H.R. No. 1309
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Those Texans who give freely of their time and
talents to benefit the larger community make the world a better
place through their actions, and Elizabeth Graham Hill of Houston,
who passed away on June 1, 2014, was indeed one such person; and
WHEREAS, Born in Olney on July 12, 1924, to Roy Jewel and Ruby
Andrews Graham, Elizabeth Ann Graham grew up on the family ranch in
Anarene; after graduating from Olney High School, where she was
named Most Popular Girl and Band Sweetheart as well as the state
champion in declamation, she attended Stephens College in Columbia,
Missouri, and earned a place on the school's Dean's List; and
WHEREAS, Bitsy Graham, as she was known to friends,
subsequently transferred to The University of Texas at Austin to
study social science, and it was there that she met her future
husband, John Hill; Mr. Hill spent many years in public office,
serving Texas as secretary of state, attorney general, and chief
justice of the state supreme court, and Mrs. Hill unfailingly
supported her husband throughout his career; and
WHEREAS, The couple shared more than six rewarding decades
together before Mr. Hill's passing in 2007; over the years, they
were blessed with a family that grew to include 3 children, Melinda,
John, and Martha, as well as 10 grandchildren and 10
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hill devoted much time and energy to community
service, assuming leadership roles in such organizations as the
Blue Bird Circle and the Settlement Club; a valued member of
St. Luke's United Methodist Church, she hosted the first meetings
of the Young Life ministry in her home in the mid-1960s, and she
completed training as a Stephen Minister in her 80s; above all, she
treasured the volunteer work she did as a mentor to inmates through
the InnerChange Freedom Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Possessed of grace, compassion, and a wonderful
sense of humor, Elizabeth Hill remained engaged in the world
throughout her life and found great joy and inspiration in helping
others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elizabeth Graham
Hill and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to
her children, Melinda Hill Perrin and her husband, Mike, John
Graham Hill and his wife, Lindy, and Martha Hill Jamison and her
husband, Bruce; to her grandchildren, Elizabeth Perrin Eades and
her husband, Jonathan, Carter Perrin and his wife, Lizzy, Hunter
Perrin and his wife, Mary Bonner, John Hill and his wife, Maria,
Peter Hill and his wife, Kelly, Taylor Hill Bawcom and her husband,
Clint, Bo Hill, Matt Clark, Meredith Clark, and Sam Jamison; to her
great-grandchildren, Oliver, Lilla, George, Grace, Eliza, Jackson,
Cecilia, Peter Ryan, Emmy, and Bo; to her niece, Chris Burkett, and
her husband, Harold; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Elizabeth
Graham Hill.
Martinez Fischer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1309 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on April 9, 2015.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House