Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 8 at the Crowder Funeral Home in Dickinson, Texas, for Clevie Jean Friday Caldwell, who passed away after a long illness Tuesday, November 26, aged 94 years and 13 days. Known to most family and friends as Jean, she was born November 13, 1930 in Columbus, Mississippi, the youngest of seven children born to Stanley Grady Friday and Clevie Blanche Guyton Friday, all of whom preceded her in death.

She was educated in the Columbus public schools and graduated from Lee High School with the Class of 1949. One of her classmates was Albert Caldwell Jr., and they were sweethearts almost from the start. They had to wait until he finished college at Ole Miss, during which time she attended Mississippi State University for Women for two years. However, on June 2, 1953, she and Albert were united in marriage at the First Methodist Church in Columbus, and they were together for nearly 68 years before his passing on February 25, 2021.

Jean is survived by their four children, Stanley (Stephanie) Caldwell of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Kevin (Colleen) Caldwell of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Mary Jean (Lynn) Slazer of League City, Texas; and Caroline (John) Alberstadt of St. Francisville, Louisiana. She is survived by 11 grandchildren, Daniel (Emily) Slazer of League City, Texas; Samuel (Kelly) Caldwell of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Stephen (Christy) Caldwell of Laurel, Mississippi; Aaron (Trina) Slazer of Keller Texas; Becky Jo (Wyatt) Wilson of Sheridan, Arkansas; Sarah-Jean Caldwell of Houston, Texas; Joel (Brooke) Slazer of Fort Worth, Texas; James Caldwell of Stillwater, Oklahoma; Anne-Claire Alberstadt of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Sophie Alberstadt of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Ian Alberstadt of St. Francisville, Louisiana. And she is survived by six great-grandchildren, Camden Slazer of League City, Texas; Connor Caldwell of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Lynnon Caldwell of Long Beach, Mississippi; Kieran Caldwell of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Austin Slazer of Keller, Texas; and Evie Jo Wilson of Sheridan, Arkansas.

Throughout her marriage, Jean accompanied Albert through his career, from Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida, then to postings in Hutchinson, Kansas and Jacksonville, Florida before Albert left active duty to pursue a career in petroleum refining. He followed that career, and Jean came along with their growing family, to stops in Kenner, Louisiana; Texas City, Texas; Dickinson, Texas; El Dorado, Kansas; Slidell, Louisiana; then back in Dickinson, where they retired on five acres backing onto the bayou. Jean played an important part in Albert’s career, acting as her husband’s partner and ambassador to the families of the companies to whom he was employed.

Jean called herself a homemaker, but the term domestic engineer fits her role better. She ran a tight household and her kitchen was well-ordered and abundant. She was an amazing cook, and could come up with recipes from scratch at any time. Wherever she went, she was socially active, and during the 1960s and ‘70s, she was active in Republican politics in Kansas, serving as county campaign manager in 1968 and 1974 for former Sen. Bob Dole. She was later active in the Slidell Newcomers Club and the New Orleans Petroleum Wives. She was always active in her church, especially when they returned to Dickinson and rejoined Dickinson First UMC, where she was a member of the ladies auxiliary at the church.

After Albert retired, they traveled extensively all over the world and throughout the United States, both with family and friends. Jean never met a stranger, and her presence lit up any room she entered. She had a gift for making conversation with anyone, and putting others at ease. She had a large circle of friends, and she was especially close with her sisters-in-law, whom she considered as close as sisters.

She raised her children with a firm, loving hand, and she fostered a legacy for volunteering in her children. She doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but most of all, she loved her Albert deeply, and while she will be missed on this earth, they are together again.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to The Palmer Home in Columbus, Mississippi.