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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Countless lives were touched by the kindness and |
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generosity of Lafonda Ann Davis of Austin, who passed away on May 4, |
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2010, at the age of 68; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Uriel Addison Randolph and Vannie |
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Lee Culpepper, the former Lafonda Randolph was born in Bowie on |
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April 16, 1942, and grew up in neighboring Montague; she attended |
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public schools in Saint Jo, Nocona, Sherman, and Bowie and received |
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special instruction in horticulture from her father, a researcher |
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at Texas A&M University, who instilled in her a lifelong love of |
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plants and gardening; her education continued at North Texas State |
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University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary |
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education and a master's degree in education; and |
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WHEREAS, This dedicated teacher worked in a number of schools |
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around the world following her marriage to Carl David Clark, a |
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member of the United States Air Force, in 1962; they raised three |
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children and eventually settled in Fairfax, Virginia, where she was |
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highly respected for her skill in the classroom and gave freely of |
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her time and talents as a mentor to her students and a volunteer in |
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professional associations; after Mr. Clark's death in 1996, she was |
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fortunate to find love a second time with Jim Davis, and they were |
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married in 1998; the couple moved to Austin in 2005; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to her extended family, Mrs. Davis provided |
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steadfast support and encouragement to 7 children and 10 |
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grandchildren; she made every holiday and event a very special |
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occasion and especially delighted in the warmth and fellowship of |
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Christmas; a woman of great faith, she expressed her beliefs in song |
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as a member of several ensembles, among them the Sweet Spirit |
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Singers, and recordings she made with that group enabled her lovely |
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voice to be heard at her own funeral; and |
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WHEREAS, Lafonda Davis inspired many people with her grace, |
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strength, and resilience, and those who were privileged to share in |
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her love and affection will forever cherish their memories of time |
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spent in her company; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lafonda Ann Davis and |
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extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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husband, Jim Davis; to her children, Jeffrey David Clark, Shannon |
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Lee Gatlin and her husband, Jim, Tamara Ann Egli and her husband, |
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Dave, Angelia Kay Hennessey and her husband, Mike, Michele Ann |
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Hitti and her husband, William, Chad Allen Davis, and Eric Lynn |
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Davis; to her grandchildren, Hayden, Wyatt, Olivia, Gregory, Leah, |
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Megan, Shanna, Rory, Michael, and Tony; to her sister, Virginia Lee |
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Pollard, and her husband, Rex; and to her other relatives and |
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friends; 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 Lafonda |
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Davis. |