H.R. No. 1338
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and
meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends
of Mary Virginia Smith Pendergrass, who passed away on October 19,
2019, at the age of 92; and
WHEREAS, The daughter of Henry and Jewel Tate Smith, the
former Mary Smith was born in Huntsville on September 14, 1927; she
graduated from North High School in Columbus, Ohio, and earned a
sociology degree from Baylor University in 1948; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Pendergrass worked as executive director of
the Camp Fire Girls of Alice and went on to serve as president of the
20th Century Study Club and the Parent Teachers Association in
Pittsburg; named Woman of the Year by the Pittsburg-Camp County
Chamber of Commerce, she led efforts to pay domestic workers
minimum wage, and she helped start the county's first Republican
Party; furthermore, she was a Camp County child protective services
officer and an adult probation officer in Mount Pleasant; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, Mrs. Pendergrass moved to Austin, earning
her Texas real estate and broker licenses and specializing in
national relocation for Sherry Brown Realtors; civically engaged,
she twice served as a delegate for Texas State Republican
Conventions and lent her time to the board of directors of the
Austin Musical Theater; she was also president of The Order of the
Daughters of the King and a longtime congregant of St. David's
Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Mrs. Pendergrass enjoyed the
love and support of her husband, Dr. Robert Keith Pendergrass Sr.,
with whom she shared a rewarding marriage of 67 years until his
death; she took great pride in her four children, Robert, Mary,
Henry, and Peter, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren;
and
WHEREAS, Mary Pendergrass showered those she held dear with
unconditional love, and she leaves behind a legacy of faith,
kindness, and generosity that will continue to inspire all who knew
her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Mary Virginia Smith
Pendergrass and extend deepest condolences to the members of her
family: to her children, Robert Keith Pendergrass Jr. and his wife,
Juli, Mary Virginia Lannen and her husband, Rick, Henry Lee
Pendergrass and his wife, Colleen, and Peter William Pendergrass
and his wife, Desiree; to her grandchildren, Virginia Leigh Hart,
John Bucy III, Richard Henry Lannen, Anna Pendergrass Rankin, and
Sarah, Peter, Katherine, Abby, and Annie Pendergrass; to her
step-grandchildren, Whitney and Justin Lannen; to her
great-grandchildren, Catherine, Jackson, and Ryan Hart and Bradley
Bucy; 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 Mary
Pendergrass.
Bucy
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1338 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 26, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House