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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The proud history of New Hope Missionary Baptist |
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Church in Wheelock is being recognized with the dedication of an |
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Official Texas Historical Marker on May 6, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1895, former slaves Sam and Lucy Bell Stubbs |
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Mitchell and their 12 children moved from Georgia to Wheelock, |
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Texas, where they raised fruit, vegetables, dairy cows, and |
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chickens on 200 acres as part of a community of African American |
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landowners; and |
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WHEREAS, Many members of that community worshipped at New |
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Hope Missionary Baptist Church, which was originally located west |
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of the Spring Creek settlement; in 1911, the congregation decided |
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to move the church to a more accessible location, and Lucy Mitchell |
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donated two acres of land to accommodate the new sanctuary; the men |
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of the church disassembled the original church and moved the pieces |
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by wagon to the new site, where a local carpenter constructed the |
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present building; and |
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WHEREAS, Between 1880 and 2003, New Hope MBC was served by |
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four ministers, the Reverend R. A. Smiley, the Reverend Aaron |
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A. Manning, the Reverend R. M. Blocker, and the Reverend |
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W. C. Adams, and the church sponsored such auxiliaries as a Sunday |
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school, a Mission Society, the Baptist Training Union, and the |
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Brotherhood Starlight Band and Choir; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, the church has also served as a vital |
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community center, a site for meetings, classes, revivals, reunions, |
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political events, and Juneteenth celebrations; on the first Sunday |
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of each June, members and friends of the church gather to celebrate |
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its rich history and the families who have sustained it; and |
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WHEREAS, One such family member is Estelle Adams, a |
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granddaughter of Sam and Lucy Mitchell; it is thanks to her |
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dedication and hard work that New Hope is being honored with a state |
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historical marker; and |
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WHEREAS, The only remaining African American church in the |
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Wheelock area, New Hope Missionary Baptist continues to provide a |
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spiritual and cultural home to the local black community, and it is |
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truly deserving of this special recognition from the Texas |
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Historical Commission; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas |
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Historical Marker at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and extend |
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to all those present sincere best wishes for a meaningful and |
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memorable event. |