Catherine Ann Abouzar

Catherine Williams Abouzar was born to Amos and Josephine Williams in Dayton, Ohio. Her love for Christ began when Sis. Georgia Smith began taking her and sister, Ima, to church as toddlers. Ms. Georgia begged their mom to allow the children to attend church and Bible school with her. This evangelistic act changed the trajectory of their lives. Eventually, Catherine was baptized at the Adelite Church of Christ at the age of seven by Brother Harold English, her father in the gospel in Dayton, Ohio.

The values she held throughout life --her commitment to God and her family along with her dedication to academic excellence and Christian education was passed on to her by her mother, Mrs. Josephine R. Davidson. As a youth, she participated in campaigns for Christ in the summer throughout the Dayton area. She always enjoyed sharing Christ with others. She participated in church activities and at Fort Hill Christian summer camp. As she matriculated through the Dayton schools, she received many honors and awards for academic excellence and for leadership. She graduated valedictorian of her high school graduating class.

Her mother influenced her to attend Southwestern Christian College and David Lipscomb College where she majored in math and chemistry. She received her master’s degree in educational administration from Prairie View University in Prairie View, Texas. She pursued a Ph. D in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas in Arlington.

As a child, she always yearned to be a missionary. Teaching math and science at Madison Academy and Southwestern Christian College helped her fulfil those goals. For nearly 40 years, she worked in various areas at SwCC – math instructor, Director of Institutional Research & Assessment, and Dean of Women. Many of her students became doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers and more. She was proud in participating in their academic journey.

She was a faithful member of the Greenville Avenue Church of Christ in Richardson TX for over 40 years. There she taught Bible classes and VBS for years. She proudly captured several VBS awards for best door and room décor a few times.

Her sons have been her greatest treasure. Her grands have been her greatest delight. One of her guiding scriptures was Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” She told her sons, “The first thing we learn about God was that He was working, from the beginning!” She instilled in them the love of work and the love emulating our Creator.  As children, her sons mowed lawns in the neighborhood. She would say with pride that she loved the smell of stinking working men. Babak became the head women’s soccer coach at Texas Woman’s University and Chris a truck driver for a logistic company. She is proud of their faithful membership at Tri-Cities Church of Christ and Cedar Valley Church of Christ, respectively. In addition, she sent them to Terrell Christian Academy from age 4 through 7th grade on her meager SwCC salary. Investing in their success was critical to her, God was with her every moment. Her children and grandchildren are her legacy and her joy!

She leaves to mourn her biological sons: Babak (Ronique), Chris (Charity); brothers Bobby (Gladys), George (Katherine); sisters Ima Wideman, Reba Rollinson (Harold); grandsons Dailen, Aaron, Asher, Ezra, Chris II, and Ryan; granddaughter, Riley; and her honorary son, Megeste Pierre.

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