By Dutton H.R. No. 1060 77R15985 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Allee Winifred James Mitchell of Houston will 1-2 celebrate her 90th birthday on June 1, 2001; and 1-3 WHEREAS, Born in St. Hedwig, Texas, to the Reverend Leroy 1-4 James and Caroline "Nan" Louise Stevenson James, a teacher, she 1-5 grew up with two older sisters and a younger brother, Voris, who 1-6 later taught her how to shoot a rifle and fly an airplane; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Mrs. Mitchell attended Prairie View A&M University, 1-8 worked for its president, Dr. Banks, and his wife, and became their 1-9 lifelong friend; after graduation, she moved to East Texas to teach 1-10 home economics to poor, rural women and she later lived in Fort 1-11 Valley, Georgia, where she taught and babysat for noted civil 1-12 rights leader and former Georgia state senator and representative 1-13 Julian Bond; and 1-14 WHEREAS, In 1950, she began her career at Texas Southern 1-15 University (TSU), teaching home economics, early childhood 1-16 education, and child development; instrumental in the creation of 1-17 numerous programs related to childhood development, she established 1-18 and directed the Southeastern Training Center for Head Start 1-19 Teachers on the TSU campus; and 1-20 WHEREAS, She married Leon Henry Mitchell in November 1946, in 1-21 a ceremony performed by her father, and the devoted couple were 1-22 blessed with a daughter, Voris Steene; through the years, 1-23 Mrs. Mitchell has welcomed into her close-knit family two cherished 1-24 granddaughters and two great-grandchildren; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Mrs. Mitchell's penchant for combining travel and 2-2 learning led her to international friendships and to extensive 2-3 souvenirs shared with loved ones; she experienced firsthand the 2-4 people and cultures of Germany, England, Switzerland, France, 2-5 Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, New 2-6 Zealand, Greenland, Canada, Panama, Barbados, Jamaica, and Mexico; 2-7 and 2-8 WHEREAS, A founding member of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church 2-9 as well as several civic groups and organizations and mentor to 2-10 many youth and adults, Mrs. Mitchell continues to positively 2-11 influence the lives of countless individuals; she has been 2-12 recognized with many accolades for her contributions during her 2-13 decades as an educator, including having the TSU building that 2-14 houses the Children and Family Center named in her honor; and 2-15 WHEREAS, The birthday of Mrs. Mitchell provides a fitting 2-16 opportunity for her friends and relatives to share with her a small 2-17 bit of the joy she has imparted to so many throughout the years; 2-18 now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby congratulate Allee Winifred James Mitchell on 2-21 the momentous occasion of her 90th birthday and extend to her 2-22 sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-24 prepared for Mrs. Mitchell as an expression of high regard by the 2-25 Texas House of Representatives.