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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The family and friends of Ara La'Shon Duke suffered |
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an immeasurable loss with her death on June 15, 2024, at the age of |
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54; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Marsha Garnett-Halmon and Carl |
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Walker, Ara Duke was born on October 26, 1969, in Dallas; she shared |
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in the companionship of three siblings, Ismail Rashid-Walker, Carla |
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Walker, and Brandon Halmon, and her family also included her |
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stepparents, Blanche Walker and Melvin Halmon; she attended Justin |
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F. Kimball High School, where she was a drill team lieutenant, and |
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after graduating in 1988, she continued her education at Texas A&M |
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University and earned a bachelor's degree in organizational |
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management from Ashford University; and |
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WHEREAS, In the course of a successful career, Mrs. Duke |
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worked for the SouthWest Water Company and Lonestar Social |
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Services; she subsequently pursued her passion for education, |
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serving as the director of the First Steps Discovery Learning |
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Center and as a teacher and leader at IDEA Rundberg; she took an |
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active role in her community through her involvement with NPH USA, |
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Black Women in Business, and Mission Accomplished, among other |
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organizations; a woman of faith, she was a member of the |
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congregation at Restoration Christian Ministry International |
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Church and served in the women's, children's, and intercessory |
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prayer ministries; and |
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WHEREAS, She married the love of her life, Christopher Duke, |
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in 2002, and the couple became the proud parents of a daughter, |
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Alena, the following year; in her leisure hours, Mrs. Duke enjoyed |
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traveling, reading, trying out new restaurants, and watching Black |
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cinema and her favorite television franchise, Star Trek; she was |
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also a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired for her warmth, her generosity of spirit, |
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and her sparkling personality, Ara Duke brightened the world for |
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all who knew her, and they will forever hold her close in their |
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hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ara La'Shon Duke and |
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extend heartfelt sympathy to all who mourn her passing; and, be it |
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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 House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ara Duke. |