Daisy Earnestine Cleveland

           Funeral services for Daisy Earnestine Cleveland, 74, of Lufkin, will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at New Life Church in Lufkin with Pastor Tony Holder and Rev. Kenith Jackson officiating. A graveside service will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Trinity County, Texas at 4:00 p.m. that day.

            Mrs. Cleveland was born on November 25, 1948, in Baytown, Texas, to the late  Earnest Sims and Ellen (Lee) Sims, and died Thursday, November 16, 2023, in Lufkin.

            Mrs. Cleveland was a founding member of New Life Church in Lufkin and loved serving her church. She worked for Trinity Independent School District as the cafeteria manager for 12 years. Once she retired from her job with the State of Texas, she became a cook at the church daycare where she enjoyed feeding the children and employees. Mrs. Cleveland loved to cook and even had her very own cookbook. She was a “Granny” to all who knew her and dedicated her life to her family. Mrs. Cleveland loved her husband, John, dearly and faithfully served as his wife for 57 years.

            She is survived by her husband of 57 years, John Cleveland of Lufkin; children, Tammy and Tony Holder of Lufkin, and John and Amanda Cleveland of Onalaska; grandchildren, Billy and Heather Cleveland of Weir, TX, Krista and Chase Brown of Lufkin, Kaleb and Emily Holder of Lufkin, Kanaan Holder of Lufkin, Titus and Lexi Barnett of Central Heights, TX, Macy and Corey George of Onalaska, Bridget and Ty Nicholson of Onalaska, TX, Krystine and Cody Caldwell of Lufkin, and Dakota and Ashleigh Allen of Lufkin; and great-grandchildren, Parker, Holder, Liam, Lillian, Adalyn, Gus, Hazen, Emma, Rance, Cash, Cain, and Ledger.

           She was preceded in death by her parents, Earnest and Ellen Sims; grandparents, Farrie Mae and Virgil Sims; sister, Frances Thomas; brothers, Clyde Sims and Wayne Sims; sisters-in-law, Tommy Whitley and Martha Chessher; brothers-in-law, Bill Chessher, Doyle Bennett, and Kenneth Thomas; and grandson, Lil Tony.

            Pallbearers will be Kaleb Holder, Kanaan Holder, Chase Brown, Billy Cleveland, Dylan Cleveland, Ty Nicholson, Corey George, and Titus Barnett.

            Honorary pallbearers will be Jacob Pierce, Zackory Pierce, Scott Pierce, Rick Pierce, and Dakota Allen.

            Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023, at New Life Church, prior to the funeral service.

            Shafer Funeral Home, Lufkin directors.

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