Julia (Tissie) Ruth Wharton Sweet of Savoy, Texas passed away at the age of 86 on September 3, 2023 and has now joined her husband of 65 years, Royce Hubert Sweet, in the arms of their Lord and Savior. Julia was the daughter of Turner Ashby Wharton, Jr., M.D. and Ruth Joy Jones Wharton. She was born in Sherman, Texas on December 30, 1936.

Julia wrote and self-published an autobiography of her life called, “My Cup Runneth Over.” She states in the dedication, “God’s richest gift to me on this earth (was) my husband Royce.” Together they dedicated many hours to enriching the lives of countless children. They dedicated many weeks of each summer as sponsors at a Christian summer camp, Julia taught Sunday school at every church they attended, she was the director of the Keller Church of Christ Preschool, director of Western Heights Church of Christ Preschool in Sherman and together, Julia and Royce served as house-parents at Christ Haven Children’s Home in Keller. After leaving the children’s home, they continued to sponsor several children in their own home.

Julia graduated with a Master’s Degree in Library Science from TWU in 1985. She graduated simultaneously with her daughter, Naomi Sweet Bonney. She worked professionally as a Certified Records Manager. She dedicated only a small portion of her life to a career and education, with impressive achievements. However, her crowning achievements were in her dedication to God and her love of family.

Many people’s lives were changed through Julia’s prayers and hard work. Julia was known by many names: Mother, Mama, Memaw, Mamaw and Ma by her children and grandchildren. She was affectionately called “Tissie” by her husband, Royce, Mrs. Sweet by the hundreds of children she taught in Sunday school and Julia by the many women she taught in ladies Bible classes. She made a life-long impression on the lives of many children and adults. Julia was preceded in death by her husband Royce H. Sweet; her parents, Turner Ashby Wharton, Jr., M.D. and Ruth Jones Wharton; her grandparents the Reverend Turner A. Wharton, Sr., D.D. and Floy Hurt Wharton; and George Walton Jones and Julia Lee Clement Jones.

Julia leaves behind two siblings; Turner Ashby Wharton, III and Ruth (Pixie) Clair Wharton. She is survived by her children, son Michael Sweet and wife Lupe, son Jeff Sweet and wife Stephanie, daughter Naomi Sweet Bonney and husband Jerry. Her grandchildren are Joshua Bonney, Spencer Wade, Mark Bonney, Jeremy Sweet, Ashley Sweet Burchfield, Stephanie Bonney Martin, Cindy Sweet and Emily Sweet. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Wyatt Bonney, Roan Sweet, Cooper Bonney, Justin Wade and Ellie Burchfield.

Julia wrote the following words which best sum up her life: “It is my earnest prayer…. that each of those whose lives have been so bound up in mine will always seek the way of excellence…hard times will come…but through it all there is a way to live in assurance and here it is: ‘He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?’ Micah 6:8”

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Christ’s Haven for Children, 4200 Keller-Haslet Road, Keller, Texas 76244. Family and friends visitation is come and go Wednesday, September 6, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00  PM at Mullican-Little Funeral Home 754 State Hwy 56 E. Bells, Texas 75414. Funeral services will be Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Mullican-Little Funeral Home.