Obituary of Birda Keal

Celebrating the Life of a Centenarian Woman

Remembering our Beloved

Birda Pargoud Keal entered this world on Tuesday, December 10, 1919 to loving parents Sarah Washington and Louis Pargoud in Monroe, Louisiana.  She professed her faith in Jesus Christ at Zion Hill Baptist Church at an early age.  She loved music and singing.  She graduated from Monroe Colored High School.  She attended Texas College, Tyler, Texas for a year.  She attended college at Grambling State University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education.  She later obtained a Masters of Education from Mills Women’s College, Oakland, California. 

She married Henry James Keal on January 25, 1945 in Monroe, Louisiana.  They moved to Oakland, California in 1968 and joined Allen Temple Baptist Church.  To this union three children were born, Sarah, Hilda and Henry (twins).  Sarah and Henry preceded her in death.

“She settled for nothing but excellence”

            Birda was a public educator for 20 years in Rayville, Louisiana and 18 years in Oakland, California.  As a classroom teacher, she made an impact on the lives of many young people.  She demanded excellence and taught the young people to be respectful of themselves and others.  She was a consummate learner always seeking knowledge to make herself and those around her better.  During World War II, she was one of the few teachers left to carry the mantle of educating African American Children.  Her love of Geography fueled her desire to travel.  She traveled to most of Europe and to every state in the union. 

“Where He leads me, I will follow”

            As a member of Allen Temple Baptist Church, she was a member of the Missionary Circle.  Later she became a member of Faith Baptist Church where she was leader of the Senior Group and instructor for Vacation Bible School.  She served the Lord with gladness and worked diligently in the church.  She had a thirst for knowledge and studied daily and read constantly.  Upon her relocation to Houston, Texas, she united with the Bethel Institutional Missionary Baptist Church.  She attended faithfully until her health no longer permitted her to attend.

Services for Birda will be held Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Bethel Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, 5530 Selinsky Rd., Houston, Texas 77048.  The visitation will be held from 11:00 am until 11:30 am with the service beginning at 11:30 am with Rev. Dr. Murphy D. Simon officiating.