Jewel Baldwin Gignilliat's Obituary
Services for Jewel Baldwin Gignilliat, 87, of Longview, Texas and Lake Burton, Georgia will be at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at Trinity Episcopal Church, The Reverend Carol Petty, The Reverend Kevin Wittmayer and The Reverend Dr. Michael C. Macey officiating. Visitation will be on Monday, May 7, 2007, from 5 until 7 p.m. in the Guild Hall at Trinity Church. She died May 3, 2007 after a brief battle with cancer.
Jewel was born on February 3, 1920 to Charles Robert and Alma Speaker Ward Lindsey in Capps, Texas. The youngest of 5 children, she was raised in Abilene, graduating from Abilene High School in 1936 where she was drum major of the band. She attended Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, majoring in graphic art. She was the 1st drum major of the newly formed all girl Cowgirl band at Hardin Simmons. She met Marion C. L. Baldwin of Rock Hill, South Carolina while he was stationed in Abilene in 1941. They were married in 1943. After his devastating injuries during World War II, Lt. Col. Baldwin retired from the Army. They returned to Abilene briefly before settling in Dallas with Jewel becoming the costume jewelry buyer for Evert?s Jewelry while her husband attended Southwestern Medical School.
Coming to Longview in 1961, Jewel became an active volunteer with the Federation of Women?s Clubs, the Longview Women?s Forum, City Council PTA and the Gregg County Medical Auxiliary. Jewel was a longtime board member with the Longview Community Theater and she and Marion hosted several ?First Night? receptions in their home. She was a member of the Camellia Garden Club and Heritage Bible Study. A member of Trinity Episcopal Church, she was a former member of the church?s Alter Guild. She was an enthusiastic volunteer in her daughter?s activities and was her grandchildren?s biggest champion and cheerleader in all they have done.
After Dr. Baldwin?s death in 1977, Jewel earned her real estate license and went on to join her daughter in opening Baldwin Lewis Interiors in 1981. She married William Warren Gignilliat in 1982 and gained a wonderful, loving companion and 2 grown children that she loved as her own. She traveled throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean with Marion Baldwin and throughout the world with Bill Gignilliat. However, no place pleased her more than her summers and falls spent in the mountains at Lake Burton, Georgia.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Marion Baldwin, brothers Harold Ward and Charles Lindsey, Jr., sister, Mary Frances Lindsey, sister in law, Joyce Lindsey, and brothers in law Burrell Elliff and John Gignilliat.
She is survived by her husband William W. Gignilliat, daughter and son-in-law Marilyn and Mike Lewis, daughter Elise Gignilliat McClure, son Tom Gignilliat all of Longview, grandson Michael Baldwin ?Winn? Lewis of New York City, granddaughters Jordan Frances Lewis of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joanna Elise Fruia of Longview, sister Gypsie Jane Elliff of Abilene, nieces Terri Lindsey and Jerri Lindsey of Ft. Worth and special friends and traveling companions Ed and Julee Burke of Bristol, TN.
Our many thanks to the loving hands of Heartsway Hospice personnel and volunteers and especially to Trudy Godwin, her sweet caregiver.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Trinity Episcopal Church Endowment fund for the Jewel Gignilliat Vacation Bible School fund, 906 Padon Street, Longview, Texas 75601 or to Heartsway Hospice, 1306 Pine Tree Road, Longview, Texas 75604.
A memorial guestbook may be signed at www.raderfh.com
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