Freestone County, Texas
Reunions

Texas Senate
Resolution #881

1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 881

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure

 1-4     in recognizing the members of the Williams-Livingston family

 1-5     on the grand occasion of their annual family reunion,

 1-6     June 6 through 8, 1997; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Every year on the first Saturday in June, the

 1-8     members of the Williams-Livingston family hold a reunion to

 1-9     celebrate their heritage and to commemorate the birth of

1-10     Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Over 300 family members invite friends from across

1-12     Texas and the United States to celebrate their love for their family

1-13     and community; and

1-14           WHEREAS, Earliest family history reveals that the family of

1-15     Charles and Caroline Livingston arrived in the Freestone County,

1-16     Texas, area in the early 1800s; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Charles Livingston's family moved from Virginia as

1-18     freed slaves to the Freestone County area known as Cotton Gin, Texas;

1-19     they sharecropped on the area farms; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Caroline Livingston's family moved from Alabama as

1-21     freed slaves to the Freestone County area of Kirvin, Texas; arriving

1-22     in Texas in covered wagons, on horseback, and walking, they settled

1-23     on the farm of Alfred Carter in order to work his land; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Caroline and Charles Livingston supported their

 2-2     community and were instrumental in the establishment of the Shiloh

 2-3     Baptist Church, Texas' oldest primitive Baptist church, and Woods

 2-4     Chapel Baptist Church; they also helped to create a public school

 2-5     system for the education of their children and the children of the

 2-6     surrounding communities; and

 2-7           WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston branch of the family stems

 2-8     from a daughter born to Caroline and Charles, Elizabeth Livingston,

 2-9     born July 2, 1866, who married Austin Williams, a freed slave from

2-10     Tennessee; they were the parents of 10 children, one of whom was

2-11     Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams, born June 1, 1889; and

2-12           WHEREAS, Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams was the matriarch

2-13     of the Williams-Livingston family until October 13, 1987, when she

2-14     died at the age of 98; and

2-15           WHEREAS, She was the mother of four daughters who moved with

2-16     their families to other parts of Texas, including Dallas, where

2-17     many of the Williams-Livingston family members reside and work

2-18     today; and

2-19           WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston family members are

2-20     successful men and women who have contributed greatly to their

2-21     communities through their leadership, professionalism, and concern

2-22     for others; and

2-23           WHEREAS, They believe strongly in traditional values, are

2-24     productive members of their societies, and are exemplary citizens

2-25     who instill the virtues of love and hard work in their children;

 3-1     and

 3-2           WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston yearly reunion is a

 3-3     manifestation of their belief in family unity, loyalty, and pride

 3-4     in one's heritage; now, therefore, be it

 3-5           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

 3-6     75th Legislature, hereby extend to the members of the

 3-7     Williams-Livingston family best wishes for a joyous and

 3-8     memorable family reunion and declare Saturday, June 7, 1997,

 3-9     Williams-Livingston Day in Texas; and, be it further

3-10           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

3-11     the family as a memento of this special occasion.

3-12                                                                    West

3-13                                  ______________________________________

3-14                                          President of the Senate

3-15                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-16                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-17                                  on May 27, 1997.

3-18                                  ______________________________________

3-19                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-20                                  ______________________________________

3-21                                           Member, Texas Senate