Bill Text: TX HR1163 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of the Reverend Ricky Charles Bell, pastor of Forest Lawn Missionary Baptist Church in Houston.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-04-20 - Reported enrolled [HR1163 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR1163-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1163 |
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed spiritual leader drew to a | ||
close with the passing of the Reverend Ricky Charles Bell on April | ||
11, 2023, at the age of 66; and | ||
WHEREAS, A native of Kilgore, Ricky Bell was born on October | ||
2, 1956, to Alonzo and Earline Giddings Bell; following his | ||
graduation from Kashmere Senior High School in Houston, he studied | ||
business administration at Houston Community College; first called | ||
to the ministry in 1978, he attended Union Baptist College and | ||
Theological Seminary, Mt. Hope Theological Seminary, the South | ||
Houston Bible Institute, and the Interdenominational Theological | ||
Center; he earned a theology degree from Calvary Theological | ||
Seminary and a master's degree from Jacksonville Baptist | ||
Theological Seminary; and | ||
WHEREAS, Pastor Bell was ordained on March 24, 1990, and he | ||
was installed as pastor of Forest Lawn Missionary Baptist Church in | ||
Houston on June 29, 1993; over the course of his exemplary tenure | ||
leading the congregation, he devoted himself tirelessly to the | ||
advancement of the church's mission and oversaw its many | ||
faith-based community and counseling programs; highly respected by | ||
his peers, he served as dean of the Puritan District Association and | ||
was active with the National Missionary Baptist Convention of | ||
America, the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist | ||
Convention USA, and a number of preaching conferences; his | ||
affiliations also included the Fellowship of Prison Ministries and | ||
the Baptist Ministers' Association of Houston and Vicinity, and he | ||
was a lifetime member of the NAACP; and | ||
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Pastor Bell enjoyed the love | ||
and support of his wife, Virginia Annette Bell, and their two | ||
children, Charles Anthony Bell and Kharah Rachelle Bell; and | ||
WHEREAS, Ricky Bell was a source of spiritual guidance, | ||
comfort, and inspiration to his congregation and to numerous people | ||
in the wider community, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of | ||
those who were fortunate enough to have known him; now, therefore, | ||
be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Pastor Ricky | ||
Charles Bell and extend deepest condolences to all who mourn his | ||
passing; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Pastor | ||
Bell. | ||
Dutton | ||
Thompson of Harris | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1163 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
rising vote of the House on April 20, 2023. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||