Obituaries
The Life and Legacy of Ms. Irene Marie Carroll Slaughter
Irene Marie Carroll Slaughter, age 88, passed on Friday, July 31, 2020 at Freestone Medical Center in Fairfield, Texas.
Irene was the 5th child of 9 children born to the late Green and Callie Stratford Carroll in Freestone County, Texas. She received her early education in the public schools of Freestone County, graduating from Dogan High School in May 1948. It was during those years that she became a member of New Zion Baptist Church where attendance was mandatory by her parents. Farming and ranching were the major sources of income during her youthful years, therefore she spent lots of time picking and chopping cotton to supplement the family income and further her education.
In 1948, Irene embarked upon her college career. She became a student at Tillotson College, currently known as Huston-Tillotson University, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics and and minored in Science. Irene married , Nelson Slaughter, Jr. in 1952 and had 6 children:, Jacqueline Marie, Nelson Walter III, Michael Wayne, Bobby Green and , Robbie Irene (twins), and Anthony Ray.
Irene returned to Fairfield to begin her teaching career from 1955-1957, teaching the 3rd grade at Dogan High School, from which she graduated in 1948. Being a military wife, she joined her husband Nelson, in Nashville, Tennessee and taught two years at Nashville Christian Institute. In 1961, Irene and her 6 children returned to Freestone County and settled in , Wortham, Texas, where she taught five years 1961- 1966 at F. W. Wheeler High School as a Home Economics teacher. During this 5 -year period, Irene commuted and attended Prairie View University and received her Master of Arts Degree in Special Education and a minor in Home Economics.
Prior to the 1966-1967 school year, Irene moved to Fairfield and taught again at Dogan as a 7th grade teacher and with the consolidation of schools, Irene continued to teach Special Education in the Fairfield Independent School District, until Saturday, May 31, 1997.
Irene’s hobbies included traveling, shopping, watching sports, taking pictures, scrap booking, reading, attending Church and Church functions, attending community and school functions and meeting and talking with people. She continued to be very active in the Fairfield community by attending as many functions as possible until her body would no longer allow (December 18, 2019).
Irene was very active in the lives of her Children, grandchildren and Great great Grand children.Until her health failed her, you would find her attending all of her family’s activities.
Irene was a member of New Zion Baptist Church in the Post Oak community where she sang in the choir, a member of the Freestone County Federated choirs, served as the announcement clerk, served with the mission and Sunday School Fellowship. She was named and inducted into the Fairfield ISD Teacher Hall of Fame, a member of the Jones Chapel United Methodist Women’s society, Ike Carden Rodeo Association, VFW, Red Hat Society, Eastern Stars, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Historian Committee, Veterans Affairs, Life Time member of the NAACP, 4- H, Retired Teachers Association all of Fairfield (Freestone County), Texas. Irene loved attending Fairfield ISD School functions and prided herself in getting “right down front or sitting on the 50-yard line” at all Schools awards days, graduations, football and basketball games, etc. In her travel visits away from home, Irene would remain active by participating with service organizations in Bryan, Texas. She was inducted into the Bryan Bethune Women’s Organization as an honorary member in recognition.
Irene met no strangers and she loved talking, visiting, and sharing her story’s that always included pictures about her family, travel and all the events of her life.
Irene was preceded in death by parents, Green and Callie Stratford Carroll; daughter, Robbie Irene Slaughter Blacknall; grandson, Christopher Robin Blacknall; sister, Lurline Sweeney; brothers, Hillmon, Hoover, Billie, and William Carroll.
She leaves to forever cherish her precious memories a daughter, Jacqueline Marie Sedberrry and husband Marvin of Bryan, Texas; four sons, Nelson Walter Slaughter, III and wife (Etta) of Dallas, Texas; Michael Wayne Slaughter of Fairfield, Texas;Bobby Green Slaughter and wife (Cathy) of Lewisville, Texas; and Anthony Ray Slaughter and wife (Carla) of Winnsboro, Texas, She was a grandmother to thirty-four (34) grandchildren, and she was Granndy Grand to her 43 forty-three Great great grand children; two sisters, Emma Finnen and Betty Brown (Sullivan) of Maryland; one brother, Green Carroll of Longview, Texas; a caregiving niece, Cecelia Sweeny, of Fairfield; and Family family son/friend, Kevin Benedict both of Fairfield Texas; all over the United States, Irene leaves MANY special people to including nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends including her “Gal” and “the Girls”.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Saturday at the Fairfield High School auditorium. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service. Funeral services will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Interment will be immediately after services at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
36 Comments
I was so sorry to hear of Irene’s death. She was such a wonderful lady. I knew her with the Red Hat Society and other functions here in Fairfield. She will be greatly missed. God bless and keep her family.
Thank you Ms. Collier for your comments regarding our Mother & Grand Mother. She truly loved her Red Hat Society Sisters and when you all were meeting regularly she would look forward to your lunch and fellowship. May God bless and keep you all is our prayes
Our symphony, thoughts, prayers and condolences to the family of Mrs. Irene Slaughter, a beautiful and loving Lady.
Mother Slaughter will be greatly missed. She was an inspiration to a lot of people. To the family, stay strong and May God continue to watch over you. Love you Pastor & Sis. L.E Hart. New Zion Missionary Baptist Church,Fairfield,Texas 75840
From Your Sister EMMA FINNEN
I LOVE 💘 MY SISTER & WILL MISS U SO MUCH. B AT REST SIS.
FROM YOUR NEICE BARBARA J LANGSTON
LOVED HOW YOU WERE ALWAYS MZ IRENE. WEARING YOUR WHITE FUR COAT
BE AT REST AMEN Danny&Barbara
When in sorrow read: John 14.
