SLS 19RS-2256 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 125
BY SENATOR BARROW
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Pastor Jesse B. Bilberry Jr. upon his retirement after 35
years of pastoral service.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend Pastor Jesse Bernard Bilberry Jr. upon his retirement after 35 years of pastoral
3 care and to congratulate this "Man of God" for his anointed and exemplary service
4 to mankind in fulfillment of his God-given assignment.
5 WHEREAS, he is the oldest of ten siblings, born on May 12, 1929, in Marion,
6 Louisiana, to the union of Rev. Jesse Bilberry Sr. and Joe B. Bilberry; and
7 WHEREAS, Pastor Bilberry Jr., at the early age of fourteen, confessed Christ and
8 was baptized at the Blooming Grove Baptist Church in Farmerville, Louisiana; and
9 WHEREAS, he received an honorable discharge in 1953 from the United States
10 Army after having fought in the Korean War, between his educational attainments; and
11 WHEREAS, Pastor Bilberry Jr., attained a BA in Social Studies and English from
12 Southern University in 1951; an MA in Education from Louisiana State University in 1957;
13 an MA in Theology in 1988 and a Doctorate of Theology in 1990 from Christian Bible
14 College; and
15 WHEREAS, Pastor Bilberry Jr. wedded Verta Lee Hamilton on December 23, 1953,
16 is celebrating sixty-six years and praying for more; and
17 WHEREAS, to this joyful union was born a daughter, Cassandra Gail Bilberry, who
18 because she was obediently raised in accordance to God's child-rearing plans, the result is
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SLS 19RS-2256 ORIGINAL
1 a God-fearing daughter who honors God with her life; and
2 WHEREAS, at twenty-six he became a trailblazer, becoming the youngest black
3 principal of a school in the state, taking over at the segregated Tensas Rosenwald High
4 School in St. Joseph, Louisiana, from 1956-1969; and
5 WHEREAS, Pastor Bilberry's career as an administrator included working in various
6 positions such as the Director of the Freshmen Complex and in the Office of High School
7 Relations at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and
8 WHEREAS, Pastor Bilberry Jr. accepted his call to the ministry in 1981 and accepted
9 the pastorate calling of Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church on January 16, 1984; and
10 WHEREAS, Pastor Bilberry Jr. said "Teaching and pastoral care are among my
11 strengths as a pastor" which he proved through his many awards, positions, and
12 accomplishments earned during his pastoral service; and
13 WHEREAS, he has been recognized as Minister of the Year by the Early Risers
14 Kiwanis Club, is a two-time recipient of M.A. Tally Walk on the Water Award from the
15 Dept. of Christian Education Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist
16 Convention, USA, Inc, been instrumental in building the Fourth District Congress of
17 Christian Education while moving Christian Education from an idea to reality, awarded
18 Frontiersman Award for leading missionary journeys to Dominica, West Indies, for twenty
19 years and the directors' Mr. Christian Education Award from the Sunday School Publishing
20 Board of National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., and received numerous awards for his
21 administrative, educational, and teaching skills; and
22 WHEREAS, the members he shepherds are known for saying, "We thank God for
23 his gift to Mount Pilgrim in the person of our pastor, Jesse Bernard Bilberry Jr."; and
24 WHEREAS, Pastor Jesse B. Bilberry Jr. stands as a tall timber exuding Godliness,
25 humility, commitment, dedication, and perseverance as evidenced by his life of service.
26 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
27 commend Pastor Jesse Bernard Bilberry Jr. upon his retirement after 35 years of pastoral
28 care and to congratulate this Man of God for his anointed and exemplary service for God's
29 kingdom.
30 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
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SLS 19RS-2256 ORIGINAL
1 Pastor Jesse B. Bilberry Jr.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Ann S. Brown.
DIGEST
SCR 125 Original 2019 Regular Session Barrow
Commends Jesse B. Bilberry Jr. upon his upon his retirement after 35 years from pastoral
services.
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