If you have received a McLennan County jury summons in the past 19 years, you probably knew Clarence Cobb.

You may not have known his name. But Cobb was the effervescent bailiff dressed in the brown sheriff’s office uniform who put a smile on your face by singing his famous “Butter Beans” song, brightening up what otherwise would have been a dreary Monday morning spent on jury duty.

Cobb, McLennan County’s oldest working employee, died Saturday. He was 86 years old.

Clarence Cobb was McLennan County’s oldest working employee. He died Saturday at 86.
Courtesy photo

Known as the “singing bailiff,” Cobb loved people and loved working as bailiff for 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother. He also served as bailiff for the twice-monthly grand jury sessions.

As court business proceeded Monday morning, Strother described the atmosphere as “very poignant” and “very sad.”

Strother said he really felt Cobb’s absence Monday because he did not hear a courtroom of potential jurors burst into laughter in what has become a weekly ritual when Cobb started singing the “Butter Beans” song.

“Today, there was no laughter, and it was very sad,” Strother said. “It seemed awfully empty. We are really going to miss him.”

As Cobb entertained the jury pool, he always would ask for a woman to volunteer to help with one verse. He wouldn’t tell her why but instructed the unsuspecting volunteer to hold up her hands when he pointed to her.

Then he would sing: “See that woman over there, the one with both hands in the air, she’s not pregnant as she seems, ’cause she’s just full of butter beans.”

Cobb started working as a bailiff in 19th State District Court for the late Judge Bill Logue in 1991. Before that, the Bosqueville native and World War II Navy veteran worked for 32 years for the Waco Fire Department as a fire safety instructor.

“He was just an all-around great guy,” Strother said. “He made everybody’s life up here so much easier because he was so willing to do anything that was needed, including walking my dog at times. He had a world of abilities. He could do anything and really had a knack for putting the jurors at ease.”

Courthouse Deputy Kenneth Hutyra, who handles the criminal defendants in the 19th court while Cobb took care of the juries, said Cobb was the type of person who leaves a lasting impression on those he met.

“Working with Clarence and getting to know him was one of the finest experiences I have ever had in my professional career,” Hutyra said. “He was someone who was so willing to do whatever he could to help out and to work together. He was always there to lend an ear, and he could fix anything. It didn’t matter what you asked him to do. He’s just one of those people I will never forget.”

County Judge Jim Lewis said Cobb was a joy to be around, adding that he will be missed.

“He usually put a smile on both acquaintances’ and strangers’ faces because he was a very positive individual,” Lewis said.

A memorial service for Cobb will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.

If Cobb gets hungry on his way to serenade the angels, he won’t have to go too far for his next heapin’ helpin.’

His wife, Betty, plans to put a can of butter beans and a can opener in Cobb’s casket, just like the last verse of his favorite song requests.

“Now when they lay me down to rest, just place a rose upon my breast. Well, I don’t want no evergreens, all I want is butter beans.”

twitherspoon@wacotrib.com

757-5737

‘Butter Beans’ by Little David Wilkins

Well, just a bowl of butter beans. Just pass the corn bread if you please.

Well, I don’t want no collard greens, all I want is a bowl of butter beans.

Well, just a little piece of country ham, just pass the butter and the jam.

Just pass the biscuits if you please, and some more of them good old butter beans.

Now bread and gravy is alright, and a turnip sandwich a delight.

And my children always scream for more good old butter beans.

See that woman over there, the one with both hands in the air. She’s not pregnant as she seems, cause she’s just full of butter beans.

Now when they lay me down to rest, just place a rose upon my breast.

Well, I don’t want no evergreens, all I want is butter beans.