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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 faith and |
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leadership of Elder Cecil Ray Proctor of DeSoto, who passed away on |
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April 10, 2015, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Herman and Esther Alexander Proctor, |
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Elder Proctor was born on August 11, 1945, in Marquez and was |
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educated in the Frost school district; he married the love of his |
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life, the former Mollie Sharper, on April 25, 1970, and they became |
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the parents of five treasured children, Dawn, Yolanda, LaKitsha, |
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Rachel, and Gilbert; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1978, Cecil Proctor felt called to the ministry |
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and began hosting a small Bible study group in his home; he became a |
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licensed minister in the Church of God in Christ in 1987 and an |
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ordained elder in 1989; shortly afterward, he organized the |
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Neighborhood House of Prayer in Dallas, a church he guided with |
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selfless devotion for close to four decades; and |
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WHEREAS, Seeking additional ways to serve the community, |
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Elder Proctor established the Neighborhood Christian Learning |
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Center of Dallas, a licensed early childhood facility that partners |
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with the Dallas Independent School District pre-K school readiness |
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initiative; known to youngsters at NCLC of Dallas as "PaPa," Elder |
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Proctor led the center as its administrator until his health |
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declined, and he saw it recognized by the Texas Education Agency as |
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a Pre-K Center of Excellence; to date, the center has provided |
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services to more than 2,500 children in Dallas County; Elder |
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Proctor was also responsible for founding the Neighborhood Outreach |
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Center of Hope, a 24-hour, faith-based rehabilitation facility and |
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shelter for former inmates and individuals recovering from |
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substance abuse; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed clergyman also rendered outstanding |
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service to the Texas East Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church |
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of God in Christ; in 1984, he became the first adjutant to Bishop |
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James Edward Lee Sr., and he served additionally as assistant to |
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Superintendent Robert L. Nichols Sr. in the Spiritual Life |
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District; and |
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WHEREAS, Elder Proctor endeared himself to those in and |
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outside his congregation with his sunny demeanor and contagious |
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smile; he reached a wide audience in the Dallas/Fort Worth area |
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through his weekly "Prayer of Faith" radio broadcast, and he often |
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gathered with other pastors, politicians, and local leaders to |
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enjoy a meal and discuss how they could make their community |
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stronger; in 2006, he was honored for his myriad good works with his |
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induction into the Elite News Religious Hall of Fame; and |
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WHEREAS, With his kind and caring ways, Elder Cecil Ray |
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Proctor uplifted the hearts of numerous people, and he will long be |
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remembered with deep affection by his loved ones and by the dear |
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friends he made along life's journey; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Elder Cecil Ray |
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Proctor and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Mollie M. Proctor; to his daughters, Dawn Washington, |
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Yolanda Coleman and her husband, Anthony, LaKitsha Lee and her |
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husband, James, and Rachel Proctor; to his grandchildren, Keithan |
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Proctor, Jacniqua Washington, Christopher Washington, Shaquira |
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Walker, Jaya Lee, and James Lee III; to his great-grandchildren, |
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Niriyah Gahagan and Khrist'jan Walker; to his siblings, Christine |
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Cotton, Vernel Smith, Eloise Fields, and Johnny Proctor; to his |
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special son, the Reverend Mark Proctor, and his wife, Michelle; and |
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to his many 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 Elder Cecil |
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Ray Proctor. |
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Giddings |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2142 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 6, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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