SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 22
In Memory
of
Mark Allen McWilliams
WHEREAS, Words cannot express the sorrow felt by family and
friends at the loss of the Reverend Mark Allen McWilliams of
Starrville Methodist Church, who died on January 3, 2021, at the
age of 62; and
WHEREAS, Mark McWilliams was born in Amarillo on May 17,
1958, and in 1976, he graduated from Amarillo High School, where
he was a member of the wrestling team; he went on to work for 20
years at the U.S. Department of Energy's Pantex Plant in
Amarillo; and
WHEREAS, A man of deep religious conviction,
Mr. McWilliams was licensed as a minister by the International
Ministerial Fellowship, and after his retirement from Pantex, he
became a hospice chaplain in Bullhead City, Arizona; over the
years, he also preached at several churches in Amarillo,
including Ministerios La Cosecha; in addition, he and his wife,
Rosemary, were members and prayer ministers at Trinity
Fellowship Church; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, Pastor McWilliams and his wife moved to
East Texas, and in June 2019, he was called to become the pastor
of Starrville Methodist Church, where he also started a weekly
community prayer service; he tragically lost his life defending
his congregation from an intruder; and
WHEREAS, Mark McWilliams lived a rich and purposeful life
dedicated to his faith, and although he was taken much too soon,
he leaves behind a legacy of service that will continue to
inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Mark Allen
McWilliams and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his
family: to his wife, Rosemary; to his brother, Laine McWilliams;
to his niece and nephew, Alyssa Jenkins and Dustin McWilliams;
and to his great-niece, Makala Robertson; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns
this day, it do so in memory of Mark Allen McWilliams.
Hughes
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 9, 2021, by
a rising vote.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate