallbearers include Mike Spence, Steven Spence, Jeffrey Mullenix, Shawn Anderson, Mike Anderson and Larry Reynolds. Honorary pallbearers include several students who kept in touch and "checked-in" regularly for six decades just to say "hello": Ricky, Randall, Jimmy, Tommy, Curtis, Gerry, Rojuan, Minnie, Brenda and others.



Memorials may be made to Randolph/Lindsey Cemetery, P. O. Box 233, Randolph, Texas 75475, or to First Baptist Church of Randolph, P. O. Box 14, Randolph, Texas 75475.



Julia will be in state at Wise Funeral Home, Bonham, TX on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007. Online guest register www.wisefuneralhome.com