Brazoria Heritage Foundation

Meet the board Members

Our Foundation is ran by a group of volunteers who dedicate many hours of their lives to strive to meet the goals of the Foundation each year.

David Jordan

President

Born and raised in Brazoria, I have been called by a higher power to give back to my community. 22 years ago while serving Columbia-Brazoria School District, the opportunity came for a partnership with Brazoria Heritage Foundation to save some of the history of Brazoria. While not serving on the original Board of Directors, I have been involved with BHF from the beginning. Through the years BHF has continued the dream of “preserving the past for the future”. It has and will always be part of my commitment to Brazoria to educate the community of our rich history and also preserve as much of it as we possibly can. I along with my family stand by this commitment and pray that more people are exposed to and show an interest into our past. Thank you for your continued support of our organization.

Wayman Hutchings

Vice President

Dedicated citizen in the West of the Brazos area. A passion for the local communities, and a love for all things Historical.

Pam Browning

Treasurer

Judi Downing

Judi Downing

Secretary

Dr. Judi Downing Ph ED, “I am proud to serve as secretary of BHF once again. I am the only board member who has been on the board from the inception of this great organization. I have seen many changes in our organization, especially in technology and I can’t wait to see how much more we improve. I look forward to many more years as a board member.”

 
chris

Christine Reifel

Publicity Director

I have been a resident of Brazoria for approximately 30 years. Although not born here, I attended school in West Columbia and graduated from Columbia High School. Since that time, I have continued to make Brazoria my home. In 2024, I joined the Brazoria Heritage Board, and in February 2025, I assumed the role of Publicity Director. I value the opportunity to contribute to the community and take great pride in supporting the mission of the Brazoria Heritage Foundation. My work with the Foundation has deepened my appreciation for the history of the place I am proud to call home.

Bruce Crecy

Rental Coordinator

Bruce Crecy is a director and rental coordinator for the Brazoria Heritage Foundation Inc. in Brazoria, Texas. He is a graduate of Paul Quinn College and is also associated with Crecy Management and Consulting, which offers services such as accounting, sod installation, tree limb cleanup, etc. I value the support of our community in preserving an important part of Brazoria’s history.

Mary Ashley Henneberg

Membership

Born and raised in Brazoria. I am glad to be apart of organization that does so much for community. I attended the school that the organization resides in, before it became Heritage Foundation.  It holds so much history in these walls. It is a true blessing helping to preserve it and teach the future generations about it. Thank you for your continued support of our organization.

Susan Harang

Museum Director

I am Susan Harang, Board Member and Museum Director. I have lived in Brazoria for 45 years and I am married to a 5th generation Brazorian. He may have the family history here but I am related to more Brazorians. I am a retired school teacher, member of the Chamber of Commerce and Brazoria County Fair Association. I love Brazoria and all of its history.  

3

Becky Danford

Board Member - Santa Anna Ball Chairman

“My father in law Doyle Danford and my Uncle Johnny Greenberg were very active for the Heritage Association.”

“I am proud to carry on the tradition in both of their memories.”

jerry

Jerry Measells

Board Member

I am happily married to Debbie Measells with 5 kids. I use to work for Brazoria Library as a Branch Managers before i retired. I have seen the world by visiting 50 states and 12 countries. I now dedicate my time at Brazoria Heritage Foundation Preserving the History that it holds. Thank you to community for the continued support. 

cheryl

Cheryl Trafton

Board Member

“I have been with the Brazoria Heritage foundation since the beginning and later became a board member. I grew up in Brazoria and even went to school in this building. Texas and Brazoria history is a passion of mine.”

Margaret

Margaret Baugh

Board Member

I have been married to my husband, Daniel, for 35 years. I earned my BS in Elementary Education K-8 from The University of Southern Mississippi. I taught Kindergarten at Thames Elementary in Mississippi for 5 years before moving to Texas in 1997.( I wasn’t born in Texas, but got here as fast as I could.) I taught at Brazosport Christian for 5 years before stepping into motherhood. I then had the privilege of homeschooling my two children, who are now grown and thriving. For the past 18 years, I have served as Director of Master’s Academy of Fine Arts and have been a board member with the Brazoria Heritage Foundation for 10 years. In addition to my passion for education, I am a STOTTS-trained Pilates instructor. I am also a lifelong cat lover who enjoys spending time with my family, walking in the East Texas woods, and painting.

