Billie Jane Martin

Billie Jane Martin
September 16, 1933 - September 11, 2018

Billie Jane Martin died peacefully at home on September 11, 2018. A Celebration of LIfe will be hosted by family and friends at the Bedford Boys’ Ranch Corporate Pavilion on Forest Ridge Drive on Sunday, September 16, her 85th birthday, at 2:00 p.m.

“Miss Billie” Martin was born September 16, 1933 on the family farm in Bedford, TX on what is now Harwood Road, to Russell and Mary Jane (Acton) Martin. The farm encompassed the land where Harwood Junior High sits today and extended to Highway 121. Martin Drive is named for her family. As the Great Depression raged, her parents moved to the Martin family home in Dallas to live with her grandparents who were first generation immigrants of Russian Orthodox Jewish heritage. The Martin home on Swiss Avenue had more modern conveniences and proximity to services than the farmstead in far eastern, very rural Tarrant County.

The family returned to Bedford when she was in first grade. She attended Euless Elementary (now South Euless) through eighth grade. She graduated from Amon G. Carter High School in Fort Worth in 1951. At Arlington State College, she pursued a business degree, but was not fulfilled, as she wanted to teach. She worked for the Tandy Corporation as a secretary to Charles Tandy for three years before she finally followed her passion.

In 1956, she enrolled at North Texas College as an elementary education major. Upon graduation, the Hurst-Euless school district hired her to teach second grade. Later, she was part of the consolidation with Bedford’s school district to form the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD.

Martin was active in the Texas State Teachers’ Association and National Education Association. She was instrumental in forming the Classroom Teachers’ Association in 1959 and served as its president. Because of her organizational and leadership skills, she became the national liaison for TSTA to The Honorable Jim Wright, Speaker of the House. She met with him frequently in Washington, DC and his local office to discuss education legislation.

Martin earned her master’s degree from North Texas State University in 1963, but she continued to take post-graduate courses there every summer in topics she wanted to study, without pursuing additional degrees. Play therapy, reading, and child psychology were some of her special interests.

She opened the new Wilshire Elementary as the first grade team coordinator in 1964 and retired from there in 1993 after 35 years in education. Martin was campus Teacher of the Year so many times she requested her name be removed from future consideration. She served as a lead teacher for most of her career. When HEB ISD integrated, Martin welcomed its first African-American teacher, Vada Johnson, to the Wilshire team in 1965. Martin and Johnson became lifelong friends in and outside of work. They enjoyed shopping, theater (especially Dallas Summer Musicals) and travel, until Johnson’s death.

She was active in the Eta Epsilon and Kappa Delta chapters of Delta Kappa Gamma teacher’s honor society and served both as president. Other leadership roles included PTA president at both Harrison Lane and Wilshire Elementary schools. She was honored with LIfe Membership in both State and National PTAs.

After retirement she continued to serve the District as a Title I records coordinator for many years. In 2013, she was the first classroom teacher named to the District’s Hall of Fame.

The family requests no flowers, but contributions to Community Hospice, the SPCA, or a favorite charity would be appreciated.

Martin is survived by a host of friends and family. “Miss Billie” was loved by many, but she was cared for by special family members Cathy Chickering and April Skinner Chickering in her final years.