SLS 183ES-23 ORIGINAL
2018 Third Extraordinary Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 14
BY SENATOR MILKOVICH
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Norma Jernigan Blake, wife
of Pastor Harry Blake, retired pastor of Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Shreveport,
Louisiana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Norma Jernigan Blake, wife of Pastor Harry Blake, retired pastor of Mount
4 Canaan Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, Norma Jernigan Blake was born to Claude and Nancy Gilliam Jernigan
6 on January 22, 1938, in Bethany, Texas, and she died, surrounded by her family, in
7 Shreveport on April 21, 2018, at the age of eighty, having suffered a massive stroke; and
8 WHEREAS, Norma Jernigan graduated from Booker T. Washington High School
9 in Shreveport in 1957, and that is where she met Harry Blake, her eventual husband and the
10 man that she adored every day from the moment they were married on August 31, 1958; and
11 WHEREAS, the Blakes were married for a joyous and rewarding fifty-nine years,
12 a testament to the depth of their love and the totality of their commitment to each other that
13 began on that August day in 1958; and
14 WHEREAS, Norma Blake and her pastor husband, Harry, were blessed with four
15 children, two daughters, Elizabeth and Monica, and two sons, Harry and Rodney, and Mrs.
16 Blake adored her children, their spouses, and her sixteen grandchildren; and
17 WHEREAS, while Pastor Harry Blake is widely known as an icon of the Civil Rights
18 movement, Norma Blake took a less public role, which was not a passive role but one of
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SLS 183ES-23 ORIGINAL
1 support as a very important member of a two-person team that fought untiringly for justice
2 and equality; and
3 WHEREAS, Norma Blake was known as the "First Lady" of Mount Canaan Baptist
4 Church and she was an active member of the congregation throughout her husband's fifty-
5 two year tenure at the church; and
6 WHEREAS, Norma Blake was active at Mount Canaan beyond her role as wife of
7 the pastor, organizing a children's summer reading program, etiquette workshops and
8 training for teenage girls, and a women's ministry; and
9 WHEREAS, she served as a premarriage counselor to many couples at the church,
10 and she was a speaker at various events at both Mount Canaan and other congregations; and
11 WHEREAS, Mrs. Blake was a member of the Thirteenth District Missionary Baptist
12 Association Women's Auxiliary and the Louisiana State Baptist Organization, and she was
13 a certified personal care attendant; and
14 WHEREAS, Norma Blake was the recipient of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,
15 Incorporated, "Woman of Distinction Award", and Mount Canaan established the "Norma
16 Blake Living Legend Award" in Mrs. Blake's honor, which annually recognizes Christian
17 women for their service; and
18 WHEREAS, Norma Jernigan Blake was dedicated to her faith, her husband and
19 family, and her church family, all of whom she served faithfully and with great joy, blessing
20 each with her Christian charity and love, making her life and the memory of her an example
21 for all to follow and cherish.
22 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
23 does hereby express sincere condolences upon the death of Norma Jernigan Blake, wife of
24 Pastor Harry Blake, retired pastor of Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Shreveport,
25 Louisiana.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
27 Pastor Harry Blake, beloved husband of Norma Jernigan Blake.
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SLS 183ES-23 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SR 14 Original 2018 Third Extraordinary Session Milkovich
Expresses condolences upon the death of Norma Jernigan Blake, wife of Pastor Harry Blake,
retired pastor of Mount Canaan Baptist Church.
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