HLS 16RS-4231 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 151
BY REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON
CONDOLENCES: Expresses condolences upon the death of Bessie Mae Watson King
1 A RESOLUTION
2To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Bessie Mae
3 Watson King.
4 WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the Louisiana House of
5Representatives has learned of the death of Bessie Mae Watson King; and
6 WHEREAS, Bessie Mae Watson King, affectionately known as Dear, was born on
7May 12, 1934, in Mer Rouge to Evangelist and Niccie Watson; she departed this life on
8Monday, May 2, 2016; and
9 WHEREAS, she accepted Christ at an early age; she began her work at First
10Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a faithful and dedicated member until she moved
11to Monroe; she was active with the music department, Sunday school, and other church
12auxiliaries; and
13 WHEREAS, she received her education in the Morehouse School District; in 1954,
14she became a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where she remained for more
15than sixty years and served as a choir member and deaconess; and
16 WHEREAS, Mrs. King was a very talented musician; she was the musician for
17various church choirs including St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Peter Rock Baptist
18Church, Friendship Baptist Church, Mary Gross Baptist Church, Spring Hill Baptist Church,
19St. Luke Baptist Church, and Mount Sinai Baptist Church; and
20 WHEREAS, she was well-known locally and nationally for her exceptional musical
21talents; she brought many nationally known gospel artists to northeast Louisiana; and
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HR NO. 151
1 WHEREAS, she was also a member of the Northeast Louisiana Chapter of the
2Gospel Music Workshop of America; and
3 WHEREAS, in 1973, she married the love of her life, Robert L. King; and
4 WHEREAS, in her leisure time, Mrs. King enjoyed fishing and shopping, and she
5especially liked shoes; and
6 WHEREAS, she was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Isiah, Elie, and
7Moses; and her husband; and
8 WHEREAS, Mrs. King is survived by her daughter, Ruth L. Watson-Grant; her son,
9DeBore C. Watson; her siblings, Selma M. Washington, Norwood Watson, Dr. Evangeline
10Brown, Lee Otis Watson, and Roy L. Watson; her grandchildren, DeBore C. Watson, Jr.,
11Kayla K. Watson, Kenithra Knowles, Jacques J. Watson, Jared Watson, Jairus Watson, and
12Jai Robert Watson; her great-grandchildren, Deja Watson, Curtis Watson, Kiara Watson,
13Keona Forney, Kyla Forney, and Kai Forney; her godchildren, the Brown children, Reverend
14John and Candice Russell, II, Sonia Gibson Amos, George Payne, and Reverend Gilbert
15Wilson; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends; and
16 WHEREAS, the death of Bessie Mae Watson King has left a tremendous void in her
17community and has created a genuine sense of sorrow in the many citizens whose lives she
18touched.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
20Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
21death of Bessie Mae Watson King; does hereby record for posterity her manifold
22contributions; and does hereby pay tribute to her for the generous and effective way in which
23she dedicated her intelligence and her energy to the service of her family and friends, her
24community, and the state of Louisiana.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
26to the family of Bessie Mae Watson King.
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HR NO. 151
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 151 Original 2016 Regular Session Jackson
Expresses condolences upon the death of Bessie Mae Watson King.
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