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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life has drawn to a close with |
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the death of the Reverend Dr. James Lyonel Davis Sr. of Dallas on |
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April 10, 2021, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, James Davis was born in Taylor on December 14, 1933, |
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to Henry and Irene Davis, and he grew up with the companionship of a |
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brother, Henry; in 1960, he was joined in matrimony to the former |
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Effie Doris Williams, and the couple went on to share a rewarding |
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marriage that spanned more than six decades; he was the proud father |
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of two children, James and Elizabeth, and later had the pleasure of |
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welcoming into his family four grandchildren, Taylore, Morgan, |
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Karese, and Elijah; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from Anderson High School in |
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Austin, Mr. Davis served six years in the U.S. Air Force, including |
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three years in France, and he continued his military service as a |
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staff sergeant with the Air Force Reserve until 1965; that same |
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year, he completed his bachelor's degree in architectural |
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engineering at Prairie View A&M University, and he subsequently |
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became the first African American to work in the Housing and Urban |
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Development office in Fort Worth; and |
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WHEREAS, Ordained as a minister in 1970, Mr. Davis began his |
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pastoral career at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Merriam, Kansas, and |
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United Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri; he went |
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on to earn a doctoral degree from Elbon-Solutions College of |
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Ministry, and in 1986, he and his wife founded the Faith Christian |
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Center in Austin; retiring after 16 years, he settled in Dallas, |
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where he continued to serve as associate minister at St. John |
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Church, Unleashed in Grand Prairie and Southlake; throughout his 44 |
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years in the ministry, Dr. Davis impressed all who knew him with his |
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intellect and his ability to recite hundreds of verses of |
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scripture, whole chapters of the Bible, and many poems; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted family man and an admired spiritual |
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leader, James Davis inspired countless people with his strong faith |
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and his message of hope, healing, and salvation; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Reverend |
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Dr. James Lyonel Davis Sr. and extend sincere condolences to the |
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members of his family and to his many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of the |
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Reverend Dr. James Davis. |
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Sherman, Sr. |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 794 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on April 30, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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