| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Willie |
|
|
Sylvester Thompson of Dallas, who passed away on July 20, 2013, at |
|
|
the age of 88; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of Wilford and Katie Thompson, Willie |
|
|
Thompson was born on May 23, 1925, in Hempstead; after losing both |
|
|
of his parents at a young age, he was raised by his uncle and aunt, |
|
|
Dank and Louida Thompson; he graduated from high school in the midst |
|
|
of World War II and soon enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served |
|
|
from 1943 to 1946; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Following his honorable discharge from the |
|
|
military, Mr. Thompson earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture |
|
|
from Prairie View A&M University, while also obtaining |
|
|
certification in elementary and secondary education; during his |
|
|
time at Prairie View, he met the love of his life, the former Edna |
|
|
Lee Johnson, and the pair exchanged wedding vows in 1947; they |
|
|
became the proud parents of three daughters, Jacqueline, Helen, and |
|
|
Gwenda, and with the passing years, they had the joy of welcoming |
|
|
into their family four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson began his professional career at |
|
|
Jarvis Christian College, where he led the agriculture department |
|
|
for seven years; he subsequently became a county agricultural |
|
|
extension agent, and he continued to serve in that capacity until |
|
|
his retirement in 1985; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, While living in Longview, Mr. Thompson was an active |
|
|
member of East Cotton Street Church of Christ, where he taught the |
|
|
Bible and New Converts classes and served on the leadership team; |
|
|
ordained an elder of the church, he held that office for 15 years, |
|
|
until relocating to Dallas; there he joined Central Pointe Church |
|
|
of Christ, a congregation led by his grandson, Dr. Rodney Dulin; he |
|
|
continued to distinguish himself through his dedication to |
|
|
evangelism and ministering to new converts, and in 2012, he was |
|
|
named shepherd emeritus of the congregation; this esteemed |
|
|
gentleman was also the author of a number of books, articles, and |
|
|
lessons on Christianity; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to both his family and his faith, |
|
|
Willie Thompson enriched the lives of countless individuals, and he |
|
|
will forever hold a treasured place in the hearts of all those who |
|
|
held him dear; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of |
|
|
Willie Sylvester Thompson and extend sincere sympathy to the |
|
|
members of his family: to his wife, Edna Thompson; to his daughters, |
|
|
Jacqueline Dulin and Helen Williams and her husband, Gary; to his |
|
|
grandchildren, Chantal McRae Cruthird and her husband, Robert, |
|
|
Rodney Dulin and his wife, Shalonda, and Monica and Brandon |
|
|
Williams; to his great-grandchildren, Alexandria Cruthird, Mia |
|
|
Dulin, Robert Cruthird, Jr., Chayse Williams, Johnathan Cruthird, |
|
|
and Roman Dulin; to his dear friends, James and Carrie Coy and Ray |
|
|
and Shirley Perkins; and to his other relatives and many friends; |
|
|
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 Willie |
|
|
Sylvester Thompson. |
| |
|
|
Johnson |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 194 was adopted by the House on July |
|
|
30, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |