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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 80th birthday of an esteemed Texan is indeed a |
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special occasion, and Marguerite Smith Latson of Houston is |
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celebrating this momentous milestone in her life on March 21, 2015; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A native and lifetime resident of the Bayou City's |
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Fifth Ward, the former Marguerite Smith was born in 1935 to Charlie |
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and Hattie Smith and enjoyed the companionship of 12 siblings |
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growing up; she attended Bruce Elementary School and graduated with |
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honors from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1953; and |
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WHEREAS, She married Ezekiel Latson, and together they |
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nurtured a fulfilling marriage of nearly a half-century until his |
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passing; she spent many years caring for their home and raising |
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their 13 children, Derrick, Reginald, Masha, Farley, Ray, Kelvin, |
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Cynthia, Craig, Lisa, Vincent, Jeffrey, Sherri, and Jocelyn, and |
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Mrs. Latson also helped care for her nieces, Kim, Terry, Angela, |
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and Emily, in the family home; today, she is the proud matriarch of |
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a family that includes her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to her Christian faith, Mrs. Latson sang in |
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the choir at New Testament Baptist Church in her youth, and later |
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worshipped at Greater Mount Olive and Watts Chapel Baptist |
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Churches; for the last several decades, she has been a valued and |
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active member of Bringhurst Street Good News Church, led by her son, |
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Senior Pastor Jeffrey Latson; she currently serves on the pastoral |
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support team and holds the title of church mother, and she has been |
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recognized for her service to the congregation with Mother of the |
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Year honors in 1982 and 1997; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed woman has also demonstrated her |
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commitment to her wider community by mentoring young people in the |
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Hutton Street neighborhood; moreover, she was actively involved in |
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her children's academic lives, volunteering her time to the Houston |
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Independent School District and becoming the first African American |
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woman on the HISD Parental Advisory Board; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to her family and fellow residents, |
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Marguerite Latson may reflect with pride on her eight decades of |
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life well lived, and it is indeed a pleasure to join with her |
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friends and loved ones in honoring her on this memorable occasion; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Marguerite Latson on her 80th |
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birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued |
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happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mrs. Latson as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |