Paula Vida Stringer

Texas lost one of its true shining stars on Tuesday, May 27, when Paula Stringer died in Dallas after a long illness. A trailblazing businesswoman, loving family matriarch and supremely civic-minded Dallasite, Paula will be remembered for being as equally fierce in the boardroom as she was guileless when amongst those she loved.

Paula Vida Lemons was born near McKinney on Oct. 9, 1924, to Lilian Duncan and Samuel Haven Lemons. Though she came from modest means, from an early age Paula had her sights set on a bigger life than her small-town origins could afford her. She ultimately grew up in Dallas and attended SMU, but left school early to marry Charles Franklin Stringer, M.D., her Navy-doctor fiancé, when he returned from a tour in the Pacific in World War II.

A striking beauty whose Cherokee and Scotch-Irish heritage were evidenced by her dark good looks, Paula had three children in three years and lived for a bit the life of a mid-century north Dallas housewife.

But Paula was ahead of her time.

Had she been born forty years later, Paula very likely would have been the CEO of a multi-national corporation. Instead, she started a real estate company with nothing more than innate savvy and a card table and phone in an unused exam room in the back of her then-husband’s clinic and built it into one of the most recognized brands in the metroplex in the 1960s and ‘70s. The success of Paula Stringer Realtors can be attributed to her sharp business acumen as well as how she treated people. Regardless of his or her status or position, no one who met Paula was ever seen or treated as lesser-than. She was a fair employer, a trusted mentor to scores of women real estate agents, a gracious friend, and always the life of the party.

Paula got a second chance at love when she met Dallas businessman Patrick Cashman and married him in 1987. An added benefit to their union was his six children, all of whom Paula viewed as blessings in her life. Though Patrick died in 1996, Paula remained close to the Cashman kids and their children for the rest of her life.

Paula is survived by her three children and their spouses: Steve and Helen Stringer of Fredericksburg, Suzanne and Phil Pierce of Fredericksburg, and Kay and Ned Holmes of Houston; her grandchildren, who called her “Gigi” at her request: Catherine (Steve) Granville, Michelle (Mike) Burgess, David Mitchell, Shane (Christy) Allman, Laura (Mark) Dalton, and Emily (Chad) Covey; Ned Holmes, Jr., Berkeley (Jason) Downie, Erin Holmes, Allison (Mike) Spayd and great-grandchildren: Kai and Margot Granville; Hillary, Haley Kay, and Jack Burgess; John Berdon, Elizabeth, and William Mitchell; Samantha and Cami Allman; Elena Covey; Christopher Holmes; Sam, Michael, Malcolm and Vivian; stepchildren and step-grandchildren: Tim (Lois) Cashman and Nick; Erin (Jeff) Keeble and Kelsie, Alex, and Jake; Maura (Bill) Nelson and Myles; Meg (David) Brown and Callie; Kathleen (Ben) McElroy and Emma; and Shana (Ron) Bentson and Emma Katherine, Ryan, and Brianna. She also will be missed by sister-in-law Joyce Lemons, nieces Kris Lowe, Candy Stringer and Torchy Thompson, and nephews Kyle Lemons and Bill Stringer and their families, as well as a tremendous network of longtime friends, including Jo Baker of Houston and Elizabeth Massey, Bettye Tiffany, Alice Slaney Davis, Val Fenwick, Lorraine Meenam and Beverly Browning, all of the Dallas area. The family would like to recognize and thank Maria Valadez and Lily Fonseca, as well as Anita Munoz, Yvonne Cardenas, Yoahana Hernandez, Kristina Johnson, Mary Munoz, Ceci Valadez, Sue Munoz and Martha Rosales, the caregivers whose dedication transcended employment over the past couple of years. They were there during the darkest days of Paula’s illness, and their affection for her, and loyalty to her, was appreciated and won’t be forgotten.

Gigi – Paula – only reluctantly gave up her high heels when she was in her mid-80s. She was one of a kind, the epitome of style and grace, and had an impact on all who met her. She will be remembered by friends and family for her warmth, class, generosity of spirit, and passion for life.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bonaventure Condominiums Venetian Room, 5200 Keller Springs Rd., Dallas 78248. A memorial service commemorating Paula’s life will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway in Dallas, at which her granddaughters and great-granddaughters will wear leopard-print accessories as an homage to Paula’s bold sense of style. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dallas Alzheimer Association (alz.org/greaterdallas), or to Buckner International children and family services (buckner.org), the children’s home where Paula’s father was raised and which remained close to her heart.