Freestone County, Texas
Reunions

Texas Senate
Resolution #1095

 1-1                                     1
 1-2                         SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1095
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in
 1-4     recognizing the members of the Williams-Livingston family on the
 1-5     grand occasion of their annual family reunion, which is being held
 1-6     June 4 through 6, 1999; 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
1-13     family 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     area in the early 1800s; and
1-17           WHEREAS, The Charles Livingston family moved from
1-18     Virginia as freed slaves to the Freestone County area known
1-19     as Cotton Gin, Texas; they sharecropped on the area farms; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Caroline Livingston's family moved from Alabama
 2-1     as freed slaves to the Freestone County area of Kirvin, Texas;
 2-2     arriving in Texas in covered wagons, on horseback, and walking,
 2-3     they settled on the farm of Alfred Carter in order to work his
 2-4     land; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Caroline and Charles Livingston supported their
 2-6     community and were instrumental in the establishment of the
 2-7     Shiloh Baptist Church, Texas' oldest primitive Baptist church, and
 2-8     Woods Chapel Baptist Church; they also helped to create a public
 2-9     school system for the education of their children and the children
2-10     of the surrounding communities; and
2-11           WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston branch of the family stems
2-12     from a daughter born to Caroline and Charles, Elizabeth Livingston,
2-13     born July 2, 1866, who married Austin Williams, a freed slave from
2-14     Tennessee; they were the parents of 10 children, one of whom was
2-15     Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams, born June 1, 1889; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams was the
2-17     matriarch of the Williams-Livingston family until October 13, 1987,
2-18     when she died at the age of 98; and
2-19           WHEREAS, She was the mother of four daughters who moved
2-20     with their families to other parts of Texas, including Dallas,
2-21     Fort Worth, and San Antonio, where many of the Williams-Livingston
2-22     family members reside and work today; and
2-23           WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston family members are
 3-1     successful men and women who have contributed greatly to their
 3-2     communities through their leadership, professionalism, and concern
 3-3     for others; and
 3-4           WHEREAS, They believe strongly in traditional values, are
 3-5     productive members of their societies, and are exemplary citizens
 3-6     who instill the virtues of love and hard work in their children;
 3-7     and
 3-8           WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston yearly reunion is a
 3-9     manifestation of their belief in family unity, loyalty, and pride
3-10     in one's heritage; now, therefore, be it
3-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-12     76th Legislature, hereby extend to the members of the
3-13     close-knit Williams-Livingston family best wishes for a joyous
3-14     and memorable family reunion and declare Saturday, June 5, 1999,
3-15     Williams-Livingston Day in Texas; and, be it further
3-16           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
3-17     family as a memento of this special occasion.
3-18                                                                    West
3-19                                  ______________________________________
3-20                                          President of the Senate
3-21                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-22                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-23                                  on May 25, 1999.
3-24                                  ______________________________________
3-25                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-26                                  ______________________________________
3-27                                           Member, Texas Senate