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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Marshall community lost a beloved educator, |
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trailblazing civic leader, and friend to many with the passing of |
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former city commissioner Willie Jean Birmingham on October 23, |
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2022, at the age of 93; and |
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WHEREAS, Born to Willie and Edna Perry in Coldspring on |
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January 3, 1929, the former Jean Perry grew up with five siblings, |
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Douglass, Dolphus, Altha, Mervin, and Ervin; she began her |
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education at the age of three in a one-room school built after |
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Emancipation; because there was no local high school for Black |
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children, she attended Phillis Wheatley High School in Houston, |
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graduating as valedictorian at the age of 15; she went on to |
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graduate magna cum laude from Prairie View A&M University; and |
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WHEREAS, She wed her college sweetheart, Edwin Locke, and |
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they became the parents of a son, Gene; tragically widowed at 18, |
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she soldiered on, beginning her teaching career in Goodrich and |
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earning her master's degree at Prairie View; she was fortunate to |
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find love a second time with Roy Marshall, and their marriage was |
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blessed with a daughter, Rhonda; in 1952, they settled in Marshall, |
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where she began teaching business at Pemberton High School; she |
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transferred to the newly desegregated Marshall High School in 1970; |
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over the course of four decades, she gave countless students the |
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confidence to reach their full potential and mentored many younger |
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educators; and |
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WHEREAS, With her marriage to Samuel Birmingham, she gained |
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two more daughters, Janice and Cheryl; the couple owned |
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Birmingham's Barbecue and Birmingham's Department Store, and they |
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were very active in the business community; after assisting her |
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husband in his successful campaigns to become Marshall's first |
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Black city commissioner and first Black mayor, Mrs. Birmingham |
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became the first Black woman elected to the city commission; she |
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represented District 1 with skill and dedication for 14 years, |
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working tirelessly in behalf of her fellow citizens; her sweet |
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nature and warm smile endeared her to all, and her contributions |
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fostered an atmosphere of positive change, helping to bridge |
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divides in the community; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Mrs. Birmingham served in numerous |
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leadership roles, including president of the Harrison County |
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Historical Museum board and member of the State Commission on |
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Judicial Conduct and the Harrison County Historical Commission; she |
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was instrumental in securing Marshall's designation as an |
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All-America City and gave generously of her time and talents to such |
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organizations as the Marshall NAACP, Greater Marshall Chamber of |
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Commerce, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and League of Women Voters; |
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among numerous accolades, she received the East Texas Baptist |
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University Sam B. Hall Jr. Civic Service Award and the Harrison |
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County Historical Commission Award of Merit; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Birmingham was a treasured member of Galilee |
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Missionary Baptist Church; she served as Sunday school |
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superintendent, and fellow congregants often went to her for wise |
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advice; in her last years, when health concerns prompted a move to |
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Houston, she joined her son and his wife at Wheeler Avenue Baptist |
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Church; she loved taking part in Bible study and attended virtual |
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services faithfully during the pandemic; above all, she was devoted |
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to her family, which grew to include 11 grandchildren, who called |
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her "Precious," and many great-grandchildren and |
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great-great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, The life of Jean Birmingham stands as an inspiring |
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example of joyful service to others, and she will always be |
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remembered with deep admiration and great affection by all who were |
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fortunate enough to know her; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby pay tribute to the memory of Willie Jean Birmingham and |
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extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn her passing; 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 Senate adjourns this |
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day, it do so in memory of Jean Birmingham. |