Elizabeth Nell Denman
10/15/1920 - 4/25/2019

On April 25, 2019, due to complications from a stroke, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and amazing friend to many, Elizabeth Nell Dyess Denman of Lake Jackson, Texas, peacefully passed into the arms of her loving Lord.

She is survived by her son Judge Ed Denman and his wife Bettye of Lake Jackson, Texas, daughter Marajen Denman of Raleigh, North Carolina, grandchildren Elizabeth Denman Williams, and husband, Michael of Houston, Margaret Denman Beck and husband Doug of the Dominican Republic, David Denman and wife Misty of Aledo and five great-grandchildren, Stewart, Hallie and Charlie Williams, and Ben and Owen Denman.

Nell's long and exceptional life began in Albany on October 15, 1920 when she was born to Judge Richard and Hallie Dyess and was the younger sister of William Edwin Dyess. As a senior at Albany High, she was part of the presentation of Dr. Shackleford's Paradise (the first Ft. Griffin Fandangle). After graduating in 1938, Nell attended John Tarleton College for two years then transferred to the University of Texas in Austin where, in the spring of 1942, she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a minor in Psychology and Communication. It is there Nell met Ben Denman of Brownwood, the man she would marry and stand beside for seventy-one years until his death in 2014.

In her ninety-eight amazing years, in addition to being a supportive wife to her husband, and attending almost every ballgame her son played and every performance of which her daughter was a part, Nell wore many different "hats." While living in Albany during WWII, she taught middle school. During the years the family lived in Brownwood she directed a youth choir at the First Presbyterian Church, hosted an hour-long women's radio show at WDBD and started a "love affair" with gardening. When the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1955, Nell continued her commitment to the church by becoming one of the first female elders at John Knox Presbyterian and because she had become such a specialist in floral design and horticulture she was conferred as a national master flower show judge and began what would be a sixty year "career" teaching Horticulture and Flower Arranging schools. By the time the family moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1961, Nell combined her experience in the media and gardening to present a monthly flower arrangement segment on a local TV show and she compiled the Piedmont Gardening Guide for Eastern Virginia.

The Denmans moved to Dallas in 1966, where Nell, curious to learn what flowers grew best in a Dallas climate, looked around for a botanical garden or arboreta for advice. Not finding either in a city as large as Dallas, led her, while serving as president of the Dallas North Garden Forum (an organization of 28 clubs), to cast a vision for such a garden. As a result, she joined with a small team of other committed visionaries who formed the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society and worked tirelessly for years to establish the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. For her efforts Nell was made a Board Member Emeritus of the society and was, awarded the first Founders Award presented by the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is now recognized as one of the foremost gardens in the US.

Shortly after their retirement to Lake Jackson, Texas in 1997, Nell became involved not only in the but Lake Jackson Garden Club, but also the Brazosport Center for Arts and Sciences, becoming a Trustee on its governing board. She also served as an officer on the board of the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra and significantly contributed to the growth of the Brazosport Symphony League.

In her lifetime, Nell presided over seven different local garden clubs, served at the state level as President of the Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. and at the national level as the Director of South-Central Region of the National Garden Club. As an instructor, she conducted scores of floral design and horticulture workshops for sixty years in eleven US states, Mexico and Brazil. For her accomplishments, Nell received numerous honors including the National Garden Clubs Golden Circle Award, the State Fair of Texas Award for Garden Club Woman of the Year and was commissioned an Honorary Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. In addition, Nell wrote articles for The Lone Star Gardener, The National Gardener, The Texas Horticulturalist and two books -- A Collection of Inspirations and Installations, a programming guide for the National Garden Clubs -- and Nothing Happens by Chance, a history of the founding of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society and Gardens (currently in publication).

This extraordinary woman will be remembered by those who knew her well as a talented, determined, generous and energetic woman who loved and faithfully served her Lord, her family, her friends, her students, her communities and her vision to use gardens and flowers to beautify the earth and reveal the glory of God. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will remember "Mama Nell" as an encouraging, giving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who is an inspiring model of a life truly well lived.

The family would like to thank Dr. Alkesh Amin for his tender and loving care of Nell over the years. They also wish to thank her caregivers and AMED Hospice workers who tended to her with great respect and personal concern during these final days.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Monday, April 29 at 11 am at the Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Lake Jackson. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made in Nell's memory to any of the following: Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Lake Jackson, 102 Yaupon St, Lake Jackson, TX 77566; the Brazosport Symphony League, 400 College Blvd., Clute, TX 77531; the Texas State Garden Clubs, 3111 Old Garden Road, Ft. Worth 76107-3416 for the Nell Denman Horticulture Scholarship or The Women's Council of Dallas Arboretum; 25 Highland Park Village, Suite 100, #219; Dallas, Texas 75205.

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