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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Galveston County have lost a |
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distinguished educator and civic leader with the passing of Mary L. |
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Crowder of Texas City on April 18, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Madisonville, Mrs. Crowder worked as a |
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teacher and later served for many years as the executive director of |
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Galveston County Head Start; following her retirement, she served |
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as office manager for her daughter, Dr. Janice Crowder, until her |
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health began to fail; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Crowder gave generously of her time and talents |
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to many area organizations; a valued congregant of Rising Star |
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Missionary Baptist Church, she served as church clerk, as president |
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of the Pastor's Aide, and as a member of the Missionary Society and |
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a number of church committees; she also worked with the Mainland |
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Ecumenical Ministerial Alliance; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan played an active role in the |
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Mainland Branch NAACP, the Galveston County Coalition of Black |
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Democrats, and the Democratic Club of Galveston County; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of her longtime community service and |
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her caring support of others, she was designated as a 2005 Martin |
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Luther King Celebration "Unsung Hero" and inducted into the |
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Ecumenical Prayer Partners Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, Mary Crowder and her husband, Billy, were married on |
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March 8, 1945, and enjoyed a close and rewarding union until her |
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passing; the couple became the proud parents of six children and |
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rejoiced as their family circle grew ever wider with the addition of |
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grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Mrs. Crowder sought tirelessly to |
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expand opportunities for area youth, serve her church and the |
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greater community of faith, and advance the cause of a more just and |
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inclusive society, and those who treasured her will forever hold |
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her close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary L. Crowder and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her devoted |
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husband of 62 years, Billy Crowder; to her children, Patsy F. |
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Ponder, Rona M. Rigsby, Marian D. Crowder, Michael W. Crowder, |
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Rufus G. Crowder, and Dr. Janice R. Crowder; to her grandchildren, |
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Lionel J. Russell IV, Billy Joe Rigsby, and Hendrick, Hamilton, |
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Bryan, Roderick, Shaunte, and Brittany Crowder; to her |
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great-grandchildren, Jessica, Jacqueline, Sylvania, Darrius, Jada, |
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Jordan, Jonae, Gavin, Andrew Jordan, and Angelica; to her sister, |
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Imogene E. Evins; to her sister-in-law, Thelma B. Morgan; to her |
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brother-in-law, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Retired) James E. Crowder, |
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Sr.; to her special niece and friend, Barbara J. Berkes and Jeanette |
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Gonzales; and to the many other relatives and friends of this |
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beloved woman; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary L. |
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Crowder. |
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Eiland |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1688 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 11, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |