H.R. No. 545 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, East Mount Olive Baptist Church is the second-oldest 1-2 African American church in Beaumont, having faithfully served the 1-3 spiritual needs of its community for 127 years; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The church was preceded by the Live Oak Baptist 1-5 Church, which was organized by a group of freedmen and Christian 1-6 pioneers in 1867 and presided over by the Reverend Willie Ware as 1-7 its first pastor; and 1-8 WHEREAS, East Mount Olive Baptist Church was founded the 1-9 following year by another group of former slaves and began as a 1-10 mission under a brush arbor at 660 Wall Street; later a small frame 1-11 sanctuary was built, and the church experienced an exceptionally 1-12 vibrant and rewarding period of growth as new members flocked to 1-13 the congregation; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The Reverend H. D. Bendy began his 16-year pastorage 1-15 at the church in 1903; a man of immense vision and devotion, he 1-16 organized the church members to begin construction of a new house 1-17 of worship, which became the first brick church in the city, and 1-18 the congregation took its current name of East Mount Olive Baptist 1-19 Church; and 1-20 WHEREAS, In 1982 the church was relocated to its present site 1-21 at 1197 Corley Street, and for the past 13 years its lovely setting 1-22 has served as a peaceful oasis for the members of the congregation; 1-23 and 1-24 WHEREAS, Over the course of its proud history, East Mount 2-1 Olive Baptist Church has benefited greatly from the spiritual 2-2 support and guidance of its many devoted ministers, including the 2-3 Reverends M. D. Pinkney, who served from 1948 to 1958, and I. H. 2-4 Johnson, whose tenure was from 1963 to 1980; the Reverend Pinkney's 2-5 daughters, Ethel Pinkney Gage and Ida Pinkney Sartin, remain 2-6 devoted members of the congregation, and the Reverend Johnson's 2-7 widow, Edna Johnson, continues to worship there as well and has 2-8 been designated the church's Honorary First Lady; and 2-9 WHEREAS, The church continues to flourish and prosper under 2-10 the guidance of its current pastor, the Reverend Clarence Williams, 2-11 Jr., who began ministering to the church on July 18, 1988, and also 2-12 has been diligently served by its lay staff; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Throughout its rich history, East Mount Olive 2-14 Baptist Church has offered spiritual leadership and moral guidance 2-15 to the members of its congregation; a source of great inspiration, 2-16 the church stands today as a tribute to the dedication and hard 2-17 work of its members, past and present, who have always devoted 2-18 their time, energy, and resources to ensure its continued existence 2-19 as a house of God; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby honor East Mount Olive Baptist Church on the 2-22 occasion of its 127th anniversary; and, be it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-24 prepared for East Mount Olive Baptist Church as an expression of 2-25 high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.