Juel Ann was born in Lufkin, Texas, January 5, 1945. Her parents were J.L. and Marion Bradford. Two brothers would follow, Jesse Locke and David Brian Bradford. Her dad did not see her until Juel Ann was six months old. He was serving in the U.S. Navy overseas during World War II. Juel Ann and her mom, Marion, were living with her grandparents, J.M. and Bertha Bradford, at the time. Dr. Bradford was the pastor of FBC, Lufkin, during this time.
Juel Ann would go on to graduate from Lufkin High School in 1963. She went to Howard Payne University where she was a cheerleader and Miss HPU in 1967. She met Doug and they were married in December of 1966. She began her teaching career at May, Texas, in 1967, the beginning of her 34 years as a teacher.
The Holtzclaws moved from Brownwood to Fort Worth where Juel Ann taught at Boswell High while Doug attended Southwestern Seminary. In June of 1970 they moved to Bluff Dale, Texas, with Douglas in tow, and Doug pastored the Bluff Dale Baptist Church. In August of 1972 the family moved to Weatherford, Texas, where Doug pastored the Greenwood Baptist Church. By this time Brian Locke had been born.
Doug was “fired” by the Greenwood church in 1974 and the family moved to Buckner Boys Ranch, Burnet, Texas. Doug and Juel Ann began their ministry there as house parents to 12 high school boys. In 1976 Doug became associate pastor there and Juel Ann worked in the administration office, and Laurie Alison became sister to the 12 high school boys and her two brothers.
In 1978, the family settled in Goldthwaite where Doug and Juel Ann would spend the rest of their lives. She began teaching here in 1985, as openings were few and far between. Over the years, she established herself as a “tough but fair” teacher, cheerleader sponsor, and friend. She was known for her world history notebooks and the students always having to take notes in her classes. Former students have become her friends doctors, nurses, and care-givers.
She was not our typical quiet, sit-in-the-corner pastor’s wife. Doug will tell you she never interfered with his work and was the most thoughtful person he ever knew.
The kids would tell you that she was the “bestest” mother and grammy that a child could ever have. She spared no expense on them while doing without herself.
As always, she was quite a talker and the life of any party. She loved decorating her home for the yearly seasons, especially Christmas. And she always enjoyed opening her home to guests even though it was decorated with early “dollar store” items and nick-nacks.
She was quite a cook and shared her “best ever” cakes with the Goldthwaite school campuses. And though we have lived at 28 Rim Rock Road for 12 years, her heart was still at 1608 Fisher, the church parsonage where she raised her children. She was loved by many and will be missed by more. How we thank the Lord for her, whether she was Juel Ann, Mrs. Holtzclaw, Juels, or Aunt Juel Ann, etc. She was quite a gal and a “jewel” of a person.
Services will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Goldthwaite, Texas Interment will follow at Goldthwaite Memorial Cemetery, Goldthwaite, Texas. Arrangements by Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home, Goldthwaite, Texas.
