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