Adrienne B. Jamieson's Obituary
Adrienne Bird Jamieson passed away Saturday, July 23, 2011, in Dallas following a brief illness. A long-time Lake Highlands resident and original “L Street” homeowner, she was 81. A service celebrating Adrienne’s life will be held at 12:30PM on Thursday, July 28, at Restland Wildwood Chapel, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00PM on Wednesday, July 27, at Restland Funeral Home. Gifts honoring Adrienne’s life may be made to the Genealogy Section of the Dallas Public Library, the Lake Highlands High School Foundation Wild for Cats Academic Fund, or any charity of choice. Adrienne was born on May 4, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Gertrude Richards Bird and Lee Garrison Bird. Her father’s Navy service took the family to Chicago, San Diego, and Philadelphia, where she completed high school at age 16 and immediately entered the University of Tulsa, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and served as an executive officer. Following graduation, she married fellow Tulsa University graduate John Alexander Jamieson in 1951 and after John fulfilled his military commitment, the couple moved to Dallas, where John began an engineering career with Atlantic Refining and the couple raised two daughters. The next years were filled with civic and neighborhood activities, including the Lake Highlands Elementary PTA, Larchwood Landscapers, Northminster United Presbyterian Church, a variety of bridge groups, and service over multiple years as a Girl Scouts leader. Adrienne developed a passion for genealogy in the early 1970s and exercised that passion for decades to come. She twice served as president of the Dallas Genealogical Society (1980-81 and 1985-86) and consistently held officer positions in the organization from 1979 to 2001, publishing articles, writing and editing publications, delivering lectures, and serving on judging panels. She was awarded Life Membership in the DGS in May 1985. Widowed in 1982, Adrienne began a 28-year professional career in the Genealogy Section of the Dallas Public Library. Her weekly schedule always included work on Sundays in the hope that more colleagues could have that day free to spend with their families. She retired from the library in September 2010, but continued volunteering in the department until June 2011. An avid traveler, Adrienne and John enjoyed extended vacations to Scotland and England during the 1970s. She added research stops into each itinerary, and in years to follow focused especially on sources in St. Croix and South Carolina while conducting personal research. She purchased an interest in a London timeshare with her sister and brother-in-law in 1991 and began making annual trips to the UK over the next 20 years. On each trip she was accompanied by some combination of family members to whom she offered a spirit of adventure and an energy that was always equal to the demands of that day. Her commitment to family never wavered. She took particular pride in the accomplishments of her two grandsons, whom she supported through attendance at scores of school and sports activities and who returned her affection with equal doses of respect and love. Adrienne will be remembered as a consummate mother, grandmother, author, editor, researcher, and colleague who approached every stage of life with grace, style, and purpose. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Adrienne Jamieson White, husband Steve, and their son Erichson, and Brooke Jamieson White, husband Doug, and their son Clarke; her sister, Elizabeth Bundy, husband Cliff, and their daughter Lynelle; her brother-in-law, Gordon Jamieson; her nephew, Gordon Jamieson, Jr., Ph.D.; her nieces Susan White, husband Dave, and son Eric, and Nancy Morris, husband Jim, and daughter Kristen.
What’s your fondest memory of Adrienne?
What’s a lesson you learned from Adrienne?
Share a story where Adrienne's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Adrienne you’ll never forget.
How did Adrienne make you smile?