Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0623 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
3	3
4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 623
5	5	By Lynn
6	6
7	7
8	8	HJR0623
9	9	007262
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12	12	A RESOLUTION to recognize Williamson Chapel CME Church on
13	13	the occasion of its 175
14	14	th
15	15	anniversary.
16	16
17	17	WHEREAS, the churches of our nation have been an integral part of our history as a
18	18	people and have had an unparalleled impact in forming and maintaining a stable and just
19	19	society; and
20	20	WHEREAS, it is appropriate that we should recognize those venerable religious
21	21	institutions and their congregations who, through their unflagging capacity for love, dedication of
22	22	spirit, and faith in God, strive to enrich the lives of people in their communities; and
23	23	WHEREAS, one such dynamic community of faith is that of Williamson Chapel Christian
24	24	Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church in Wilson County, whose members will celebrate the
25	25	church's 175
26	26	th
27	27	anniversary this year; and
28	28	WHEREAS, Williamson Chapel CME Church is located in one of the oldest Black
29	29	American communities in West Wilson County, known as the Needmore community, on land
30	30	that was at one time part of one of the larger plantations in the State of Tennessee; and
31	31	WHEREAS, between 1840 and 1850, the Mastman family gave an acre of land to be
32	32	used to construct both a church and a school for Needmore community residents; the deed was
33	33	registered in the name of Williamson Chapel CME Church trustees Cal Gordon, husband of
34	34	Lizzie Williamson (daughter of Richard and Chaney Williamson), Hiram Williamson (brother of
35	35	Richard Williamson), Joe Johnson, Jessie Parker, and John Horton; and
36	36	WHEREAS, after eight generations, the present-day descendants of Richard and
37	37	Chaney Williamson continue to reside in the Needmore community and surrounding areas; and
38	38	WHEREAS, around 1896, the old log church was torn down, and an oblong frame
39	39	building was erected a few feet from the original edifice; the new structure had no foundation,
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44	44	was supported on stilts, and had no electricity—kerosene lamps were hung on the walls inside
45	45	for lighting, and two large potbelly coal stoves were used as sources of heat; and
46	46	WHEREAS, over the years, the church has benefited from the inspired leadership of
47	47	several ministers, including Reverend A.J. Parker, Reverend A.H. Jenkins, Reverend D.R.
48	48	Wiles, Reverend W.R. Potter, Reverend E. Wiley, and Reverend D.L. Wein; and
49	49	WHEREAS, in 1936, Reverend John H. Britton was assigned to Williamson Chapel, and
50	50	during his tenure with the church, which lasted until his retirement in 1961, he was a mentor to
51	51	those throughout the community and brought overall renewal to the church; under his
52	52	leadership, the building was reconstructed using stone, electricity was installed, and the
53	53	church's first choir was instated; in the 1960s, a choir room and a pastor's study were added to
54	54	the rock structure, and electric heat was eventually installed; and
55	55	WHEREAS, ministers after Reverend Britton include Reverend Clarence Bagwell,
56	56	Reverend Frank Hudson, Reverend Dr. Solomon Shannon, Reverend Wiley Hatchett, Reverend
57	57	George Coleman, Jr., Reverend Raymond Sommerville, Sr., Reverend T.R. Crosslin, and
58	58	Reverend Frederick L. Braddock, Sr.; and
59	59	WHEREAS, in 1984, Reverend George W. Coleman was assigned to Williamson Chapel
60	60	CME Church; under his leadership, the congregation experienced great spiritual and physical
61	61	growth, and the church purchased its first parsonage, organized its first library, and held its first
62	62	retreat. Reverend Coleman's efforts to preserve the two-room school built near the church in
63	63	1936 are today continued by the Williamson Chapel Historic Committee; and
64	64	WHEREAS, in 1989, Reverend Frederick Braddock was assigned to Williamson Chapel;
65	65	the church continued to grow under his leadership, and new ministries were organized and
66	66	implemented, including the male chorus, missionary choir, and men's fellowship. Strong
67	67	emphasis was placed on children and youth ministry, and several youth organizations were
68	68	organized, such as the children and youth choirs and the Leaders of Tomorrow; and
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73	73	WHEREAS, Reverend Braddock also oversaw the installation of padded pews, new
74	74	windows, full-length glass doors, and new carpet, as well as the addition of a new piano and the
75	75	advent of drums during services and renovation of the bathrooms and the parsonage, which
76	76	was paid in full; during his tenure, the land and former elementary school were deeded to the
77	77	trustees of the church; and
78	78	WHEREAS, beginning in July 1998, Reverend Woodrow Harris, Jr., led the church to
79	79	expand its program offerings to include tutoring, book club, computer classes, etiquette classes,
80	80	field trips for children and seniors, and workshops on CPR, home buying, and personal finance;
81	81	he also oversaw the purchase of additional land for church expansion; and
82	82	WHEREAS, after a groundbreaking on April 17, 2005, the congregation moved into its
83	83	new sanctuary on December 18
84	84	th
85	85	of the same year, and the former sanctuary, which was
86	86	approved for the National Register of Historic Places, became the expanded multi-purpose
87	87	facility; and
88	88	WHEREAS, the current pastor of Williamson Chapel CME Church, Reverend Dr. Lynn
89	89	Hargrow, Sr., has served in this capacity since July 2012, implementing his vision of training,
90	90	educating, and developing a greater awareness and desire for spiritual growth and outreach,
91	91	making Williamson Chapel a more purpose-driven church; and
92	92	WHEREAS, as the church celebrates 175 years of service, it continues to be a light in
93	93	the community, and the devout members of the congregation have faithfully striven to carry out
94	94	God's work in the world; and
95	95	WHEREAS, Williamson Chapel CME Church is truly one of the great religious
96	96	institutions and catalysts for positive spiritual change in our State and nation, and the members
97	97	of this exceptional congregation should be appropriately honored for their exemplary service to
98	98	their fellow Christians and the good people of Tennessee; now, therefore,
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103	103	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
104	104	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
105	105	CONCURRING, that we join in the celebration of the 175
106	106	th
107	107	anniversary of Williamson Chapel
108	108	CME Church, thank the good people of this congregation and their ministers for their notable
109	109	service to their Lord and the State of Tennessee, and wish them much continued success and
110	110	happiness.
111	111	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
112	112	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
113	113	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
114	114	without House or Senate designation.