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79R3975 MDM-D

By:  Jones of Dallas                                              H.R. No. 136



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The congregation and friends of Sweet Union Baptist 
Church of Jacksonville celebrated the 117th anniversary of the 
church's founding on November 28, 2004; and
	WHEREAS, In the late 1880s, area settlers Lum Coleman, John 
Williams, Andy Steward, Henry Sanders, and Billy Smith took a 
leadership role in establishing a worship center for African 
Americans in the Jacksonville community; and
	WHEREAS, Attending prayer meetings in the schoolhouse 
located on Baptist College Hill, the present site of Jacksonville 
College, the men invited the Reverend T. B. Johnson to preach at the 
suggestion of Henry Sanders, and Reverend Johnson soon answered the 
call to pastor the budding congregation; he organized the church on 
March 10, 1887, and dedicated the next 50 years to its growth and 
well-being; and
	WHEREAS, Sweet Union has been blessed with dynamic pastoral 
leadership from the beginning, including from pastors J. W. 
Presley, J. J. Finley, W. A. I. McDonald, J. B. Mitchell, C. D. 
Daniels, G. C. Melton, U. L. Sanders, J. W. Simpson, Karl 
Hockernhull, S. A. Miles, W. Germon, and the Reverend Horace 
Williams, who leads the congregation today ably assisted by the 
church's associate minister, the Reverend John Davis; and
	WHEREAS, Since its establishment, Sweet Union Baptist Church 
has served as a spiritual home for generations of Texans, and it is 
a privilege to join in honoring the church at this time; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate all those affiliated with Sweet 
Union Baptist Church on the joyous occasion of the church's 117th 
anniversary and extend to them sincere best wishes for a meaningful 
and memorable event; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the church as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.