| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The citizens of Galveston County have lost a |
|
|
distinguished educator and civic leader with the passing of Mary L. |
|
|
Crowder of Texas City on April 18, 2007; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Born in Madisonville, Mrs. Crowder worked as a |
|
|
teacher and later served for many years as the executive director of |
|
|
Galveston County Head Start; following her retirement, she served |
|
|
as office manager for her daughter, Dr. Janice Crowder, until her |
|
|
health began to fail; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mrs. Crowder gave generously of her time and talents |
|
|
to many area organizations; a valued congregant of Rising Star |
|
|
Missionary Baptist Church, she served as church clerk, as president |
|
|
of the Pastor's Aide, and as a member of the Missionary Society and |
|
|
a number of church committees; she also worked with the Mainland |
|
|
Ecumenical Ministerial Alliance; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan played an active role in the |
|
|
Mainland Branch NAACP, the Galveston County Coalition of Black |
|
|
Democrats, and the Democratic Club of Galveston County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In recognition of her longtime community service and |
|
|
her caring support of others, she was designated as a 2005 Martin |
|
|
Luther King Celebration "Unsung Hero" and inducted into the |
|
|
Ecumenical Prayer Partners Hall of Fame; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mary Crowder and her husband, Billy, were married on |
|
|
March 8, 1945, and enjoyed a close and rewarding union until her |
|
|
passing; the couple became the proud parents of six children and |
|
|
rejoiced as their family circle grew ever wider with the addition of |
|
|
grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the years, Mrs. Crowder sought tirelessly to |
|
|
expand opportunities for area youth, serve her church and the |
|
|
greater community of faith, and advance the cause of a more just and |
|
|
inclusive society, and those who treasured her will forever hold |
|
|
her close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Mary L. Crowder and |
|
|
extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her devoted |
|
|
husband of 62 years, Billy Crowder; to her children, Patsy F. |
|
|
Ponder, Rona M. Rigsby, Marian D. Crowder, Michael W. Crowder, |
|
|
Rufus G. Crowder, and Dr. Janice R. Crowder; to her grandchildren, |
|
|
Lionel J. Russell IV, Billy Joe Rigsby, and Hendrick, Hamilton, |
|
|
Bryan, Roderick, Shaunte, and Brittany Crowder; to her |
|
|
great-grandchildren, Jessica, Jacqueline, Sylvania, Darrius, Jada, |
|
|
Jordan, Jonae, Gavin, Andrew Jordan, and Angelica; to her sister, |
|
|
Imogene E. Evins; to her sister-in-law, Thelma B. Morgan; to her |
|
|
brother-in-law, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Retired) James E. Crowder, |
|
|
Sr.; to her special niece and friend, Barbara J. Berkes and Jeanette |
|
|
Gonzales; and to the many other relatives and friends of this |
|
|
beloved woman; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mary L. |
|
|
Crowder. |