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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed spiritual leader drew to a |
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close with the passing of the Reverend Ricky Charles Bell on April |
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11, 2023, at the age of 66; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Kilgore, Ricky Bell was born on October |
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2, 1956, to Alonzo and Earline Giddings Bell; following his |
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graduation from Kashmere Senior High School in Houston, he studied |
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business administration at Houston Community College; first called |
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to the ministry in 1978, he attended Union Baptist College and |
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Theological Seminary, Mt. Hope Theological Seminary, the South |
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Houston Bible Institute, and the Interdenominational Theological |
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Center; he earned a theology degree from Calvary Theological |
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Seminary and a master's degree from Jacksonville Baptist |
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Theological Seminary; and |
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WHEREAS, Pastor Bell was ordained on March 24, 1990, and he |
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was installed as pastor of Forest Lawn Missionary Baptist Church in |
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Houston on June 29, 1993; over the course of his exemplary tenure |
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leading the congregation, he devoted himself tirelessly to the |
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advancement of the church's mission and oversaw its many |
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faith-based community and counseling programs; highly respected by |
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his peers, he served as dean of the Puritan District Association and |
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was active with the National Missionary Baptist Convention of |
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America, the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist |
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Convention USA, and a number of preaching conferences; his |
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affiliations also included the Fellowship of Prison Ministries and |
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the Baptist Ministers' Association of Houston and Vicinity, and he |
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was a lifetime member of the NAACP; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Pastor Bell enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, Virginia Annette Bell, and their two |
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children, Charles Anthony Bell and Kharah Rachelle Bell; and |
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WHEREAS, Ricky Bell was a source of spiritual guidance, |
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comfort, and inspiration to his congregation and to numerous people |
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in the wider community, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of |
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those who were fortunate enough to have known him; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Pastor Ricky |
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Charles Bell and extend deepest condolences to all who mourn his |
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passing; 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 Pastor |
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Bell. |