Freestone County, Texas
Reunions

Texas Senate
Resolution #1307

 By:  West                                             S.R. No. 1307
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure
    1-3  in recognizing the members of the Williams-Livingston family on the
    1-4  grand occasion of their family reunion, June 2 through 4, 1995; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, Every year on the first Saturday in June,
    1-6  the members of the Williams-Livingston family hold a reunion to
    1-7  celebrate their heritage and to commemorate the birth of
    1-8  Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Over 200 family members invite friends from across
   1-10  Texas to celebrate their love for their family and community; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Earliest family history reveals that the family
   1-12  of Charles and Caroline Livingston arrived in the Freestone County,
   1-13  Texas, area in the early 1800s; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, Charles Livingston's family moved from Virginia as
   1-15  freed slaves to the Freestone County area known as Cotton Gin, Texas;
   1-16  they sharecropped on the area farms; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Caroline Livingston's family moved from Alabama as
   1-18  freed slaves to the Freestone County area of Kirvin, Texas; arriving
   1-19  in Texas in covered wagons, on horseback, and walking, they settled
   1-20  on the farm of Alfred Carter in order to work his land; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, Caroline and Charles Livingston supported their
   1-22  community and were instrumental in the establishment of the Shiloh
   1-23  Baptist Church, Texas' oldest Primitive Baptist Church, and Woods
    2-1  Chapel Baptist Church; they also helped to create a public school
    2-2  system for the education of their children and the children of the
    2-3  surrounding communities; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston branch of the family stems
    2-5  from a daughter born to Caroline and Charles, Elizabeth Livingston,
    2-6  born July 2, 1866, who married Austin Williams, a freed slave from
    2-7  Tennessee; they were the parents of 10 children, one of whom was
    2-8  Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams, born June 1, 1889; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams was the
   2-10  matriarch of the Williams-Livingston family until October 13, 1987,
   2-11  when she died at the age of 98; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, She was the mother of four daughters who moved
   2-13  with their families to other parts of Texas, including Dallas, where
   2-14  many of the Williams-Livingston family members reside and work today;
   2-15  and
   2-16        WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston family members are
   2-17  successful men and women who have contributed greatly to their
   2-18  communities through their leadership, professionalism, and concern
   2-19  for others; and
   2-20        WHEREAS, They believe strongly in traditional values, are
   2-21  productive members of their societies, and are exemplary citizens
   2-22  who instill the virtues of love and hard work in their children;
   2-23  and
   2-24        WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston yearly reunion is a
   2-25  manifestation of their belief in family unity, loyalty, and
    3-1  pride in one's heritage; now, therefore, be it
    3-2        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
    3-3  74th Legislature, hereby extend to the members of the
    3-4  Williams-Livingston family best wishes for a joyous and
    3-5  memorable family reunion and declare Saturday, June 3, 1995,
    3-6  as Williams-Livingston Day in Texas; and, be it further
    3-7        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
    3-8  the family as a memento of this special occasion.
    3-9                               ______________________________________
   3-10                                       President of the Senate
   3-11                                    I hereby certify that the above
   3-12                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
   3-13                               on May 28, 1995.
   3-14                               ______________________________________
   3-15                                       Secretary of the Senate
   3-16                               ______________________________________
   3-17                                        Member, Texas Senate