Nelta Babcock

Nelta was born October 7, 1959, to Earl and Juanell Allison Woodard in Seminole, TX. She graduated from Coronado High School in 1978 where she served as an officer of the Spanish club, played basketball, and was an Honor Graduate.  After graduating high school she attended Texas Tech University. She married Billy Babcock, on May 7, 1981 at Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. They lived in Odessa, Texas where she worked as a substitute teacher.  Nelta and Billy moved to back to Lubbock where she served Southcrest Baptist Church as the Nursery/ Preschool School Director. She also worked with Girls in Action (GA’s) and Acteen programs making gift baskets and donations to Women’s Protective Services.  After raising three kids to be teenagers, she worked at Kimbell Gin Machinery as a secretary.  She went on to work at AT&T where she became the local Payroll Manager and retired from AT&T in 2008.

Nelta spent many years serving Lubbock Soccer Association and the remainder of the soccer community.  She served as a commissioner, board member, referee, and whatever else needed to be done.

She loved traveling with Billy. She enjoyed feeding and watching birds in the back yard as well as spending time in Bible study. She joined a Wednesday morning “older” women’s bowling league and competed in several state tournaments.  But her real passion and love was being with the grandbabies, who she called her babies and her little ones.  Her greatest love was being their YaYa.

Nelta is survived by her husband, Billy Babcock; children, Aaron (Mariah) Babcock, Katie (Jered) Mitchell; grandchildren, MaryAnn Mitchell, Hamilton Mitchell, Avey Mitchell, Lizzy Mitchell, Bransyn Babcock, Deuce Mitchell, Billie Mitchell, Murphy Mitchell, Everly Babcock, Atticus Babcock; and great-grandchild, Jaxon Keith.

She is preceded in death by parents, Earl and Juanell Woodard; son, Bryan Babcock; brother, Allen Woodard.

In lieu of flowers, Nelta requested donations to Women’s Protective Service of Lubbock, Texas. Her family request donation be made in Nelta’s name.

Nelta died on Sunday, December 29, 2024.

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