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Beatrice G. Cortez July 29, 1938 – June 14, 2026 Beatrice G. Cortez was born in Kenedy, Texas on July 29, 1938, to migrant farm workers, Miguel and Josefina Gonzales. Beatrice was the 6th of ten children who helped her parents in the fields to pick cotton and vegetables in Minnesota and other northern states along the way. Beatrice attended Ira Ogden Elementary, Irving Jr. High and in 1957 graduated from Fox Tech High School with a diploma and a certificate in Vocational Office Education. She was a civil service worker at Kelly Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston. She married Andres C. Cortez in 1960 and together they had five (5) children and helped to raise three of her siblings due to the premature death of her mother and the failing health and eventual death of her father. Through these challenges, the family became stronger in their faith and active with their parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church. They joined the Altar Society and La Sociedad de Guadalupe thus deepening their devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. She and her husband volunteered as CCD teachers and eventually joined the Senior Ministries during their senior years. Many of the neighborhood kids memorized her home number as she was often called for guidance and served as a motherly figure, counselor, spiritual mentor, and community leader. She quit her government job to volunteer with Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), today known as COPS/Metro Alliance, an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). It is during this time that she saw the appalling living conditions around her neighborhood and surrounding communities, and she wanted to do something about it. She put her faith into action by speaking up about issues affecting her family, neighbors and community. She was always fighting for those in need. In 1980 she was elected as the 4th President of COPS. She argued and demanded that infrastructure projects be made to improve streets, sidewalks and proper drainage, promoted job training programs like Project Quest, advocated for the ‘No Pass, No Play’ law, demanded affordable housing be made a priority, fought for tax exemptions for seniors to be able to keep their homes and pushed for Palo Alto College to be built in the southside of San Antonio. She was relentlessly pushing voter registration campaigns and encouraging everyone to exercise their right to vote and have their voices heard. She would often go to San Antonio City Council meetings and the Texas Capitol to demand accountability on budgeted items and ensure that low-income communities received proper representation. She would not back down from public officials or wealthy businessmen until she was heard. She selflessly created awareness and demanded improvement for families living in poverty. She was a true servant focused on living the word of God and working in partnership with COPS/Metro Alliance to ensure people were treated fairly and with dignity. She was eventually recruited to work for the Archdiocese of San Antonio to help with parish development and to teach others to organize in the rural areas dealing with immigration, new clean water systems and the denial of the nuclear waste dump in south Texas. Beatrice retired as a program assistant with Housing and Urban Development in 1995. She stayed active with COPS/Metro Alliance by taking part in the renaming ceremony of the Atanacio Garcia Natatorium held in August 2025 and even took part in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of COPS/Metro Alliance held in October 2025. She would often say “If you want peace, work for justice.” Beatrice will be remembered for her community engagement and commitment to fighting for what is right. Beatrice G. Cortez embraced God on June 14, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 87. She was born on July 29, 1938, in Kenedy, Texas. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Andres C. Cortez, of 59 years; parents Miguel & Josefina Gonzales; grandparents Brijido & Dominga Reyes; son David Cortez; Granddaughter Victoria Grace Casillas; sisters Eloisa Roque (Pete), Rosa Perez (Simon), Mary G. Herrera (Edward); brothers Emiliano Gonzales (Beatrice), Miguel Gonzales (Paulita). She is survived by her daughters Patricia C. Flores (Daniel), Mary Elizabeth Garcia (Steve), Victoria C. Casillas (Sam); son Andres Cortez, Jr. (Ana Maria); sister Ermelinda Wyles (Steven); brothers Joe Gonzales (Peggy), Jesse Gonzales (Santa), Robert Gonzales (Debby). She is also survived by grandchildren Matthew R. Flores, Gregory Steven Garcia (Chrissy), Raquel Dolores Garcia, Jacob Anthony Garcia, GySgt Malachi A. Moreno (TSgt Daisy), Travis Casillas, Jhordan Casillas, Diego Andres Cortez and Evelia Mia Cortez; great grandchildren Cooper Steven Garcia, Easton Brooks Garcia, and Savannah Marie Garcia; numerous nieces, nephews, family members and friends. Beatrice was loved by all and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. SERVICES Visitation will begin on Thursday, June 25, 2026, 4:30 PM until 8:00 PM with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 PM at Alamo Funeral Chapels. Funeral Procession will depart the funeral home chapel at 9:45 AM for A holy Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1114 Willow St. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery No. 2 at a later date. ALAMO FUNERAL CHAPELS 624 N. ALAMO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78215 210-554-5000

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Beatrice G. Cortez

July 29, 1938 - June 14, 2026