H.R. No. 1736
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Mari Spivey Willis was honored by the City of Odessa
during Black History Month 2023 in recognition of her outstanding
service to her community; and
WHEREAS, From 2018 to 2022, Mrs. Willis represented
District 5 on the Odessa City Council; she was involved in a number
of projects undertaken by the council to improve quality of life for
area residents; at the same time, her brother, Eddy Spivey, was
serving as justice of the peace for Precinct 4, and they enjoyed the
rare distinction of being sibling elected officials; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Willis has also given generously of her time
and talents in a number of other leadership roles; she has served on
the board of West Texas Gifts of Hope, among other organizations; in
addition, she has been a member of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce
Ambassadors, the Black Chamber of Commerce of The Permian Basin,
and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; a woman of strong
faith, she is an active member of St. James Missionary Baptist
Church, where she serves as a deaconess, a Sunday school teacher,
and a member of the Business and Professional Women's Ministry; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Odessa, Mari Willis is the
daughter of Haskell and Myrtle Lee Spivey; she graduated from Ector
High School, the University of Houston, and The University of Texas
Permian Basin; retired from the Ector County Independent School
District after 23 years of teaching, she is supported in all her
endeavors by her husband of 34 years, Kirk Willis; they have been
blessed with two daughters, Mariah Strong and Alisha Slider, and
through the years, their fine family has grown to include their
son-in-law, LaDarius Slider, and four treasured grandchildren,
Nyla, Kayli, Kendi, and Kaiser; and
WHEREAS, Mari Spivey Willis has made a lasting, positive
difference in her community, and her contributions have earned the
deep admiration and appreciation of her fellow citizens; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Mari Spivey Willis on her
recognition by the City of Odessa during Black History Month 2023
and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mrs. Willis as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Davis
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1736 was adopted by the House on May
23, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House