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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 46
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In Memory |
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of |
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Arthur Bea Williams |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Wichita Falls lost an esteemed |
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community leader with the passing of Arthur Beatrice Williams on |
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November 19, 2021, at the age of 88; and |
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WHEREAS, Arthur Bea Williams was born in Calvert on August |
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2, 1933, to Margie Blackmon and Johnny Williams, and she grew up |
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with her brother, Charles; in 1942, she and her family moved to |
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Wichita Falls; she professed her faith at an early age and became |
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involved with ministries at her church; following her graduation |
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from Booker T. Washington High School in 1951, she went on to |
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attend Bishop College, where she was presented as a debutante by |
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the Federated Women's Club; and |
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WHEREAS, Breaking a number of color barriers, Ms. Williams |
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was the first Black woman city councilor in Wichita Falls and the |
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city's first Black justice of the peace; she was a longtime |
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member of the League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls, and she was |
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a passionate advocate for youth, playing an instrumental role in |
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organizing Ms. Bea's Tea Party for fifth-grade students and |
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serving as a board member for Child Care Partners; she |
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contributed to her community as a volunteer for over four |
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decades; moreover, she was a valued congregant of Gilbert |
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Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Williams was inducted into the North Texas |
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Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2019 she was honored as a North Texas |
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Legend by the Museum of North Texas History; she was also |
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recognized as the 2001 Wichitan of the Year by the Times Record |
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News; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Williams was the devoted mother of a |
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daughter, Andrea Lynne; in her leisure time, she enjoyed |
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quilting, and she was a certified master gardener; and |
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WHEREAS, A trailblazer and a dedicated public servant, |
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Arthur Bea Williams will be deeply missed, but the integrity, |
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wisdom, and generosity with which she lived her life will |
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forever inspire all who had the good fortune to know her; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the memory of Arthur Beatrice |
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Williams and extend heartfelt sympathy to her many relatives and |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of Arthur Bea Williams. |
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Springer |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on January 24, 2023, by |
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a rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |