Malinda L. Redman

Born to Charles E. Redman and Alice Cowart Redman on July 21, 1940, in Houston, Texas, Malinda graduated from Reagan High School in 1958. She attended Sam Houston State University and the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She also received a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Houston Clear Lake.

Malinda began her teaching career at JR Harris Elementary School and shortly after became the beloved 2nd grade teacher at West University Elementary for 25 years. When the school needed a new librarian, Malinda stepped into that role, instilling her love of books at the West University Elementary School library and later at Wesley Academy, from which she retired.

Malinda was a creative and talented individual who loved to paint, needlepoint, knit and crochet. In her younger years, she was an avid gardener, creating the backdrop for many cherished memories in her flower-filled backyard in the family homestead on Poinciana. She spent countless hours with family and friends cooking, playing games at the family table, and reading to her nieces and nephews. Malinda kept her mind sharp by doing crossword puzzles and sudokus, celebrating when she could complete the Friday edition of the New York Times crossword. As a young woman, she enjoyed playing bridge and traveling the world with her two best friends, Pat Almany and Loretta Hankins.

Affectionately known as Mimi, or Mim, by her family, Malinda had a vast collection of books, from original encyclopedias to rare pop-up books. She encouraged her nieces and nephews to develop a love for reading, allowing them to handle and read even the most delicate books in her collection. Some of our most precious memories are of Mim sitting in her oversized chair with a niece or nephew curled up in her lap exploring a book together. Through those moments, she nurtured a love for learning and imagination, while forming strong family bonds.

Malinda is preceded in death by her father, Charles Redman, her mother, Alice Redman, and her brother, Reagan Redman. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Darlene Walker Redman; nephew, Chuck Redman (Denise); nieces, Cheryl McCleary (Paul) and Alicia Redman (Jay Villarreal); and great nieces and nephews, Sidney Primm, Mekenzie Primm, Ryan Redman (Kat), Ben Redman, and Wylie Villarreal. She was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, loved by all who knew her.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for Thursday, April 24, at 2:00 p.m., in the chapel at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX 77023, with a family visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. Reverend David Meeker-Williams will officiate.

It was very important to Mim that every child had access to books. In honor of her life long passion for literacy, we are asking that in lieu of flowers you please consider donating to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which has donated over 270,000,000 books to deserving children. https://imaginationlibrary.com