Bill Text: TX HR26 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: In memory of Ara La'Shon Duke.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-19 - Referred to Local & Consent Calendars [HR26 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HR26-Introduced.html
| 89R2276 CJM-D | ||
| By: Cole | H.R. No. 26 | |
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| WHEREAS, The family and friends of Ara La'Shon Duke suffered | ||
| an immeasurable loss with her death on June 15, 2024, at the age of | ||
| 54; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The daughter of Marsha Garnett-Halmon and Carl | ||
| Walker, Ara Duke was born on October 26, 1969, in Dallas; she shared | ||
| in the companionship of three siblings, Ismail Rashid-Walker, Carla | ||
| Walker, and Brandon Halmon, and her family also included her | ||
| stepparents, Blanche Walker and Melvin Halmon; she attended Justin | ||
| F. Kimball High School, where she was a drill team lieutenant, and | ||
| after graduating in 1988, she continued her education at Texas A&M | ||
| University and earned a bachelor's degree in organizational | ||
| management from Ashford University; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In the course of a successful career, Mrs. Duke | ||
| worked for the SouthWest Water Company and Lonestar Social | ||
| Services; she subsequently pursued her passion for education, | ||
| serving as the director of the First Steps Discovery Learning | ||
| Center and as a teacher and leader at IDEA Rundberg; she took an | ||
| active role in her community through her involvement with NPH USA, | ||
| Black Women in Business, and Mission Accomplished, among other | ||
| organizations; a woman of faith, she was a member of the | ||
| congregation at Restoration Christian Ministry International | ||
| Church and served in the women's, children's, and intercessory | ||
| prayer ministries; and | ||
| WHEREAS, She married the love of her life, Christopher Duke, | ||
| in 2002, and the couple became the proud parents of a daughter, | ||
| Alena, the following year; in her leisure hours, Mrs. Duke enjoyed | ||
| traveling, reading, trying out new restaurants, and watching Black | ||
| cinema and her favorite television franchise, Star Trek; she was | ||
| also a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Admired for her warmth, her generosity of spirit, | ||
| and her sparkling personality, Ara Duke brightened the world for | ||
| all who knew her, and they will forever hold her close in their | ||
| hearts; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Ara La'Shon Duke and | ||
| extend heartfelt 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 House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ara Duke. | ||
