R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The passing of Victoria T. Barnes on January 22,

 1-2     1997, at the age of 85, has brought a great loss to the family and

 1-3     many friends of this esteemed woman; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Born December 23, 1911, to Marshall and Bertha

 1-5     Turner in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mrs. Barnes dedicated her life

 1-6     to serving both her family and her entire community with love,

 1-7     dignity, and an unshakable commitment; and

 1-8           WHEREAS, The marriage she cultivated with Titus Sinclair

 1-9     Barnes, Sr., was an example of true devotion, which the blessing of

1-10     three children only strengthened; Mrs. Barnes gave fully of herself

1-11     to her family and still had bountiful energy to serve those around

1-12     her; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Her distinguished career is testimony to her passion

1-14     for learning and education; she earned a bachelor of arts degree in

1-15     elementary education from Texas Southern University and used her

1-16     innate talents and acquired skills to enrich the lives of all her

1-17     students, providing a rare example of virtue, humanitarianism, and

1-18     dedication to many generations of young Americans; and

1-19           WHEREAS, In addition to a noteworthy career in education,

1-20     Mrs. Barnes exhibited the true American entrepreneurial spirit; she

1-21     and her husband shared in the successful growth of the family

1-22     business, the Carl Barnes Mortuary; and

1-23           WHEREAS, Despite her many commitments, Victoria Barnes was an

1-24     active leader in her community, serving as president of the

 2-1     Parent-Teacher Association at Helms Elementary School, as an

 2-2     officer in the Houston League of Business and Professional Women,

 2-3     and as a member of the Houston Heights Civic Club, the Business and

 2-4     Professional Women's Club, and the Young Women's Christian

 2-5     Association-Blue Triangle Branch; and

 2-6           WHEREAS, A devout member of the Williams Temple-Woodard

 2-7     Cathedral Church for many years, this exceptional civic leader

 2-8     further served her friends and neighbors in Houston through her

 2-9     work with the Texas Southeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of

2-10     the Church of God in Christ, as well as with many national church

2-11     boards and committees; she also brought the spiritual power of

2-12     music to her fellow parishioners, organizing the first choir at

2-13     Williams Temple-Woodard Cathedral Church; and

2-14           WHEREAS, Mrs. Barnes's community bestowed on her many

2-15     significant honors, including the outstanding citizen award given

2-16     by the Eta Phi Beta Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority; she

2-17     also held the deepest admiration of three generations of her own

2-18     family: her children, 10 grandchildren, and six

2-19     great-grandchildren; and

2-20           WHEREAS, In serving her family, her church, and her

2-21     community, this extraordinary woman gave selflessly to those around

2-22     her and left them with a legacy of love and compassion by which to

2-23     remember her; though her presence is gone from us now, her unique

2-24     spirit will surely live on in the hearts of the many people whose

2-25     lives she touched; now, therefore, be it

2-26           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

2-27     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Victoria T. Barnes

 3-1     and extend deepest sympathy to the members of her family: to her

 3-2     beloved husband, Titus Sinclair Barnes, Sr.; to her children,

 3-3     Bertha, Carol, and Titus, Jr.; and to all her many other relatives

 3-4     and friends; and, be it further

 3-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 3-6     prepared for the members of her family and that when the Texas

 3-7     House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of

 3-8     Victoria T. Barnes.

                                                            Turner of Harris

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 207 was unanimously adopted by a

         rising vote of the House on March 20, 1997.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House