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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of the Reverend Dr. Laymon H. Frank Mills |
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on March 17, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Reverend Mills was born in Troy on March 4, 1930, to |
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Laymon and Lucille Mills; he graduated from Wheatley High School in |
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1948 and worked for Jordan Ford and later Turbyville Lincoln |
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Mercury Motors as a porter and motorcycle driver; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1953, Dr. Mills was called to the ministry; he |
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preached his first sermon at Mt. Rose Baptist Church and three |
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months later was ordained at West Laurel Heights Baptist Church; |
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through the years, he supported a number of gospel groups, |
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including the Mt. Rose Gospel Singers, Kings of Harmony, P.Q. |
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Travelers, Highway Pilgrim Travelers, Greater Mt. Olive Spiritual |
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Five, and Midwest Jubilee Singers; and |
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WHEREAS, Reverend Mills attended Baylor Theological Seminary |
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and began his pastoral work with West Laurel Heights Baptist |
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Church; he went on to serve five other congregations before |
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assuming his final pastorate at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, where he |
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led the congregation with compassion and conviction; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed clergyman further distinguished |
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himself as chair of the P. S. Wilkinson Institute American Baptist |
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General Convention of Texas, the Minister's Conference American |
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Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the American Baptist |
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General Convention Foreign Mission Board; in addition, he organized |
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and led the American Baptist Eastern General Association of Texas |
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Congress as president and served the organization as first vice |
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president; and |
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WHEREAS, The patriarch of a large family, Dr. Mills enjoyed a |
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rewarding relationship with his wife, Loraine, and he was devoted |
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to his children, Larry, Kenneth, Daniel, Gary, Stephen, and Rodney |
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Mills, Carolyn Rhodes, James Bryant, and Zelda Hildreth, who |
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preceded him in death; he also took great pride in his blended |
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children, James Davis, Gwendolyn Deason, Stephanie Hayes, Brenda |
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Archield, Darryl Rodgers, and the late Jerry Davis; and |
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WHEREAS, Held in the highest regard by the members of his |
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church and the greater community, Reverend Mills brought unwavering |
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faith to all his endeavors, and memories of this fine man will |
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continue to inspire the many people whose lives he touched during |
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his years on this earth; 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 the Reverend Dr. |
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Laymon H. Frank Mills and extend deepest sympathy to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Loraine Mills; to his children, Larry Mills |
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and his wife, Andrea, Kenneth Mills, Carolyn Rhodes and her |
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husband, James, Daniel Mills and his wife, Brenda, Gary Mills and |
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his wife, Carrie, Stephen Mills, Rodney Mills and his wife, Angie, |
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and James Bryant and his wife, Ebony; to his blended children, James |
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Davis and his wife, Connie, Gwendolyn Deason, Stephanie Hayes, |
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Brenda Archield and her husband, Paul, and Darryl Rodgers and his |
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wife, Bonita; to his 27 grandchildren and his 21 |
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great-grandchildren; to his sister, Anna Mae White; and to his |
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other relatives and friends; 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 the |
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Reverend Dr. Laymon H. Frank Mills. |
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McClendon |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1771 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 19, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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