| 1 | 1 | | 88R7162 EME-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Springer S.R. No. 46 |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Wichita Falls lost an esteemed |
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| 7 | 7 | | community leader with the passing of Arthur Beatrice Williams on |
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| 8 | 8 | | November 19, 2021, at the age of 88; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Arthur Bea Williams was born in Calvert on August 2, |
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| 10 | 10 | | 1933, to Margie Blackmon and Johnny Williams, and she grew up with |
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| 11 | 11 | | her brother, Charles; in 1942, she and her family moved to Wichita |
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| 12 | 12 | | Falls; she professed her faith at an early age and became involved |
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| 13 | 13 | | with ministries at her church; following her graduation from |
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| 14 | 14 | | Booker T. Washington High School in 1951, she went on to attend |
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| 15 | 15 | | Bishop College, where she was presented as a debutante by the |
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| 16 | 16 | | Federated Women's Club; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Breaking a number of color barriers, Ms. Williams |
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| 18 | 18 | | was the first Black woman city councilor in Wichita Falls and the |
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| 19 | 19 | | city's first Black justice of the peace; she was a longtime member |
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| 20 | 20 | | of the League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls, and she was a |
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| 21 | 21 | | passionate advocate for youth, playing an instrumental role in |
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| 22 | 22 | | organizing Ms. Bea's Tea Party for fifth-grade students and serving |
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| 23 | 23 | | as a board member for Child Care Partners; she contributed to her |
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| 24 | 24 | | community as a volunteer for over four decades; moreover, she was a |
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| 25 | 25 | | valued congregant of Gilbert Memorial Christian Methodist |
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| 26 | 26 | | Episcopal Church; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Williams was inducted into the North Texas |
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| 28 | 28 | | Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2019 she was honored as a North Texas |
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| 29 | 29 | | Legend by the Museum of North Texas History; she was also recognized |
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| 30 | 30 | | as the 2001 Wichitan of the Year by the Times Record News; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Ms. Williams was the devoted mother of a daughter, |
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| 32 | 32 | | Andrea Lynne; in her leisure time, she enjoyed quilting, and she was |
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| 33 | 33 | | a certified master gardener; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, A trailblazer and a dedicated public servant, Arthur |
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| 35 | 35 | | Bea Williams will be deeply missed, but the integrity, wisdom, and |
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| 36 | 36 | | generosity with which she lived her life will forever inspire all |
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| 37 | 37 | | who had the good fortune to know her; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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| 39 | 39 | | hereby pay tribute to the memory of Arthur Beatrice Williams and |
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| 40 | 40 | | extend heartfelt sympathy to her many relatives and friends; and, |
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| 41 | 41 | | be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 43 | | prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this |
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| 44 | 44 | | day, it do so in memory of Arthur Bea Williams. |
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