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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The gospel music community and southeast Houston |
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have lost a beloved matriarch with the death of Shirley Joiner on |
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March 16, 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, A gifted singer, songwriter, musician, and choir |
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master, Ms. Joiner demonstrated her great faith through her myriad |
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contributions to her church and to sacred music, and she gave |
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generously of her time and talents as a mentor to young people; in |
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1970, "Ms. Shirley" joined with Brenda Waters and Carl Preacher to |
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organize the Southeast Inspirational Choir, providing a musical |
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outlet for young people from a number of Houston churches; the three |
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friends also formed the trio B. C. & S. and recorded for the Savoy |
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label with both groups, and as the backing vocalists for Sarah |
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Jordan Powell; and |
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WHEREAS, The choir reached the Top 40 on Billboard magazine's |
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gospel chart with its album 15th Annual Praise and Rededication |
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Concert, retaining that status for 29 weeks; Ms. Joiner was an |
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exacting director who brought out the very best in singers, and she |
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earned their admiration through her warmth, humor, and kindness as |
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well; and |
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WHEREAS, The mother of four, Ms. Joiner was deeply committed |
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to all the children of Houston and helped provide moral guidance and |
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encouragement through Southeast Inspirational Choir Ministries, |
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organized in 1977; she also served as the executive director of |
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SEICM's Preparing Holy Disciples, an annual program launched to |
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provide meaningful social and educational experiences as well as |
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crisis intervention and referral, training opportunities, and role |
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modeling instruction and counseling for parents and youth leaders; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Joiner became minister of music at Outreach |
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Missionary Baptist Church in 1969 and produced three recordings for |
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its music ministry; when she retired from this position after |
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several decades, she continued to serve the church as youth leader, |
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Christian education facilitator, and discipleship class teacher, |
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and she remained an active member of the women and girls ministry; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, For 30 years, Ms. Joiner served with Sister Theola |
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Booker, V. Michael McKay, and Gwen Pierre as a director of the Al |
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Edwards Juneteenth Choir; moreover, she conducted workshops and |
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performed around the country and was a charter member of the Houston |
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chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America; she helped develop |
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the musical talents of countless students as the proprietor of |
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A-All About Music, a business offering instruction in dance, music |
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theory, organ, voice, and improvisation; and |
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WHEREAS, Shirley Joiner was a blessing in the lives of all who |
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knew her, and although she will be profoundly missed, the beauty of |
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her music and her ministry will forever remain an inspiration to |
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others; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Shirley Joiner and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family, to her host of |
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friends, and to all who mourn the passing of this esteemed woman; |
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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 Shirley |
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Joiner. |