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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Eddie Foster Roberts Sr. of Bay City on March 15, 2020, |
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at the age of 97; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Ikeleys and Linnie Roberts, Eddie Roberts |
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was born in Bay City on April 17, 1922, and grew up with two sisters, |
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Christine and Theresa; he was valedictorian of the Class of 1940 at |
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A. G. Hilliard High School and attended Howard University before |
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earning a bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University; |
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answering his nation's call to duty, he served in the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts attended the Landig College of Mortuary |
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Science and owned and operated Duncan Roberts Funeral Home in Bay |
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City; he was the funeral director in charge from 1942 through 2020, |
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providing support to grieving families and rebuilding the business |
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on-site after it was destroyed by fire in 1992; further, he became |
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the first African American to serve as a postman in Bay City, and he |
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worked in that capacity for a decade; and |
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WHEREAS, Civically engaged, Mr. Roberts was Worshipful |
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Master of Gulf Coast Masonic Lodge No. 272 and belonged to VFW Post |
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No. 850 and the Prometheans; additionally, he was involved with the |
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American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the |
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Matagorda County Sheriffs' Association, the Bay City Housing |
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Authority, the Eastview Cemetery Association, and the Bay City |
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Ebony Club, among other organizations; and |
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WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. Roberts enjoyed the love |
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and support of his wife, the former Faye Grace Bellfield, with whom |
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he shared a rewarding marriage that spanned six and a half decades |
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until her death in 2016; he was the devoted father of two children, |
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Cheryl Roberts Owens and the late Eddie F. Roberts Jr., and he took |
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great pride in his grandson, Harrison Foster Owens; a valued |
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congregant of Enterprise Baptist Church in Bay City, he was a member |
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of the male chorus and chaired the finance committee and the trustee |
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and educational boards; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply dedicated to his family, his faith, and his |
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community, Eddie Roberts earned the lasting respect and admiration |
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of all who were privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Eddie Foster |
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Roberts Sr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and |
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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 Eddie |
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Roberts. |