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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 111
BY SENATOR GALLOT AND REPRESENTATI VE JEFFERSON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Irene
Baldwin.
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin, (known as "Sister"), was born July 13, 1924, to the late
Floyd Rice Jr. and Annie Smith Rice, in Natchez, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, she accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age at Milford Baptist
Church, attended Milford School, and graduated with honors as the valedictorian of her
class; and
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin was married to the late Reverend Shead Baldwin Sr. and
born to this union were eight children, one of whom passed in July 1968; and
WHEREAS, Reverend and Mrs. Baldwin believed in educational opportunity and
made sure each of their children received diplomas and later enrolled in a college of their
choice; and
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin later studied and received her certification in social work,
through programs provided by the State Department of Health and Human Services and her
work experience included the Belmont Hotel and social work through the Department of
Human Resources in Natchez, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Baldwin moved her membership from Milford B.C. to King
Solomon B. C. in the city of Natchez, where she served on the Usher Board and Deaconess
Board, worked in the JMA ministry, the Missionary Society, and sponsored the Red Circle
and the YWA for many years; and
WHEREAS, each year she worked and raised money to take youth on trips
throughout the country as she believed that all children should be exposed to as much as
possible; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Baldwin stood by her husband during his forty-six years as a
pastor and was by his side during the Civil Rights Movement of the late fifties and sixties
as she and her children endured harassment, verbal and sometimes physical abuse during his
back-to-back terms as President of the NAACP during the sixties; and SCR NO. 111 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, she was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Annie Rice; her
husband, Reverend Shead Baldwin Sr.; her son, Shead Baldwin Jr; son-in-law Prince Borten;
daughter-in-law Patricia Lewis Baldwin; her brothers: Lee Oscar Rice,
Reverend Floyd Rice III, George Woods Jr., Robert Woods, Monroe Woods, Roy Reese
Rice, Mack Roy Rice, Clarence Pullins, Rev. Horace Pullins, Willie Pullins, and Freddie
Pullins; her sisters: Nellie Rice Yancy, Ora Lee Batiste, and Annie Mae Pettis and her
stepmother Pearline Rice; and
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin leaves five daughters, Eloise Harris (Dave), Dr. Odessa
Borten (Prince-deceased), Dr. Betty Cade (Robert), Martha Jean Fairley (Leonard), Dr.
Annie Bass (B.J.); two sons, retired Lieutenant Roosevelt "Johnny" Baldwin
(Patricia-deceased) and Dr. Jerry Baldwin (Juliet), and one adopted son, James Baldwin
(Dora); twenty grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, two
great-great-grandchildren, one aunt, Marie Rice, and godchildren Clarence Hayes, Johnny
Lee Rice, and Anthony Dunbar; four brothers, Percy Rice (Jessie),
Roosevelt Woods (Freddie Mae), Ernest Johnson (Ollie), and Flemon Pullins (Susie); six
sisters, Dora Stanton, Eugenia Lewis, Velma McCray (Wilbert), Rosie Lee Woods,
Edna Harper, and Florida Anthony (Randolph), and a host of relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, Irene Baldwin was a kind and gentle soul and upon her death the world
lost a unique individual who left an indelible mark on the lives of all those who had the
honor of meeting her or the privilege of having known her; and
WHEREAS, her passing has left a void in her community and has created a genuine
sense of profound sorrow for her friends and family and will be forever remembered.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express sincere condolences to the family of Irene Baldwin on the occasion of her death.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES