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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed a |
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| 6 | 7 | | special occasion, and Marguerite Smith Latson of Houston is |
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| 7 | 8 | | celebrating this momentous milestone in her life on March 21, 2015; |
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| 8 | 9 | | and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, A native and lifetime resident of the Bayou City's |
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| 10 | 11 | | Fifth Ward, the former Marguerite Smith was born in 1935 to Charlie |
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| 11 | 12 | | and Hattie Smith and enjoyed the companionship of 12 siblings |
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| 12 | 13 | | growing up; she attended Bruce Elementary School and graduated with |
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| 13 | 14 | | honors from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1953; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, She married Ezekiel Latson, and together they |
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| 15 | 16 | | nurtured a fulfilling marriage of nearly a half-century until his |
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| 16 | 17 | | passing; she spent many years caring for their home and raising |
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| 17 | 18 | | their 13 children, Derrick, Reginald, Masha, Farley, Ray, Kelvin, |
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| 18 | 19 | | Cynthia, Craig, Lisa, Vincent, Jeffrey, Sherri, and Jocelyn, and |
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| 19 | 20 | | Mrs. Latson also helped care for her nieces, Kim, Terry, Angela, |
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| 20 | 21 | | and Emily, in the family home; today, she is the proud matriarch of |
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| 21 | 22 | | a family that includes her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; |
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| 22 | 23 | | and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Devoted to her Christian faith, Mrs. Latson sang in |
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| 24 | 25 | | the choir at New Testament Baptist Church in her youth, and later |
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| 25 | 26 | | worshipped at Greater Mount Olive and Watts Chapel Baptist |
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| 26 | 27 | | Churches; for the last several decades, she has been a valued and |
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| 27 | 28 | | active member of Bringhurst Street Good News Church, led by her son, |
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| 28 | 29 | | Senior Pastor Jeffrey Latson; she currently serves on the pastoral |
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| 29 | 30 | | support team and holds the title of church mother, and she has been |
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| 30 | 31 | | recognized for her service to the congregation with Mother of the |
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| 31 | 32 | | Year honors in 1982 and 1997; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, This esteemed woman has also demonstrated her |
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| 33 | 34 | | commitment to her wider community by mentoring young people in the |
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| 34 | 35 | | Hutton Street neighborhood; moreover, she was actively involved in |
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| 35 | 36 | | her children's academic lives, volunteering her time to the Houston |
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| 36 | 37 | | Independent School District and becoming the first African American |
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| 37 | 38 | | woman on the HISD Parental Advisory Board; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Dedicated to her family and fellow residents, |
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| 39 | 40 | | Marguerite Latson may reflect with pride on her eight decades of |
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| 40 | 41 | | life well lived, and it is indeed a pleasure to join with her |
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| 41 | 42 | | friends and loved ones in honoring her on this memorable occasion; |
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| 42 | 43 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Marguerite Latson on her 80th |
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| 45 | 46 | | birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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| 46 | 47 | | happiness; and, be it further |
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| 47 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 48 | 49 | | prepared for Mrs. Latson as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 49 | 50 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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