SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 769 In Memory of Willye Stene Witcher Perry Williams WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of longtime educator Willye Stene Witcher Perry Williams, who died April 7, 2009, at the age of 64; and WHEREAS, She was born Willye Stene Witcher in Henderson, Texas, on March 8, 1945; she chose education as her life's vocation because she always liked helping people learn; she earned a bachelor of science degree in education from The University of Texas at Austin in 1967; and WHEREAS, She began her career in Gary, Indiana, as a special education teacher; she relocated to Los Angeles, where she held varied assignments as an educator and received wide recognition for her outstanding talents, being named Teacher of the Year and receiving an Exceptional Teacher Award; and WHEREAS, She also continued her education in California; she earned a master's degree in education and took advanced courses at Pepperdine University and Chapman College; and WHEREAS, Willye Stene Williams retired from the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2000 and continued to work as a substitute teacher for the next eight years; and WHEREAS, She was an educator, humanitarian, and a devout Christian, whose faith continued to grow over the years; she loved traveling; she went to West Africa with the family of Alex Haley and traveled to various parts of Europe and on many cruises; she will be dearly missed by all who knew her; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Willye Stene Witcher Perry Williams and extend sincere condolences to her bereaved family; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Willye Stene Williams. Ellis ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 29, 2009, by a rising vote. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate