Meet Our Staff

Roberta Thornton

Ambassador

Serving as an ambassador since 2011, Roberta Thornton joined the staff after retiring from her job as a counselor. Roberta taught English and journalism and counseled at the high school level in three different schools; she was at Liberty High School for 11 years. She finished up at Windham School District and now substitutes in Beaumont at a private school for ages three through eighth grade, in addition to working at Allison Funeral Home.

Roberta has been married to her husband since 1979 and raised three sons that are all married, have families and live in various parts of the country. She and her husband are members at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and she is a part of the altar crew. Roberta is a member and past president of Trivium, a member of the Liberty County Historical Commission, and has a bunco group that has been on-going since the late "90s. Her hobbies include plants, traveling and loving on her pets.

Mary Estelle Vaughn

Ambassador

Estelle has been an Ambassador for Allison Funeral Service since 2010.

Estelle has worked as a security guard since 1992 for Liberty County Sheriffs Office, Patriot Security and Dragon. She lives in Liberty. Estelle has one son, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Estelle is a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the V.F.W.. She is a member of North Main Baptist Church. She loves to bowl, fish and play cards.

John Carter

Ambassador

John has worked at Allison’s for five years after retiring from his position at Enterprise Pipeline Co. of forty-three years. John started his career with a B.S. at McNeese State University and married Agnes Carter and moved to Liberty where he spends his time with his two daughters and their families, with a total of four grandchildren.

John is a twenty-five year member of the Liberty Lions Club and has spent the past five years delivering for Meals on Wheels. John loves golfing, skiing, traveling, casinos, McNeese football, Liberty high-school football and girls select softball. 

Leslie Russell

Administrative Assistant / Ambassador

Leslie has lived in Hardin most of her life. She enjoys working at Allison's and helping other people. She is the mother of two children and is the proud grandmother of two grandchildren and one on the way.

Mark McClelland

Ambassador

Mark McClelland joined Allison Funeral Service as a Funeral Assistant in October, 2011, shortly after retiring as Liberty County Tax Assessor-Collector.  A native of Beaumont, Mark holds degrees from Lamar University, is a former public school teacher, and also taught college courses for Lee College in Baytown.  He is a retired Air Force Reserve Colonel, and was honored to be selected as the Liberty Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Jerri Woolls

Ambassador

Jerri Woolls was the Office Manager for Allison Funeral Service for over 19 years before retiring in 2021,  but continues to  work part time as a funeral ambassador. She and her husband Rody live in Hardin, Texas. They have a son, Philip Woolls, two daughters, Terry Crosser and Jana Watson, and seven grandchildren, Genna, Haley, Faith, Skyler, Garret, Luke and Logan and two great-grandchildren, Tanner and Cameron. She is a member of Hardin Baptist Church. She enjoys cooking, gardening and entertaining her grandchildren.

Charlotte Renee Gressett

Ambassador

Charlotte Renee Gressett is a “people person,” who has been in public life all her working years; she has spent the past 12 years with Allison Funeral Service. Renee is a 5th generation Texan and a direct descendent of A.B. Hardin, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. She is related to just about everyone in the area. She has three children, several grand and great-grandchildren, and a huge amount of extended family, whom she dearly loves. She enjoys being outdoors, overseeing her “ranchette” where she has cattle and mules. She can always be found tending to her garden and her yard. In her free time, Renee enjoys reading, working on a crossword puzzle, watching her beloved Houston Texans and any A&M sports team, playing golf, dancing, and deer and turkey hunting. She is a lifetime member of the Salt Grass Trail Association, and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. She was dubbed the “first lady muleskinner in the Astrodome.” She has also been an active layperson of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Liberty for over 30 years. She feels blessed to minister those who are in need of our services.