Jo Weber Faculty 1967-2022

Joanne (Jo) was born August 4, 1931 to Christine and Glyn Branch in Bentonia, Mississippi. She grew up in McComb, Mississippi. Upon graduation from McComb High School, she entered Texas State College for Women as a clothing and textiles major. While at T.S.C.W., she was active in a number of campus organizations and graduated in 1953. A highlight of that year was watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on live television. She moved to Dallas as an intern in merchandising at Titche-Goettinger department store. After several months at Titche, she went to work at the United States Cotton Fiber Testing Laboratory in the old cotton exchange building. While working in Dallas, she was at the wedding of a friend and met Frank Burns Weber, Jr. In October 1954, they were married at the Little Chapel in the Woods on the Texas State College campus. They moved to Midland, Texas, and Jo loved Midland from the very beginning. She and Frank became very active in St. Mark’s Methodist Church. About that time, the University of Texas produced a television program called “Let’s Teach” offering six hours of credit, and Jo enrolled. Soon after completion, she was hired as an English teacher at Stanton High School. After one year, Frank was transferred to Dallas. While back in Dallas, Jo went to SMU where she completed the requirements for a Texas teaching certificate. She also had the time to work 20 hours a week as a volunteer at the Scottish Rite Hospital which she loved. While in Dallas, Jo and Frank adopted their first child, Frank Burns Weber, III.

Frank was then transferred back to Midland in 1961. Jo became a volunteer at the Big Spring State Hospital. In 1962, Joanne and Frank adopted their second child, Christine Lucille Weber. In 1964, Frank III began his school years at Mrs. McClure’s Playschool, and then he was later enrolled at Trinity School when Christy was at McClure’s. Joanne began teaching the 4th grade in the fall of 1966 where she taught until 1970. Jo was so taken with the beauty and dignity of the Episcopal Church as she went to All Saints Chapel everyday that she and Frank decided to attend confirmation classes at St. Nicholas’ Episcopal Church, and she was later confirmed. The following year, she was asked by Vina Rahlfs to join her in caring for the altar at School. She took altar guild training in a class at St. Nicholas’ as well as from Mrs. Rahlfs. In 1970 she taught 5th grade, moving to Primer in 1971 where she taught until 1975. During the summer, she attended UTPB working toward her certification in Special Education. She then spent one year teaching first grade. She began teaching kindergarten in 1976 where she stayed the next five years. She received her certification in Montessori.

1981 was her first retirement. She substituted all year and returned to teach in the language lab the next year. She attained her certification as an Academic Language Therapist from the Dean School at Scottish Rite Hospital during that time. In 1984 she began teaching fourth grade once more and did so for eight years. She was instrumental in beginning some of the activities that have become Trinity School traditions. The children wrote letters to veterans at the Veterans Domicile which was located in Midland at the time. This led to the Veteran’s Day celebration that is carried on by Ms. Erlandson to this day. The Jesse Tree, also an annual tradition, was first celebrated at this time along with Earth Day. Long before Big Ideas for the Greater Good began, the 4th grade teachers took turns taking eight children to a local nursing home each week. At the end of the school year, the mothers brought the children’s pets to the nursing home for a grand pet show. In 1992, Jo moved again. This time she taught the four-year old class in the morning and the language lab in the afternoon. For the past 27 years, she has been in the Language Lab now known as Educational Support Services. Since becoming an Episcopalian, she has served as clerk of two vestries and is a licensed Eucharist lay minister. She has taught Sunday School and Bible school, and she served as the hospitality chairman for the Episcopal Church Women for several years including preparations for weddings and funerals.

During her 55 year contribution to the Trinity School community, Jo consistently stepped forward to do what was needed; in the process she touched the lives of many through her various roles on campus. Jo has always made it a priority to take care of All Saints Chapel. She has kept the linens pristine, polished the silver, helped with the acolytes, and, when needed, swept the floor. Every year she would put out the Christmas Creche around the All Saints Chapel before the first Sunday of Advent. On Christmas Eve, it is her family tradition to come up to the chapel and put Baby Jesus in the manger. She and Vinah Rahlfs would spend hours covering all the crosses and all the saints with purple tulle before Lent. Of particular importance, Mrs. Weber has helped Trinity remain focused on providing the Wednesday Holy Communion service, a sacred rite, and ensuring that daily chapel is an important component of each child’s Trinity experience. In 2017, the Board of Trustees and many benefactors honored her by establishing the Jo Weber All Saints Chapel Endowment Fund. Jo was married to the same man for 60 years, lived in the same house for 60 years, has belonged to the same church for 56 years, and she taught at the same school for 55 years. Jo said the biggest events in her life since her marriage to Frank was having two wonderful children and numerous students and colleagues that have been a part of her life at Trinity School.

Back

Jo Weber Faculty 1967-2022

Trinity School of Midland