By: Delco H.R. No. 159
73R2693 PAN-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The many friends and relatives of Lillie Mae
1-2 Medearis Crayton were deeply saddened by the passing of this lovely
1-3 lady on January 8, 1993, at the age of 84; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A native Texan, she was born in Bluff Springs and
1-5 attended Pleasant Valley public schools as a young girl; and
1-6 WHEREAS, On August 1, 1925, she became the bride of Plato E.
1-7 Crayton, Sr., and the Craytons enjoyed an exceptionally happy and
1-8 rewarding marriage that would span more than six decades until her
1-9 passing; throughout their loving union, they affectionately
1-10 referred to each other as "Kid" and "Little Girl"; and
1-11 WHEREAS, A devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Crayton was blessed
1-12 with eight fine children and, later in life, she enjoyed the
1-13 affection of a multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and
1-14 great-great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly; and
1-15 WHEREAS, This admirable woman had been a faithful member of
1-16 the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church since 1936, during which time
1-17 she served the church with the utmost distinction as president of
1-18 the deaconess board, as vice-president of Mission I and a member of
1-19 the Elizabeth Circle, and as a founder of the Maids and Matrons
1-20 Society and the youth department of the St. John Regular Baptist
1-21 District Association; and
1-22 WHEREAS, Mrs. Crayton's commitment to church, school, and
1-23 community were tied to her interest in the spiritual, educational,
1-24 and social development of children; at the Greater Mt. Zion Nursery
2-1 School, the first of its kind in East Austin, she dedicated 32
2-2 years of her life to serving area preschoolers; and
2-3 WHEREAS, She also gave generously of herself by helping to
2-4 initiate the first free lunch program in the State of Texas at
2-5 Blackshear Elementary School, was an avid PTA supporter of Austin
2-6 public schools, and was a member of the original L. C. Anderson
2-7 High School Band Mothers' Club; and
2-8 WHEREAS, In addition, Mrs. Crayton was a member of the Lettie
2-9 Madison Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Delta
2-10 Friends, the East Austin YWCA, the Christian Relief Board, and the
2-11 Mother's March of Dimes; and
2-12 WHEREAS, Those who were privileged to know Lillie Mae
2-13 Medearis Crayton will not quickly forget the special presence of
2-14 this exceptional woman; although she is gone from us now, her
2-15 loving spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of the many
2-16 people whose lives she touched during her time on this earth; now,
2-17 therefore, be it
2-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
2-19 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lillie Mae Medearis
2-20 Crayton and extend profound sympathy to the members of her
2-21 family: to her husband, Plato E. Crayton, Sr.; to her daughters,
2-22 Anna C. Warren, Mabel C. Williams, Marjorie C. Wilson, and Mae
2-23 Katherine C. Washington, all of Austin, Nancy C. Jones of Grand
2-24 Prairie, and Minnie C. David of Dallas; to her sons, Plato
2-25 E. Crayton, Jr., and Samuel C. Crayton, Sr., both of Austin; to her
2-26 daughters-in-law, Maggie Crayton and Minnie B. Crayton, both of
2-27 Austin; to her sons-in-law, Vernal O. Jones of Grand Prairie,
3-1 Donald A. David of Dallas, and Paul H. Wilson of Camden, New
3-2 Jersey; to her brothers-in-law, William P. Crayton of Lake Elsinore
3-3 and James G. Crayton of Riverside, California; to her
3-4 sisters-in-law, Jean Brazzell and Esther Crayton, both of Los
3-5 Angeles, California; to her 19 grandchildren, 21
3-6 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; to Kathryn
3-7 Hillard, a special friend of the family; and to a host of nieces,
3-8 nephews, and other relatives; and, be it further
3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-10 prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas
3-11 House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of
3-12 Lillie Mae Medearis Crayton.