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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 Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels, longtime editor of the |
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Jewish Herald Voice, on May 12, 2023, at the age of 99; and |
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WHEREAS, The daughter of Louis and Edith Franklin, the former |
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Jeanne Franklin was born in Casper, Wyoming, on December 26, 1923; |
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her family moved to Wichita Falls and then settled in Houston, where |
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she grew up with three siblings, Jack, Bob, and Gay; after |
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graduating from Lamar High School, she attended The University of |
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Texas for a year until her beloved mother fell ill; she met her |
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future husband, Joe Samuels, while waiting at a bus stop, and they |
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wed on August 4, 1943; as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he was |
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supposed to be single, so she followed him secretly to every duty |
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station until he shipped out to the European Theater; during World |
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War II, she was employed by the Houston Area Rent Control Office of |
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the Office of Price Administration; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Samuels were blessed with a son, Marc, |
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and two daughters, Maurene and Vicki; while raising their children, |
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they owned a record and electronics store and an insurance agency; |
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they found their calling on April 1, 1973, when they purchased the |
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Jewish Herald-Voice, then a 65-year-old publication; dedicated to |
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serving the region's Jewish community, they spent long hours |
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reporting on events, opining on issues, and demonstrating support |
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for the State of Israel; in order to cover the concerns of their |
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readers, they added pages even when it was not helpful to the bottom |
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line; when they wrote about their international travel, their |
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accounts often moved readers to donate to Jewish causes in Israel |
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and around the world; their contributions were recognized by |
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numerous local and national organizations, both secular and |
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faith-based; following the death of Mr. Samuels in 2011, |
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Mrs. Samuels continued to serve as editor and publisher until she |
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was 98; and |
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WHEREAS, The Samuels home was always open to family and |
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friends who needed a place to stay; the couple loved having slumber |
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parties for their grandchildren, Matt, Benjamin, Caroline, Wendy, |
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Daniel, Kimberly, Amy "Adina," Michael, David, Sam, and Rebekah; |
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Mrs. Samuels got them ready for bed by reading from A Child's Garden |
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of Verses and other favorites; she baked beautiful birthday cakes, |
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tended a large vegetable garden, and adored the family's boxers and |
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other pets; kind and compassionate, she began delivering Meals on |
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Wheels at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Jeanne Samuels is deeply missed, her |
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devotion to her family, her faith, and her community will remain a |
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source of tremendous inspiration to all who were privileged to know |
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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 life of Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels 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 Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels. |