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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life lived with joy and purpose drew to a close |
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with the passing of Essie Beatrice Thomas Martin on May 7, 2023, at |
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the age of 100; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Fannie and Sim Thomas, the former |
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Essie Thomas was born in Jonesville, Louisiana, on June 1, 1922, and |
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grew up with eight brothers and sisters; she earned a bachelor's |
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degree in education from Grambling University and joined her |
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siblings in Oakland, California; on April 20, 1946, she returned to |
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Louisiana to marry her hometown sweetheart, Theodule "TD" Martin, |
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and they were blessed with two children, Theodule "Dell" and |
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Doeveal; and |
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WHEREAS, The Martins lived in Archie, Louisiana, and Denver, |
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Colorado, before settling in Basile, Louisiana, where Mrs. Martin |
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taught sixth grade at William W. Stewart High School; the family |
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relocated to California in 1969, and she became a counselor at |
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Antelope Valley High School; she ultimately retired from Palmdale |
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High School, and she and her husband enjoyed extensive travel and |
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undertook especially memorable trips to the Caribbean, Paris, and |
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Spain; active in her community, she was a co-founder of the Antelope |
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Valley Juliettes and supported her former students in their |
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endeavors; she was a woman of strong faith and a valued member of |
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Growing Valley Church and, later, Agape Community Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Martin was the devoted grandmother of Jamila |
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Nightingale and Angel Martin; she and her husband shared a |
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fulfilling relationship until his passing, and she then resided |
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with her son's family and with a granddaughter before staying in |
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Garland under the care of her great-niece, Cora C. McClendon, and |
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her daughter, Aisha J. McClendon; warm and caring, she kept in touch |
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with family members all around the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Essie Martin is deeply missed, she has left |
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her loved ones with many cherished memories, and she will forever |
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hold a special place in their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Essie Beatrice Thomas |
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Martin and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to |
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her son, Theodule "Dell" Martin, and his wife, Linda |
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Jacobus-Martin; to her granddaughters, Jamila Nightingale and her |
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husband, Cory Smith, and Angel Martin; to her five |
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great-grandchildren, Donovan Smith, Kayla Smith, Shannon Smith, |
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Kiah Smith, and Sanaa Smith; to her godsons, Howard Harris and Danny |
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Ray Southall; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be it |
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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 Essie |
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Martin. |
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Neave Criado |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2528 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 29, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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