Sad news - Ms. Nellye Joyce Punch - A Legacy of Helping Others!

Nellye Joyce
Lewis Punch
1921-2017
Nellye Joyce Punch, one of Houston's dedicated educators and community activist, departed this life on Dec. 25th and made her earthly transition. She was a devoted science teacher at E. O. Smith Jr. High School for 36 years, Chair of the science department and also worked as a consultant for HISD prior to her retirement. She was a graduate of Phillis Wheatley High School where she met her late husband, Richard H. Punch. They were blessed with two daughters, Sheila A. Lockhart and Delores Christine Browne. The impact of her life will live on for many generations to come. As a faithful member and Elder of Pinecrest Presbyterian Church, her memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6th at 11:00 a.m. at 4913 Market St.

Published in Houston Chronicle on Jan. 5, 2018http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houstonchronicle/obituary.aspx?n=nellye-punch&pid=187734753&fhid=2903Mrs. Punch singlehandedly made sure that when the freeway came through 5th Ward there was a Collingsworth Exit - which was originally NOT on the Books! Mrs. Punch was an active member of the Lyons Health Clinic Board with my mom, Mattie Blackshear and started the Baby Buddy program to provide prenatal health and goods to young mothers.Mrs. Punch started a back to school shoe program to provide shoes to kids going back to school. She was active in the Scattergood Club which many of you know my mom was a founder and active leader. Her smile, her steadfastness (I will never forget being at an HTA meeting as a kid in the background sitting next to my mom when Mrs. Punch rose up, stood up, spoke up for our community as one of very few African American teachers in this organization.Those are my personal accounts - more of her life is chronicled at https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/aalgs/00004/aal-00004.html  If you google her you will find many articles of her activism in the Houston Chronicle over the many years of her life.Another role model, sadly gone. Services are tomorrow at the church she worked very hard to keep going with fundraisers and she never left its 5th Ward home.