| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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| 6 | 7 | | commemorates the life of Ruth Laverne Wells Wyrick, who died on |
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| 7 | 8 | | April 14, 2023, at the age of 88; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A fourth-generation Texan, Ruth Laverne Wells was |
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| 9 | 10 | | born on September 29, 1934, in Waco; she attended the segregated |
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| 10 | 11 | | A. J. Moore High School and went on to graduate from Southwestern |
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| 11 | 12 | | Christian College in Terrell; she moved to Dallas, where she met |
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| 12 | 13 | | and married Ernest "Deacon" Wyrick, and they settled in Oak Cliff |
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| 13 | 14 | | and shared 59 years of marriage; they were blessed with two |
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| 14 | 15 | | children, Narleski and Natesha; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, A woman of strong Christian faith, Ruth was a |
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| 16 | 17 | | courageous and determined person who was firm in her principles, |
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| 17 | 18 | | and she was guided by her faith in her daily life; she enrolled |
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| 18 | 19 | | her children in private elementary and high schools, and her son |
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| 19 | 20 | | attended Dallas Christian School in 1968 when the school had not |
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| 20 | 21 | | yet been desegregated; when the school was relocated, Ruth joined |
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| 21 | 22 | | other parents in establishing Christian Academy of Oak Cliff, |
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| 22 | 23 | | where she served as a member of the Parent Teacher Organization |
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| 23 | 24 | | and the Ladies Auxiliary for Christian Education; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Ruth and Deacon were faithful members of Marsalis |
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| 25 | 26 | | Avenue Church of Christ in Oak Cliff, where Ruth taught Bible |
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| 26 | 27 | | classes, volunteered as a youth counselor, and supported her |
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| 27 | 28 | | church members as a companion in prayer; she also volunteered |
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| 28 | 29 | | with Lifeline Chaplaincy through Marsalis, and she supported her |
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| 29 | 30 | | husband in his many church responsibilities as well as in their |
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| 30 | 31 | | work with the National Youth Conference of the Churches of |
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| 31 | 32 | | Christ; and |
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| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Ruth was instrumental in creating the Mr. and |
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| 33 | 34 | | Miss National Youth Conference Pageant, one of the most esteemed |
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| 34 | 35 | | activities for youth across the brotherhood; active in the Dallas |
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| 35 | 36 | | chapter of Southwestern Christian College's alumni association, |
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| 36 | 37 | | Ruth raised close to $1.5 million over the past 25 years, and she |
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| 37 | 38 | | won numerous awards for her outstanding service, including |
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| 38 | 39 | | receiving an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2012; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, A mentor to church leaders and ministers and a |
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| 40 | 41 | | believer in the power of political activism, Ruth held various |
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| 41 | 42 | | leadership positions and served her community as chair of the |
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| 42 | 43 | | City of Dallas Martin Luther King Jr. Board; she served as |
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| 43 | 44 | | Democratic Precinct Chair for 50 years and as a Dallas County |
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| 44 | 45 | | election judge for local and state elections, and she attended |
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| 45 | 46 | | the Texas Democratic Convention for 40 years; she was an |
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| 46 | 47 | | influential and charismatic woman whose political endorsements |
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| 47 | 48 | | could inspire multitudes to turn out and support first-time |
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| 48 | 49 | | candidates; and |
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| 49 | 50 | | WHEREAS, In addition to her spiritual and political |
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| 50 | 51 | | activities, Ruth worked for the Dallas Independent School |
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| 51 | 52 | | District for more than 20 years until her retirement in 2009; |
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| 52 | 53 | | above all else, she was a loving wife and mother and a devoted |
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| 53 | 54 | | grandmother to her five grandsons; Ruth gave unselfishly to |
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| 54 | 55 | | others, and her kindness, her passion, and her generous spirit |
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| 55 | 56 | | will long be remembered by all who were blessed to share in her |
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| 56 | 57 | | life; now, therefore, be it |
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| 57 | 58 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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| 58 | 59 | | Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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| 59 | 60 | | family of Ruth Laverne Wells Wyrick; and, be it further |
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| 60 | 61 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 61 | 62 | | her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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| 62 | 63 | | Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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| 63 | 64 | | memory of Ruth Wells Wyrick. |
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