2

Ashley Lancaster

Board Member

Mother, Wife and dedicated servant to the local community. 

A passion of preserving the history and continuing the efforts of BHF. 

Jackie

Jackie Frazer

Board Member

This is my first year serving on the Brazoria Heritage Foundation board. I have been married to my husband, Loren, for 26 years, and we have two children and four grandchildren. My passion for serving the community began five years ago when I opened the Burnt Biscuit. I have also served as a board member of the Brazoria Chamber of Commerce for the past three years. I enjoy helping preserve history for future generations.

angie

Angie Corley

Board Member

I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and hold an associate degree. I spent five years working in the chemical industry before moving into higher education, where I worked at Brazosport College for over ten years. For the past seven years, I have been with Stewart’s. I am the proud mother of three children, and “Mom” remains the most meaningful title I hold. I also serve on the Heritage Foundation Board and am active with the Lions Club, roles I embraced with the encouragement of my husband, Ken Corley. Through these involvements, I continue to learn and grow. I am committed to preserving history, knowing it plays a vital role in protecting the future for generations to come.

Board Member Emeritus

19

Bob and Tissie Schwebel

Board Member Emeritus

After being approached by a committee to save the Brazoria Elementary School complex from demolition, I was elected the first President of the newly formed Brazoria Heritage Foundation. At the time, it was believed that two of the seven buildings were beyond repair. Twenty-two years later, every building has been preserved. Now, as a retired board member, my role is to provide guidance to the current board as it continues the work of sharing the history of Brazoria and the early State of Texas. My wife, Tissie, and I remain committed to assisting in every way we can. Thank you for your support in bringing the Foundation to where it is today.

judy gatton

Gary and Judy Gatton

Board Member Emeritus

Gary and Judy are charter and lifetime members of the Brazoria Heritage Foundation, where they’ve played essential roles since its founding. Their shared passion for local history, community service, and preservation has left a lasting mark on Brazoria. Gary moved to the Brazoria area in the early 1980s and quickly became active in local civic life. A retired Research Chemist from Dow Chemical Company and a former Nuclear Weapons Specialist in the U.S. Air Force, Gary used his retirement to give back. He helped launch the original Brazoria Community Museum at the public library—an effort that eventually grew into what is now the Brazoria Heritage Foundation. Over the years, he served as Vice President, President, and the dedicated groundskeeper, keeping the property well-maintained for the community. Judy, a Brazoria native, has spent a lifetime serving her hometown. After a successful career in Property & Casualty Insurance, including founding the Brazoria Insurance Agency, she devoted much of her energy to volunteer work. A proud graduate of Brazoria Elementary and Junior High, she had a personal connection to the site that became the BHF’s home. Judy was a driving force behind the Foundation’s formation and served faithfully as Treasurer for over 17 years. Together, Gary and Judy embody the spirit of the Brazoria Heritage Foundation—dedicated, hands-on, and deeply rooted in the history and heart of their community.

18

Berniece Smith

Board Member Emeritus

Retired teacher with a passion for preserving history and educating about the local Black History.

jim williams

Jim Williams

Board Member Emeritus

After retiring from Phillips and becoming involved with the Brazos Valley Railroad Society, we began searching for a new home. The Brazoria Heritage Foundation provided an excellent opportunity to relocate to Brazoria and take part in the Foundation’s work. I have served on the Board of Directors and spent several years as chairman of facility maintenance. Despite health challenges, the Foundation and the Railroad Museum remain a strong passion of mine. Both preserve and share the rich history of early Brazoria.

Phil Cyr

Board Member Emeritus

Philip was born in 1936 in Washington, D.C., and moved with his family to Belaire, Texas in 1948. He attended St. Thomas High School and later earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Following graduation, he served three years in the United States Navy aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Fleet. He then worked six years in the aerospace industry before joining BASF in 1969, where he remained for 21 years until his retirement. He continued his career with Gulf States Inc. for an additional nine years. In 2012, Philip joined the Brazoria Heritage Foundation and dedicated more than a decade of service before retiring in 2023. He now resides in Lake Jackson, Texas, with his son. Thank you to the community for their continued support in bringing the Foundation to where it is today.