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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The late Derrick Lanier Geter of Dallas had a |
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lasting influence on his community through his notable endeavors in |
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behalf of its most vulnerable residents, and it is indeed fitting to |
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celebrate his life and legacy of service; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on February 13, 1963, in Augusta, Georgia, Mr. |
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Geter was the son of Tommie Geter, Jr., and Dorothy Geter; when he |
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was nearly five years old, his family moved from Langley, South |
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Carolina, to Dallas, and he graduated from David W. Carter High |
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School; he served his country in the Army National Guard and |
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continued his studies at the American Trades Institute; he was |
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employed with SmithKline Beecham Laboratories for a decade, |
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although gospel music was always his true calling; and |
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WHEREAS, This gifted musician performed with such stars as |
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Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams, and used his talents to reach out |
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to others, sharing his faith, providing encouragement, and |
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mentoring young people, including recording artist Greg O'Quin; he |
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was instrumental in organizing the Dallas Mass Choir in 1988 and |
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recorded "More Like Jesus" with that group; at the time of his |
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passing in October 2008, he was a musician at Mayo Chapel Methodist |
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Church; and |
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WHEREAS, After losing a beloved foster son to gang violence, |
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Mr. Geter redoubled his efforts to help youth through his music; he |
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created the musical drama Young Brother, You're Not Alone, and |
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wrote the title song for the play Don't Throw Your Life Away, which |
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also became the title track of his own CD release; in addition, he |
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established Geter Enterprises Outreach Ministries and the Give a |
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Child a Chance Foundation, and hosted such events as a talent show, |
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a children's gospel concert, and a concert to promote resistance to |
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gangs; and |
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WHEREAS, Serious illness beset Mr. Geter for many years, but |
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he never flagged in his resolve to help others and used his small |
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disability income to create and support events that gave children |
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opportunities to shine; his Kids Day in the Park events grew so |
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popular that local ministries and community organizations began to |
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join forces with him to bring even more people together through |
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these festivities; Mr. Geter turned his own birthdays into |
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celebrations for children, and he helped students at his former |
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school, T. G. Terry Elementary, by returning to give motivational |
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talks; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than two decades, Mr. Geter volunteered at |
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South Dallas and Cedar Hill nursing homes; moreover, he |
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collaborated with staff at Cedar Valley College to provide programs |
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and presented workshops in San Antonio, New York, Philadelphia, and |
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other cities around the country; when he received a diagnosis of |
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aggressive cancer, he brushed off any suggestion that he should |
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take more time for himself; and |
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WHEREAS, Even as his strength waned, Derrick Geter continued |
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to do whatever he could to make his community a better place, and |
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his generosity, compassion, and determination will forever inspire |
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all those who were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be |
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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 Derrick Geter and |
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extend sincere condolences to his daughter, Atalyah Young, to his |
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mother and stepfather, Dorothy Stoker Starks and George Starks, to |
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his father, Tommie Geter, Jr., to his sister and brothers, Deatra, |
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Darryl, and Christopher Geter, to his other family members and many |
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friends, and to the countless community members who mourn his |
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passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Derrick |
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Geter. |