Page 1 of 3 Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 69 BY SENATOR BROOME A RESOLUTION To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Bishop Richard V. Allmon Sr. WHEREAS, it is with great sadness and sense of loss that the death of Bishop Richard V. Allmon Sr., pastor at Full Gospel United Pentecostal Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana at age fifty-seven, on April 15, 2012, shortly after offering his final sermon entitled, "I've Done Enough", a sermon focused on inspiring his church family to take the messages and lessons learned over the years and applying them to actions in their own lives; and WHEREAS, Richard V. Allmon was born to Veodis J. and Erma Allmon on August 21, 1954, at University Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he attended Pfeifer and Carver Elementary Schools, then West Side Junior High, and graduated from Central High School in 1972, where he ranked in the top ten of his class and his academic achievements included a full scholarship to the United States Air Force Academy; and WHEREAS, he proudly served his country for four and a half years in the United States Air Force achieving the rank of sergeant and, after an Honorable Discharge, he became a certified electrician working with IBEW 130 in New Orleans; and WHEREAS, on October 2, 1972, Richard Allmon married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Ann Straw and their union resulted in the births of twelve children: Richard Jr., Renarda, Raymond, Ravonne, Reginald, Rachel, Robert, Reuben, Rebecca, Ryan, Lois and Ramahd; and WHEREAS, he and his wife were baptized on August 18, 1974, and served under the leadership of Elder G. A. Coleman at New Testament United Pentecostal Church in Shreveport, Louisiana; and SR NO. 69 ENROLLED Page 2 of 3 WHEREAS, Bishop Allmon received his calling to the ministry in 1977, earned his Certificate of Ordination from the United Pentecostal Church International in 1979 and an Associate of Theology degree from Christian Life College in 1990, and continued to earn his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and culminating in a Master of Divinity with a specialization in Biblical Languages from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and WHEREAS, he had a life-long love of education and while homeschooling his own children, Bishop Allmon was inspired to establish the Full Gospel Christian Academy which served students from kindergarten through 8th grade and he and his wife also worked to establish the S. E. Mackey Community and Fitness Center, community programs and ministerial alliances to address the holistic needs of the families that they served; and WHEREAS, Bishop Allmon was a born leader and traveled throughout the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, building churches and bringing souls to Christ, he and First Lady Allmon built the Tabernacle of Truth United Pentecostal Church in 1982 in Gray, Louisiana before his election as Pastor of Full Gospel United Pentecostal Church in 1983, where he served until his death; and after Elder Coleman's death in 1993, Bishop Allmon also served as Senior Pastor of New Testament United Pentecostal Church for three years; and WHEREAS, Richard V. Allmon Sr. is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Isaac Allmon Sr. and Virginia Wright; maternal grandfather Willie Brown; his maternal grandmother Jessie "Ma Jessie" Momphrey Mitchell; one brother, Greg "Ross" Stewart; mother and father-in-law, Mable Straw Houston and Major Straw Sr.; and brother-in-law Major Straw Jr.; and WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Lois Straw Allmon; seven sons, Richard Jr. (Demi), Raymond (Rhonda), Reginald, Robert (Shawanda), Reuben, Ryan (Brittany); and Ramahd; five daughters, Renarda Parker, Ravonne (Michael) Allmon-Smith, Rachel, Rebecca Allmon-Boatner and Lois; two brothers, Laurence (Carolyn), Gregory Sr. (Belva); five sisters, Cynthia (James) Woods, Charlotte, and Terry Allmon, Carol (Eddie) Watson and Tracy (Anthony) Jemerson; two sisters-in-law, Emma Jean Jones and Mabeline (Louie) Lewis; one brother-in-law, Larry (Linda) Straw; ten grandchildren, Romeo Parker, Kristopher and Kaleb Allmon, Logan Smith, David Allmon-Haynes, Khobe Allmon, Liyah and Leric Boatner, Samara and Ryan Allmon Jr.; four aunts, Viola (Richard) Gentry, SR NO. 69 ENROLLED Page 3 of 3 Katherine Wright-Knight, Paulette Chatman and Shelia Brown; an uncle, Jesse (Beverly) Wright; one godson, Anthony (Angela) Rogers Sr.; one goddaughter, Lauren Tillery; a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, great nephews, cousins, church family and friends in whom Bishop Richard V. Allmon will be forever remembered. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Bishop Richard V. Allmon Sr. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Mrs. Lois Straw Allmon. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE