Bill Text: TX SR647 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: In memory of Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels of Houston.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-23 - Reported enrolled [SR647 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR647-Introduced.html
88R31644 BPG-D | ||
By: Miles, et al. | S.R. No. 647 |
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the | ||
passing of Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels, longtime editor of the | ||
Jewish Herald Voice, on May 12, 2023, at the age of 99; and | ||
WHEREAS, The daughter of Louis and Edith Franklin, the former | ||
Jeanne Franklin was born in Casper, Wyoming, on December 26, 1923; | ||
her family moved to Wichita Falls and then settled in Houston, where | ||
she grew up with three siblings, Jack, Bob, and Gay; after | ||
graduating from Lamar High School, she attended The University of | ||
Texas for a year until her beloved mother fell ill; she met her | ||
future husband, Joe Samuels, while waiting at a bus stop, and they | ||
wed on August 4, 1943; as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he was | ||
supposed to be single, so she followed him secretly to every duty | ||
station until he shipped out to the European Theater; during World | ||
War II, she was employed by the Houston Area Rent Control Office of | ||
the Office of Price Administration; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Samuels were blessed with a son, Marc, | ||
and two daughters, Maurene and Vicki; while raising their children, | ||
they owned a record and electronics store and an insurance agency; | ||
they found their calling on April 1, 1973, when they purchased the | ||
Jewish Herald-Voice, then a 65-year-old publication; dedicated to | ||
serving the region's Jewish community, they spent long hours | ||
reporting on events, opining on issues, and demonstrating support | ||
for the State of Israel; in order to cover the concerns of their | ||
readers, they added pages even when it was not helpful to the bottom | ||
line; when they wrote about their international travel, their | ||
accounts often moved readers to donate to Jewish causes in Israel | ||
and around the world; their contributions were recognized by | ||
numerous local and national organizations, both secular and | ||
faith-based; following the death of Mr. Samuels in 2011, | ||
Mrs. Samuels continued to serve as editor and publisher until she | ||
was 98; and | ||
WHEREAS, The Samuels home was always open to family and | ||
friends who needed a place to stay; the couple loved having slumber | ||
parties for their grandchildren, Matt, Benjamin, Caroline, Wendy, | ||
Daniel, Kimberly, Amy "Adina," Michael, David, Sam, and Rebekah; | ||
Mrs. Samuels got them ready for bed by reading from A Child's Garden | ||
of Verses and other favorites; she baked beautiful birthday cakes, | ||
tended a large vegetable garden, and adored the family's boxers and | ||
other pets; kind and compassionate, she began delivering Meals on | ||
Wheels at the age of 89; and | ||
WHEREAS, Although Jeanne Samuels is deeply missed, her | ||
devotion to her family, her faith, and her community will remain a | ||
source of tremendous inspiration to all who were privileged to know | ||
her; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature | ||
hereby pay tribute to the life of Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels and | ||
extend sincere sympathy to all who mourn her passing; and, be it | ||
further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for her family and that when the Texas Senate adjourns this | ||
day, it do so in memory of Jeanne Beulah Franklin Samuels. |