1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1224 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure 1-4 in recognizing the members of the Williams-Livingston family 1-5 on the grand occasion of their annual family reunion, 1-6 June 1 through 3, 2001; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Every year on the first Saturday in June, the 1-8 members of the Williams-Livingston family hold a reunion to 1-9 celebrate their heritage and to commemorate the birth of 1-10 Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Over 300 family members invite friends from across 1-12 Texas and the United States to celebrate their love for their 1-13 family and community; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Earliest family history reveals that the family of 1-15 Charles and Caroline Livingston arrived in the Freestone County, 1-16 Texas, area in the early 1800s; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Charles Livingston's family moved from Virginia as 1-18 freed slaves to the Freestone County area known as Cotton Gin, 1-19 Texas; they sharecropped on the area farms; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Caroline Livingston's family moved from Alabama as 1-21 freed slaves to the Freestone County area of Kirvin, Texas; 2-1 arriving in Texas in covered wagons, on horseback, and walking, 2-2 they settled on the farm of Alfred Carter in order to work his 2-3 land; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Caroline and Charles Livingston supported their 2-5 community and were instrumental in the establishment of the Shiloh 2-6 Baptist Church, Texas' oldest primitive Baptist church, and Woods 2-7 Chapel Baptist Church; they also helped to create a public school 2-8 system for the education of their children and the children of the 2-9 surrounding communities; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston branch of the family stems 2-11 from a daughter born to Caroline and Charles, Elizabeth Livingston, 2-12 born July 2, 1866, who married Austin Williams, a freed slave from 2-13 Tennessee; they were the parents of 10 children, one of whom was 2-14 Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams, born June 1, 1889; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams was the 2-16 matriarch of the Williams-Livingston family until October 13, 1987, 2-17 when she died at the age of 98; and 2-18 WHEREAS, She was the mother of four daughters who moved with 2-19 their families to other parts of Texas, including Dallas, where 2-20 many of the Williams-Livingston family members reside and work 2-21 today; and 2-22 WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston family members are 2-23 successful men and women who have contributed greatly to their 3-1 communities through their leadership, professionalism, and concern 3-2 for others; each year more descendants from the other children of 3-3 Caroline and Charles Livingston come to the reunion, thus 3-4 reconnecting the original family; and 3-5 WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston yearly reunion is a 3-6 manifestation of their belief in family unity, loyalty, and pride 3-7 in one's heritage; now, therefore, be it 3-8 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-9 77th Legislature, hereby extend to the members of the 3-10 Williams-Livingston family best wishes for a joyous and 3-11 memorable family reunion; and, be it further 3-12 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-13 the family as a memento of this special occasion. 3-14 West, Ogden 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 President of the Senate 3-17 I hereby certify that the above 3-18 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-19 on May 26, 2001. 3-20 ______________________________________ 3-21 Secretary of the Senate 3-22 ______________________________________ 3-23 Member, Texas Senate 3-24 ______________________________________ 3-25 Member, Texas Senate