H.R. No. 277
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the
passing of the Reverend Dr. Lawrence A. Crenshaw of San Antonio on
December 18, 2010, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, The son of Etha Mae Winn and Marcus Crenshaw,
Lawrence Crenshaw was born in Caldwell County on March 4, 1924; he
grew up learning the value of hard work on his family's 239-acre
farm, where he chopped wood, hauled water, milked cows, picked
cotton, and stripped sugarcane; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Crenshaw decided at an early age to dedicate his
life to the ministry; after graduating from St. John School in Dale,
he attended Conroe College and Mary Allen College, earning
bachelor's and master's degrees in theology and divinity as well as
a doctorate in divinity; and
WHEREAS, During his more than six decades as a pastor,
Reverend Crenshaw shared his knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual
guidance with many congregations, serving churches in Navasota,
Littig, and Round Rock; and
WHEREAS, In 1953, he was called to lead Palestine Baptist
Church in San Antonio, and through the years, he revitalized the
house of worship by creating new outreach ministries to serve
members and area residents in need; under his leadership, the
congregation built a new facility and spread a message of hope to
the greater public through radio and television broadcasts; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his work with Palestine Baptist,
Dr. Crenshaw served his community of faith as a Bible instructor
with Guadalupe College and as vice president and president of the
Sunday School and BYBU Congress; he also held offices on local,
state, and national levels and as chair of the permanent
organization committee, co-chair of the pastor's conference, vice
chair of the finance committee, and historian for the district
association; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Crenshaw exchanged wedding vows with
Estella Washington on September 17, 1947, and the couple had a
rewarding marriage that spanned more than half a century; after his
wife's passing, he was fortunate enough to find love a second time,
and in 2007 he married Mattie Johnson, with whom he shared a special
enjoyment of traveling; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lawrence Crenshaw was a gifted and devoted
pastor who made a profound difference in the lives of those who had
the privilege of hearing him preach, and although he is deeply
missed, he leaves behind a legacy that will be treasured for years
to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Reverend
Dr. Lawrence A. Crenshaw and extend sincere sympathy to the members
of his family: to his wife, Mattie Crenshaw; to his sisters, Cleola
Franks, Rosa Lee Taylor, Ophelia Knox, Dee Dee Bennett, Effie Kemp,
and Julia Crenshaw-Moore and her husband, Willie; 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 the
Reverend Dr. Lawrence A. Crenshaw.
McClendon
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 277 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on February 24, 2011.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House