Louisiana 2023 2023 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HCR44 Introduced / Bill

                    HLS 23RS-1228	ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 44
BY REPRESENTATIVE FIRMENT AND SENATORS B ERNARD AND LUNEAU
CONDOLENCES:  Expresses condolences on the death of Randell Aaron Fletcher
1	A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Randell Aaron
3 Fletcher.
4 WHEREAS, it is with immense sadness and profound regret that the Legislature of
5Louisiana has learned of the passing, on April 12, 2023, of Randell Aaron Fletcher; and
6 WHEREAS, Randell Aaron Fletcher was born in Verda, Louisiana, on July 9, 1935,
7to Aaron and Edna Fletcher; the Fletcher family is one of Grant Parish's oldest pioneer
8families, originally settling in the hills around Verda and Hargis in the late 1700s; and
9 WHEREAS, Randell was a member of the graduating class of 1953 at Verda High
10School; he went on to attend Northwestern State University where he earned bachelor's and
11master's degrees in education; his time as a college student was the only time he had lived
12outside of his beloved Grant Parish; and
13 WHEREAS, Randell married Geraldine Hale, whom he had known since first grade,
14on November 26, 1954; they raised three children, Steve, Becky, and Celeste; and
15 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher began his professional career as a teacher at Colfax High
16School in 1958; he taught for twenty years, during which time he was elected to the Grant
17Parish Police Jury at the age of thirty-five; he stepped away from teaching in 1978 to run for
18the office of tax assessor, which he won handily at the age of forty; and
19 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher faithfully served Grant Parish for twenty years before
20voluntarily stepping down to focus on mission work; he made sixteen trips to various Latin
21American countries to help spread the gospel; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 23RS-1228	ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 44
1 WHEREAS, Randell's most prolific characteristic was his incredible faith; he joined
2Verda Baptist Church in 1948 and faithfully served the church as a deacon from 1957 until
3his passing; he was the church's treasurer for decades and organized many mission trips; and
4 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher played a pivotal role in the meteoric growth of Bank of
5Montgomery, which saw the expansion of its footprint across central Louisiana and into
6Texas after Randell succeeded his father on the board in 1990; and
7 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher was an incredibly civic-minded individual who served his
8community in every manner that he was capable of; he sat on the Red River Waterway
9Commission and was appointed by the governor to sit on the Grant Parish board of election
10supervisors; he represented his community and parish on numerous other boards and
11commissions; and
12 WHEREAS, Mr. Fletcher's survivors include his wife of sixty-eight years, Geraldine
13Hale Fletcher; son, Steve Fletcher; daughters, Becky Reeder and Celeste Fletcher, and her
14husband John Wardlow; grandchildren, Kristen Tarver, and her husband Adam, Joshua
15Fletcher, Carrie Butler, and her husband Blake, Heather Herron, and her husband Joe, Zach
16Reeder, and his wife Samantha, and Leanne Foreman, and her husband Clay; and great-
17grandchildren, Indy Ammons, Luke Butler, Allie Butler, Seth Herron, Kate Herron, Rhett
18Reeder, Brady Foreman, and Camille Foreman; and
19 WHEREAS, Randell Aaron Fletcher was a pillar of Grant Parish; he will be deeply
20missed by all who knew him, but his legacy will live on.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
22express heartfelt condolences on the death of Randell Aaron Fletcher and does hereby extend
23sincerest wishes that his family, friends, and loved ones find comfort in their shared
24memories of his life.
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)]
HCR 44 Original 2023 Regular Session	Firment
Expresses the condolences of the legislature on the death of Randell Aaron Fletcher.
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