Bill Text: TX SR46 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: In memory of Arthur Beatrice Williams of Wichita Falls.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-01-24 - Reported enrolled [SR46 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SR46-Introduced.html
88R7162 EME-D | ||
By: Springer | S.R. No. 46 |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Wichita Falls lost an esteemed | ||
community leader with the passing of Arthur Beatrice Williams on | ||
November 19, 2021, at the age of 88; and | ||
WHEREAS, Arthur Bea Williams was born in Calvert on August 2, | ||
1933, to Margie Blackmon and Johnny Williams, and she grew up with | ||
her brother, Charles; in 1942, she and her family moved to Wichita | ||
Falls; she professed her faith at an early age and became involved | ||
with ministries at her church; following her graduation from | ||
Booker T. Washington High School in 1951, she went on to attend | ||
Bishop College, where she was presented as a debutante by the | ||
Federated Women's Club; and | ||
WHEREAS, Breaking a number of color barriers, Ms. Williams | ||
was the first Black woman city councilor in Wichita Falls and the | ||
city's first Black justice of the peace; she was a longtime member | ||
of the League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls, and she was a | ||
passionate advocate for youth, playing an instrumental role in | ||
organizing Ms. Bea's Tea Party for fifth-grade students and serving | ||
as a board member for Child Care Partners; she contributed to her | ||
community as a volunteer for over four decades; moreover, she was a | ||
valued congregant of Gilbert Memorial Christian Methodist | ||
Episcopal Church; and | ||
WHEREAS, Ms. Williams was inducted into the North Texas | ||
Women's Hall of Fame, and in 2019 she was honored as a North Texas | ||
Legend by the Museum of North Texas History; she was also recognized | ||
as the 2001 Wichitan of the Year by the Times Record News; and | ||
WHEREAS, Ms. Williams was the devoted mother of a daughter, | ||
Andrea Lynne; in her leisure time, she enjoyed quilting, and she was | ||
a certified master gardener; and | ||
WHEREAS, A trailblazer and a dedicated public servant, Arthur | ||
Bea Williams will be deeply missed, but the integrity, wisdom, and | ||
generosity with which she lived her life will forever inspire all | ||
who had the good fortune to know her; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature | ||
hereby pay tribute to the memory of Arthur Beatrice Williams and | ||
extend heartfelt sympathy to her many relatives and friends; 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 Arthur Bea Williams. |