SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 456

In Memory

of

Ruth Laverne Wells Wyrick

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of Ruth Laverne Wells Wyrick, who died on April 14, 2023, at the age of 88; and

WHEREAS, A fourth-generation Texan, Ruth Laverne Wells was born on September 29, 1934, in Waco; she attended the segregated A. J. Moore High School and went on to graduate from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell; she moved to Dallas, where she met and married Ernest "Deacon" Wyrick, and they settled in Oak Cliff and shared 59 years of marriage; they were blessed with two children, Narleski and Natesha; and

WHEREAS, A woman of strong Christian faith, Ruth was a courageous and determined person who was firm in her principles, and she was guided by her faith in her daily life; she enrolled her children in private elementary and high schools, and her son attended Dallas Christian School in 1968 when the school had not yet been desegregated; when the school was relocated, Ruth joined other parents in establishing Christian Academy of Oak Cliff, where she served as a member of the Parent Teacher Organization and the Ladies Auxiliary for Christian Education; and

WHEREAS, Ruth and Deacon were faithful members of Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ in Oak Cliff, where Ruth taught Bible classes, volunteered as a youth counselor, and supported her church members as a companion in prayer; she also volunteered with Lifeline Chaplaincy through Marsalis, and she supported her husband in his many church responsibilities as well as in their work with the National Youth Conference of the Churches of Christ; and

WHEREAS, Ruth was instrumental in creating the Mr. and Miss National Youth Conference Pageant, one of the most esteemed activities for youth across the brotherhood; active in the Dallas chapter of Southwestern Christian College's alumni association, Ruth raised close to $1.5 million over the past 25 years, and she won numerous awards for her outstanding service, including receiving an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2012; and

WHEREAS, A mentor to church leaders and ministers and a believer in the power of political activism, Ruth held various leadership positions and served her community as chair of the City of Dallas Martin Luther King Jr. Board; she served as Democratic Precinct Chair for 50 years and as a Dallas County election judge for local and state elections, and she attended the Texas Democratic Convention for 40 years; she was an influential and charismatic woman whose political endorsements could inspire multitudes to turn out and support first-time candidates; and

WHEREAS, In addition to her spiritual and political activities, Ruth worked for the Dallas Independent School District for more than 20 years until her retirement in 2009; above all else, she was a loving wife and mother and a devoted grandmother to her five grandsons; Ruth gave unselfishly to others, and her kindness, her passion, and her generous spirit will long be remembered by all who were blessed to share in her life; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Ruth Laverne Wells Wyrick; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth Wells Wyrick.

West

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 24, 2023, by a rising vote.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate