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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Althea Lewis Renfro of Houston, an esteemed educator |
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and friend to many, passed away on December 27, 2012, at the age of |
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85; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Houston on February 10, 1927, to Elijah and |
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Martha Lewis, "AlphaBelle" Lewis attended Bruce Elementary School |
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and Phillis Wheatley High School, where she was active in the Purple |
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and White Squadron and Wheatley's Lovable Troubadours; graduating |
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at the age of 15, she enrolled at Texas Southern University and went |
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on to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as her |
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teaching certification in chemistry, physical science, general |
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science, homemaking, kindergarten, and elementary education; and |
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WHEREAS, This industrious young woman initially taught in |
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Louisiana before returning to Texas and joining the staff of the |
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Double Bayou School in Anahuac; she subsequently went to work for |
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the Houston Independent School District, and during long tenures at |
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Crawford and Hohl Elementary Schools, Mrs. Renfro served as a |
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positive influence on many young people; admired for her |
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leadership, she chaired the Faculty Advisory Council at Crawford |
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Elementary and was the United Negro College Fund school |
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representative; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to her professional achievements, |
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Mrs. Renfro served as the pianist for three different churches and |
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directed the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church senior choir and |
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male chorus; she was a gifted and prolific poet as well who authored |
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more than 300 poems and composed several gospel songs; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. Renfro participated in a variety of worthwhile |
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organizations, including Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the National |
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Teachers Association, the National Education Association, the |
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LaVioleta Social and Charity Club, and the Order of the Eastern |
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Star; she assisted the Red Cross and the Greater Houston Convention |
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and Visitors Bureau as a volunteer, and she established the Ted |
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Taylor Fan Club, a group that sponsored field trips and cultural |
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outings for teens in the Fifth Ward; and |
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WHEREAS, The mother of three children, she was also a devoted |
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mother figure to the children of her two blended families; before |
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becoming the beloved wife of Porter Renfro, Jr., she supported her |
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children in numerous activities, attending countless football |
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games, marching band performances, and Girl Scout campouts; later, |
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she and Mr. Renfro became known as "Mommadear" and "Granddaddy" to |
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their close-knit circle of loved ones; during their 40 years |
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together, the couple traveled extensively and hosted many |
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gatherings in their home; and |
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WHEREAS, Althea Renfro made a meaningful difference in the |
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world around her, and she leaves behind a legacy that will continue |
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to inspire others for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Althea Lewis Renfro |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her |
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children, Algenita Segars and her husband, Ardie, and Jacky Scott |
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and his wife, Cynthia; to her grandchildren, Marthea Davis, Jackea |
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M. Scott, and John W. Davis IV; to her stepchildren, Ronald Bennett |
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and his wife, Joyce, David Earl Renfro, Pat Renfro, Porter Renfro |
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III, and Porter Renfro IV; and to her other relatives and friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Althea |
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Lewis Renfro. |
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Dutton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 112 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on February 18, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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