H.R. No. 1715
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends were deeply saddened by the
passing of the Reverend Theiss L. Jones of Temple on February 25,
2009, at the age of 71; and
WHEREAS, The son of Theiss Stephen and Hattie Lusby Jones,
Mr. Jones was born on April 10, 1937, in Abilene, and he went on to
graduate from Abilene High School in 1955; four years later, he
earned a bachelor's degree in music from Baylor University, where
he was a president, student conductor, and soloist for both the
Baylor Chapel Choir and the A Cappella Choir; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan began serving as a minister of
music in 1957, and he was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1970;
through the years, he worked with a number of churches, including
Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Lakeside Baptist
Church in Dallas, and First Baptist Church in Temple, and he
assisted the congregations of the Central Baptist Church in Italy,
the First Baptist Church in Fairfield, and the First Baptist
Church-Woodway in Waco on a part-time basis; Reverend Jones was
also employed by Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, and although he
retired in 2002, he continued to accept short-term assignments at
churches in Texas, Vermont, and New Hampshire; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Jones conducted choral, handbell, and
senior adult choir leadership training clinics and led music for
revivals, and he directed choirs, musicals, and pageants for
participants of all ages; in addition, he was a member of the
Singing Men of Texas, the American Guild of English Handbell
Ringers, and the Choristers Guild, and he was involved with Baptist
Church music conferences; having gained membership into the Century
Men in 1972, Reverend Jones served as its president in 1999, and he
traveled across the world through the group's many international
mission projects; and
WHEREAS, A selfless volunteer, Reverend Jones served as a
Bible study leader at various retreats, and he organized youth and
adult mission projects throughout the United States and in Jamaica
and Mexico; Reverend Jones was also active in the Kiwanis Club and
on the advisory board of the Temple-Belton ACTS Television Network,
as well as the advisory committee to the Temple Independent School
District Board of Trustees; moreover, he was inducted into the
Walter Gilewicz Hall of Fame of the University of Mary
Hardin-Baylor, and in 2002, he received the institution's award for
distinguished musicians; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Theiss Jones dedicated his life to his
faith, to his family, and to his community, and memories of him will
continue to inspire all those who were privileged to know him; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of the Reverend Theiss
L. Jones and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family:
to his wife, Suzanne C. Jones; to his children, Samuel Theiss Jones
and his wife, Amy, and Sarah Richardson and her husband, Bill; to
his grandchildren, Zachary Theiss Jones, Stephanie Jones, and Caleb
Theiss, Joshua, and Daniel Richardson; and to his other relatives
and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Theiss L.
Jones.
Sheffield
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1715 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 7, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House