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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 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan is truly |
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| 6 | 7 | | cause for celebration, and Essie Beatrice Stephens of Houston |
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| 7 | 8 | | reached that impressive milestone on February 3, 2019; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Born in Hosston, Louisiana, in 1919, Mrs. Stephens |
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| 9 | 10 | | and her sister were raised by their maternal grandparents in Caddo |
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| 10 | 11 | | Parish, Louisiana, where they attended school at Mt. Olive Baptist |
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| 11 | 12 | | Church; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Mrs. Stephens was joined in matrimony to Luther |
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| 13 | 14 | | Hoosin Stephens in 1939, and she shared her life with him for 31 |
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| 14 | 15 | | years until his death in 1970; she is the mother of three daughters, |
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| 15 | 16 | | Erma Ballenger, Agnes Parham, and the late Louise Peters, and she |
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| 16 | 17 | | has also been a mother to Rosetta Mayes; over the years, she has |
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| 17 | 18 | | been further blessed with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and |
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| 18 | 19 | | great-great-grandchildren; and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, A longtime resident of Houston, Mrs. Stephens was |
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| 20 | 21 | | actively engaged in the Independence Heights neighborhood, and she |
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| 21 | 22 | | previously worked for several families as a housekeeper; a |
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| 22 | 23 | | wonderful seamstress, she is skilled at designing, sewing, and |
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| 23 | 24 | | altering everything from children's clothing to wedding gowns; she |
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| 24 | 25 | | is also an expert gardener, renowned for her watermelons, okra, |
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| 25 | 26 | | tomatoes, green beans, and collard and mustard greens; deeply |
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| 26 | 27 | | devoted to her faith, she has been a valued member of Good Hope |
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| 27 | 28 | | Missionary Baptist Church for nearly 80 years; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, A source of wisdom and inspiration, Essie Stephens |
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| 29 | 30 | | has witnessed a panorama of change during a historic century, and |
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| 30 | 31 | | her 100th birthday offers a welcome opportunity for her loved ones |
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| 31 | 32 | | to acknowledge the special place she holds in their hearts; now, |
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| 32 | 33 | | therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 34 | 35 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Essie Beatrice Stephens on her |
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| 35 | 36 | | 100th birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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| 36 | 37 | | happiness; and, be it further |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 38 | 39 | | prepared for Mrs. Stephens as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 39 | 40 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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