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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The city of Galveston lost a beloved resident with |
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the death of Annie Mae Charles on April 28, 2015, at the age of 102; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The former Annie Mae Fielder was born in Washington, |
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Texas, on April 16, 1913, to Phillip and Willie Mae Bennett Fielder; |
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she graduated from Brenham High School and went on to attend the |
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College for Blacks in Houston; in 1932, she moved to Galveston, |
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where she worked as the head cook at the Jack Tar Hotel for 10 years; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 1944, she was joined in marriage to Moses |
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Charles, and she became the mother of two daughters, Beverly Ann and |
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Betty Jo; later in life, she was blessed with three granddaughters |
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and two great-grandsons; and |
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WHEREAS, From 1962 to 1977, Mrs. Charles served as a juvenile |
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officer for the Galveston Police Department, helping to oversee |
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security in area schools; as the department's first female officer, |
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she was as much a child welfare worker as a policewoman, often going |
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out of her way to help children find a way to a better life; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Charles was also active in her community as a |
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member of numerous boards and committees, as a Girl Scout leader, |
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and as a PTA president; she helped organize Galveston's first |
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Juneteenth celebration, and the annual Juneteenth picnic at Wright |
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Cuney Park is named in her honor, as is the street where she and her |
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husband resided for many years; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of strong religious faith, Mrs. Charles was |
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a longtime member of the Progressive Baptist Church, and she served |
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as president of the Usher Board and as chair of the State Area |
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Ushers of the Missionary Baptist Convention of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, A devoted wife and mother, a pioneering peace |
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officer, and a leader in her community, Annie Mae Charles lived a |
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rich and purposeful life, and she leaves behind a legacy that will |
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continue to inspire all those who knew and loved her; now, |
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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 Annie Mae Charles |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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daughter, Beverly Charles Lewis; to her granddaughters, Stacey |
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Roberts and her husband, Johnny, Surnetra Earnest, and Alifia |
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Taylor and her husband, Sigee; to her great-grandsons, Gregory T. |
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Wilson Jr. and Earnest J. Taylor; to her nieces, Johnetta Pitts and |
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Eleanor Joubert; and to her many other relatives and friends; and, |
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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 Annie Mae |
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Charles. |
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Faircloth |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2993 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 30, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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