Paulette Sanders Jackson
BTW/JAB Alumni
Ms. Slaughter you are loved. We miss you already. Rest in peace.
Ms. Seattle Johnson,
Thank you for your note of love regarding Ms. Irene Marie Slaughter, our Mother and Grandmother
My heartfelt sympathy for the family. I will miss you
My Mom always referred to Mrs. Slaughter as “little brother” from the time they participated in a Dogan faculty play and there was not enough men teachers. So Aunt ‘little brother” will be missed. We have her pictures and post cards all over our home. Peace and Blessings
Love this lady,she was like a big sister in so many ways and she respected my family a lot. Her children was like family to us. We pray for strength and recovery for all. The Dallas Chapter,as president we send nothing but love
What a pleasure it was to meet this lovely lady. Rest in heaven Ms Slaughter 💕 Condolences to Jackie, her siblings and all family members and friends who loved her.
My heart goes out to family and everyone
that knew you..it was always such a pleasure to be in the presence of Mrs. Slaughter. She was so gentle in spirit. I pray that she is resting in paradise. What an amazing God to have graced us with a woman so beautiful! With condolences & deep respect from my the Jackson family..
My heartfelt sympathy to the family. Irene and my family was as one family and we will dearly miss her. May God keep her family. Love Randy Stratford
I will truly miss my friend. Ms. Slaughter and I talked often. She and I exchanged Christmas cards yearly which always included lovely pics of her in beautiful flowers. Rest in peace my friend.
Sorry for your loss Irene was very special Lady she will be truly missed.
Martha Slaughter.
To all the Carroll and Slaughter family,
I have known Green and Callie Carroll as far back as I can remember (83 yrs). We were raised in Post Oak and that family was one of our favorites and very dear friends. Good people.
Each time we have had a death in the Alry White family, Irene came to the funeral home to share in our sorrow. What a Blesseing she was and repr4esented the Carroll family so well.
Tho we only saw her occasionally, we will miss her, knowing she is not with us on earth anymore.
Thanks for the memories! Tho we cannot be there we will be with you in thought and prayers.
God Bless each family member and friend.
We thank God for sharing this beautiful lady and the entire Slaughter Family with us. We know she’s in Heaven smiling and taking pictures with the angels! Love you all…Tom & Michele Bradford
Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. To Aunt Emma & family, you all are in our thoughts and prayers . Stay strong, Be Blessed!
Blackie Moe, God has opened up his arms to receive you unto himself. For to be absent from this earthly body is to be present with the Lord. Aunt Irene you are truly loved and you will be missed dearly.
Love you Nephew Herbert and Norma Finnen
No words can express the sorrow at loosing someone you love, and Mrs Irene was certainly loved by many. She was greatly loved by me and all of our Bible Study Fellowship group in Fairfield. She will be missed. She is missed already. I long to be able to stop and spend an hour or so with her again, but will have to wait until heaven.
Jackie and Marvin, Nelson and Etta, Michael and Ray, Green Carroll … it was a privilege to meet all y’all after her illness, but I wish it could have been under different circumstances. Please know that I am praying for y’all, knowing that y’all have more treasured memories than can ever be told.
Rest for a little while Sister Irene… we’ll catch up to you!
Pat Wiggins
May your hearts soon be filled with
wonderful memories of joyful times
together, as you celebrate a life well lived.
with sympathy and prayer to the family.
From the Terry and Gatson Family :
It’s so hard to comprehend this profound loss. May the wings of angels embrace you and your family and provide the comfort and strength you seek. We love you dearly and cherish all the wonderful memories.
Our love, thoughts, and prayers are with you family!
Heartfelt sympathy to the family, my family. Cousin Irene was also my Jr. High teacher.
She was always loving and kind and encouraging. She was a strong lady and she will be missed. Rest in peace now Queen.
Aunt Irene, you were simply, “one of a kind”….so attentive, thoughtful and full of life. I already know that my heart is bound to experience a perpetual flow of our memories and love for one another. You were extremely special to me. So until we are able to laugh again, I am simply saying, Good Night for now!🤍
Condolences to the family. Mrs Slaughter was such a beautiful spirit. May God continue to comfort the family.
Lovie Cooper Hawkins
Love you Auntie Diva
Kay Carroll
You will be truly missed! Our prayers and heartfelt condolences to our family members. Love from the families of Earnestine Johnson Taylor and Zelma Lee Johnson Cooper.
Thank you all for the Notes of love and we send right back to you our cousins from the Cousin Earnestine and Cousin Zelma Lee families. Mama (Irene) loved each of you and your families and she would always want us to stay close to you all – as she would tell us, those are your cousins, your blood folk!
we love you all
The Slaughter Children,
Jackie, Nelson, Michael, Bobby & Ray
Thank you all for the Notes of love and we send right back to you our cousins from the Cousin Earnestine and Cousin Zelma Lee families. Mama (Irene) loved each of you and your families and she would always want us to stay close to you all – as she would tell us, those are your cousins, your blood folk!
we love you all
The Slaughter Children,
Jackie, Nelson, Michael, Bobby & Ray
The Slaughter Children,
Jackie, Nelson, Michael, Bobby & Ray
Prayers and condolences to the Slaughter family.
Irene,
You always said as well as wrote on the many cards and pictures you shared with my family
over the years,”Friends Forever”. Rest in peace my friend and I hope to meet you and Liz(My sister)when I am called.
Roger & Doris Nealy
May you rest in peace Aunt Irene. We will all miss you and how you light up a room whenever you entered. The true Diva known for her hats and classy fashion style. Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the Slaughter family. Love you all, Jerrell and Alesia Carroll and family.
Condolences to the family. Mrs. Slaughter was such a beautiful spirit. May God continue to comfort you.
Lovie Cooper Hawkins