Julia Mae Tolliver Arceneaux passed away peacefully on Monday, April 11, 2018 – approximately two months shy of her 100th birthday. She was born June 28, 1918 at 5:00 p.m. on a Friday at 138 W. Comal Street (now MLK St.) in San Marcos, TX to John Manney Tolliver and Allie Mae BrownTolliver.  She was the second of the four siblings, two sisters (Gaynelle, Clara) and a brother(Melvin).

Julia was baptized at First Baptist Church in 1927 by Rev. Charlie Connally in San Marcos. She attended and graduated from San Marcos Colored High School in 1936, and the commencement exercises were held at First Baptist Church on the corner of Comal and Comanche Streets. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in 1940 from Prairie View A&M College (University), where she joined the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.  She later earned her Master’s Degree in 1954. In 1941, Julia joined New Hope Baptist Church in Port Arthur, Texas, the location of her first teaching assignment. She taught high school chemistry, Spanish, French – and elementary grades during the 38-years-tenure for the school district. After retiring, she taught adult night school for another10 years. She was very active in her community. She belonged to and was an officer in several organizations; including but not limited to the Eastern Star, two bridge clubs, and a club that helped support mothers and babies. She was a founder of the local credit union, served for years as a precinct elections judge, and played the piano. In 2004, she returned to San Marcos, TX and joined Wesley Chapel A.M.E. Church.

Julia married  Dan Edmerson in 1945. From that union her son, John Melvin Edmerson was born in 1947. She met and then married Lionel Arceneaux in 1954. He adopted her son, John Melvin Arceneaux.

Julia is preceded in death by her husbands, son, mother, father, brother, sister (Gaynelle), and niece (Reka Nell).  She is survived by her sister, Clara Barber Wilson; nephews, George Melvin Tolliver, Curtis Paul Barber II, Kenneth Lionel Barber; nieces, Beth Paulette Barber, Iris Elaine Tolliver Davis; three great nieces; one great nephew; two great-great-nephews; one great-great niece; one first cousin, Beulah E. Barksdale; and a sister-in-law, Walterene Tolliver.

Julia’s life will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 17, 2018, in the Pennington Memorial Chapel.  Interment to follow at the San Marcos – Blanco Community Cemetery.

Arrangements by Pennington Funeral Home, San Marcos, Texas, 512-353-4311. www.penningtonfuneralhome.com