Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR396 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 396
2	2	In Memory
3	3	of
4	4	Thomas Jefferson Payne
5	5	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and
6	6	commemorates the life of Dr. Thomas Jefferson Payne, who died
7	7	March 30, 2023, at the age of 87; and
8	8	WHEREAS, The son of James Payne and Vivian Smith Payne,
9	9	Thomas Payne was born in Marlin on October 21, 1935; he accepted
10	10	his call to the ministry in 1973 and enrolled in the Christian
11	11	ministry degree program at the Southern Bible Institute in
12	12	Dallas, and he graduated with honors in 1976; he preached his
13	13	first sermon at Mount Horeb Missionary Baptist Church in Reagor
14	14	Springs on October 7, 1973, and in 1976, he was called to pastor
15	15	the Samaria Baptist Church in Kerens, Texas, where he served
16	16	through 1981; and
17	17	WHEREAS, A distinguished scholar and a devoted spiritual
18	18	servant, Thomas further pursued studies in theology at Dallas
19	19	Bible College and Dallas Baptist University from 1986 through
20	20	1989; and
21	21	WHEREAS, Pastor Payne co-founded the Pearly Gate Baptist
22	22	Church on December 17, 1981, and he ministered faithfully to the
23	23	physical and spiritual needs of his congregation until his
24	24	retirement in 2016; under Pastor Payne's outstanding leadership,
25	25	the church grew dramatically from its original congregation of 22
26	26	to its current membership of over 3,000, and it has provided
27	27	enlightenment, hope, and support to the Dallas community for more
28	28	than 40 years; and
29	29	WHEREAS, Dr. Payne had a distinguished 34-year career with
30	30	LTV Corporation from 1954 to 1988; he held an honorary doctorate
31	31	in humanities from the Southern Bible Institute, and he received
32	32	the Dr. Milton K. Curry Jr. Education Award in 2014; a treasured
33	33	leader in his community, Dr. Payne served as executive board
34	34	treasurer of Southern Bible Institute and as the revival chairman
35	35	of the Oak Cliff Baptist Minister's Union; and
36	36	WHEREAS, Pastor Payne shared 47 devoted years of marriage
37	37	with the late Geraldine Payne; he was blessed once again to find
38	38	love with Sandra Fay Buckley, whom he married in 2006; a loving
39	39	husband, father, and grandfather, Pastor Payne greatly cherished
40	40	his 12 children, his 29 grandchildren, and his 36
41	41	great-grandchildren; and
42	42	WHEREAS, A revered spiritual leader and counselor and an
43	43	esteemed member of the Dallas community, Dr. Thomas Payne
44	44	inspired countless congregates and colleagues as a mentor,
45	45	pastor, and friend, and he will long be remembered with deep
46	46	respect and admiration by all who were privileged to share in his
47	47	life; now, therefore, be it
48	48	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
49	49	Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved
50	50	family of Dr. Thomas Jefferson Payne; and, be it further
51	51	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
52	52	his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas
53	53	Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in
54	54	memory of Dr. Thomas Payne.
55	55	West
56	56	________________________________
57	57	President of the Senate
58	58	I hereby certify that the
59	59	above Resolution was adopted by
60	60	the Senate on April 11, 2023, by a
61	61	rising vote.
62	62	________________________________
63	63	Secretary of the Senate
64	64	________________________________
65	65	Member, Texas Senate