Erline E. Black

Erline Black, age 90 of Albany, died Sunday, May 10, 2009 at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, May 12th at First Baptist Church with Rev. Bobby Smith and Rev. Bart Burgess officiating. Burial will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.

Erline Elizabeth Cotten was born on January 19, 1919 in Sweetwater, Texas to parents, Vance Bartlett Cotten and Bertha Odean Reynolds Cotten. As a child Erline moved to Albany with her family where she graduated as Salutatorian of the Albany High School Class of 1935. She went on to attend Abilene Business School. Erline married Buck Branch Black on September 16, 1939 in Albany. The Blacks made their home in Albany where they raised three daughters and actively participated in the community.

Erline enjoyed painting, playing bridge and designing clothes. Her love of fashion developed into a full-time career as a business woman. She owned and operated Erline's Specialty Shop, located in downtown Albany, for over sixty years. Erline was a member of the Albany Women's Business Circle as well as the American Small Business Association- earning the Outstanding Business of the Year Award in 1964. Erline was active in the revitalization of the downtown area of Albany. Her civic service extended beyond her business as Erline was a thirty-year member of the Albany Lioness Club, serving eighteen years as treasurer. She was also very active in the PTA of Albany schools, serving in each of the organization's offices through the years. Erline was also a member of the Albany Bridge Club. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher for many years and participated in the W.M.U.
Erline was preceded in death by her parents; husband, one sister, Wanda Cotten; one great granddaughter, Chelsey Shack; and one son-in-law, Larry Cauble Sr.

Three daughters, Renee Cauble, Betsy Bea Parsons and husband, Mike, and Melissa Odean Black, all of Albany, survive her; as well as, one brother, V.B. "Boley" Cotten of Woodson; one sister, Dorothy Jo Williams of Dallas; ten grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association or West Texas Rehabilitation Center and may be left at Morehart Mortuary.

Condolences may be sent online at www.morehartmortuary.net.