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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 111
BY SENATOR GALLOT AND REPRESENTATI VE JEFFERSON
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere condolences upon the death of Irene Baldwin.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Irene2
Baldwin.3
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin, (known as "Sister"), was born July 13, 1924, to the late4
Floyd Rice Jr. and Annie Smith Rice, in Natchez, Mississippi; and5
WHEREAS, she accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age at Milford Baptist6
Church, attended Milford School, and graduated with honors as the valedictorian of her7
class; and8
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin was married to the late Reverend Shead Baldwin Sr. and9
born to this union were eight children, one of whom passed in July 1968; and 10
WHEREAS, Reverend and Mrs. Baldwin believed in educational opportunity and11
made sure each of their children received diplomas and later enrolled in a college of their12
choice; and13
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin later studied and received her certification in social work,14
through programs provided by the State Department of Health and Human Services and her15
work experience included the Belmont Hotel and social work through the Department of16
Human Resources in Natchez, Mississippi; and17
WHEREAS, Mrs. Baldwin moved her membership from Milford B.C. to King18 SCR NO. 111
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Solomon B. C. in the city of Natchez, where she served on the Usher Board and Deaconess1
Board, worked in the JMA ministry, the Missionary Society, and sponsored the Red Circle2
and the YWA for many years; and 3
WHEREAS, each year she worked and raised money to take youth on trips4
throughout the country as she believed that all children should be exposed to as much as5
possible; and 6
WHEREAS, Mrs. Baldwin stood by her husband during his forty-six years as a7
pastor and was by his side during the Civil Rights Movement of the late fifties and sixties8
as she and her children endured harassment, verbal and sometimes physical abuse during his9
back-to-back terms as President of the NAACP during the sixties; and10
WHEREAS, she was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Annie Rice; her11
husband, Reverend Shead Baldwin Sr.; her son, Shead Baldwin Jr; son-in-law Prince Borten;12
daughter-in-law Patricia Lewis Baldwin; her brothers: Lee Oscar Rice,13
Reverend Floyd Rice III, George Woods Jr. , Robert Woods, Monroe Woods, Roy Reese14
Rice, Mack Roy Rice, Clarence Pullins, Rev. Horace Pullins, Willie Pullins, and Freddie15
Pullins; her sisters: Nellie Rice Yancy, Ora Lee Batiste, and Annie Mae Pettis and her16
stepmother Pearline Rice; and17
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin leaves five daughters, Eloise Harris (Dave), Dr. Odessa18
Borten (Prince-deceased), Dr. Betty Cade (Robert), Martha Jean Fairley (Leonard), Dr.19
Annie Bass (B.J.); two sons, retired Lieutenant Roosevelt "Johnny" Baldwin20
(Patricia-deceased) and Dr. Jerry Baldwin (Juliet), and one adopted son, James Baldwin21
(Dora); twenty grandchildren, twenty -four great-grandchildren, two22
great-great-grandchildren, one aunt Marie Rice, and godchildren Clarence Hayes, Johnny23
Lee Rice, and Anthony Dunbar; four brothers Percy Rice (Jessie), Roosevelt Woods (Freddie24
Mae), Ernest Johnson (Ollie), and Flemon Pullins (Susie); six sisters, Dora Stanton, Eugenia25
Lewis, Velma McCray (Wilbert), Rosie Lee Woods, Edna Harper, and Florida Anthony26
(Randolph), and a host of relatives and friends; and27
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin was a kind and gentle soul and upon her death the world28
lost a unique individual who left an indelible mark on the lives of all those who had the29
honor of meeting her or the privilege of having known her; and30 SCR NO. 111
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WHEREAS, her passing has left a void in her community and has created a genuine1
sense of profound sorrow for her friends and family and will be forever remembered. 2
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby3
express sincere condolences to the family of Irene Baldwin on the occasion of her death.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
Gallot SCR No. 111
Expresses condolences upon the death of Irene Baldwin.