SLS 202ES-440 ORIGINAL
2020 Second Extraordinary Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24
BY SENATOR CARTER
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Lizzie Mae Henry Charles,
community activist in the Algiers Cut-Off neighborhood.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death
3 of Lizzie Mae Henry Charles, a community activist in the Algiers Cut-Off
4 Neighborhood of Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, Lizzie Mae Henry was born January 12, 1936 to Clarence and Ernestine
6 Henry of New Orleans, Louisiana, and she was the eldest of six children born to the couple;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, when Lizzie was twelve her family moved from the Seventh Ward area
9 of New Orleans to make their home in Lower Coast Algiers, known as "the Cut-Off;" and
10 WHEREAS, Lizzie Henry was raised in the Second Baptist Church of the Algiers
11 Cut-Off community where she was baptized and learned to love the Lord; and
12 WHEREAS, as an adult, Lizzie became a member of the Asbury United Methodist
13 Church where she raised her children and participated in numerous church activities,
14 including singing in the Women of Perfection Choir, Sunday school Bible classes, vacation
15 Bible school, prayer and fasting ministry, and the Women of Asbury conferences; and
16 WHEREAS, on May 1, 1951 she married the love of her life, Hammond Charles Sr.
17 and the couple had twelve children raising them in a Christian home filled with love and
18 support; and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 24
SLS 202ES-440 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, in 1967 tragedy struck as Hammond Charles met an untimely death and
2 at only thirty-two Lizzie Charles was left to raise her eight sons and four daughters, two of
3 whom had physical challenges, on her own drawing strength from her work ethic, her faith
4 in God and from the wise teachings of Norman Vincent Peale regarding "positive thinking;"
5 and
6 WHEREAS, Lizzie created a loving and faithful home for her children and with her
7 leadership and example, she and her children deepened their commitment to their
8 community and found opportunities to give back to that community in many ways; and
9 WHEREAS, all of the couple's children took part in athletics, or pageantry, or
10 political activism and religion, based on the strong foundation laid by Lizzie and Hammond
11 before his death; and
12 WHEREAS, Mrs. Charles began her work career as a domestic worker and house
13 manager and subsequently she sought employment with the Orleans Parish School Board,
14 first in food service at Murray Henderson Elementary School and, later, as a transportation
15 monitor; and
16 WHEREAS, Lizzie Charles worked as an election poll worker for many years,
17 stationed at the Cut-Off Recreation Center, where she became a fixture, greeting everyone
18 with her beautiful smile; and
19 WHEREAS, Lizzie Mae Henry Charles was a well-known community activist who
20 worked tirelessly to bring paved streets, lighting, and better schools to the area of Algiers
21 Cut Off, the second oldest neighborhood in the city; and
22 WHEREAS, Mrs. Charles was instrumental in the integration of the Orleans Parish
23 school system, including McDonogh 45 Elementary School, Edna Karr Junior High School
24 (later a high school only), and O. Perry Walker High School; and
25 WHEREAS, Lizzie Charles was committed to improving the quality of education,
26 particularly for those minority children living in the Algiers, Gretna, and McDonogh areas
27 of the West Bank of New Orleans; and
28 WHEREAS, during the years of the struggle for school integration, Lizzie Charles
29 was focused on the rights of minority students in the context of district-wide school
30 integration; and
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 24
SLS 202ES-440 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Lizzie Charles worked with the Cut-Off playground booster club for
2 years and was committed to providing a safe outdoor space for children living in crowded,
3 and sometimes blighted, areas of the West Bank; and
4 WHEREAS, Lizzie Charles became the president of the Friends of Charity
5 Benevolent Society Association, where she worked to provide the best service possible for
6 the association's members; and
7 WHEREAS, Mrs. Charles worked tirelessly within her church and her community
8 working to bring a better way of life to those who lived on the West Bank of New Orleans,
9 particularly Algiers Cut-Off, and has been said to have been a voice for the voiceless during
10 trying times for her community; and
11 WHEREAS, Lizzie was ever the life of the party and was not bothered to be the first
12 on the dance floor when one of her favorite songs was being played; and
13 WHEREAS, Mrs. Charles had many interests, but her greatest passion was for her
14 family; her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews were all the fortunate recipients of
15 her love and the joy that she brought to the life she lived; and
16 WHEREAS, Lizzie Mae Henry Charles was a devoted follower of Christ, a
17 passionate and energetic member of Asbury Methodist Church, the inspiring mother of
18 twelve children whom she raised largely alone after her husband's death, a tireless
19 community activist, working for the children of the West Bank to assure their access to good
20 integrated public schools, and a loving matriarch to a grateful family.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
22 does hereby express sincere condolences upon the death of Lizzie Mae Henry Charles, a
23 community activist in the Algiers Cut-Off Neighborhood of Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Cubie
25 Charles, daughter of Mrs. Lizzie Charles on behalf of the family.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SR 24 Original 2020 Second Extraordinary Session Carter
Expresses condolences upon the death of Lizzie Mae Henry Charles, a community activist
in the Algiers Cut-Off Neighborhood of Orleans Parish, Louisiana.
Page 3 of 3