Freestone County, Texas
Bios

Texas Senate
Resolution #1004


SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1004

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in 
recognizing the members of the Williams-Livingston family on the 
grand occasion of their annual family reunion, June 6 and 7, 2003;
and

	WHEREAS, Every year on the first Saturday in June,
the members of the Williams-Livingston family hold a reunion
to celebrate their heritage and to commemorate the birth of
Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams; and

	WHEREAS, Over 300 family members invite friends from 
across Texas and the United States to celebrate their love for 
their family and community; and

	WHEREAS, Earliest family history reveals that the
family of Charles and Caroline Livingston arrived in the 
Freestone County, Texas, area in the early 1800s; and

	WHEREAS, Charles Livingston's family moved from
Virginia as freed slaves to the Freestone County area known as
Cotton Gin, Texas; they sharecropped on the area farms; and

	WHEREAS, Caroline Livingston's family moved from Alabama 
as freed slaves to the Freestone County area of Kirvin, Texas; 
arriving in Texas in covered wagons, on horseback, and walking, 
they settled on the farm of Alfred Carter in order to work his 
land; and

	WHEREAS, Caroline and Charles Livingston supported their 
community and were instrumental in the establishment of the 
Shiloh Baptist Church, Texas' oldest primitive Baptist church, 
and Woods Chapel Baptist Church; they also helped to create a 
public school system for the education of their children and the 
children of the surrounding communities; and

	WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston branch of the family stems 
from a daughter born to Caroline and Charles, Elizabeth Livingston,
born July 2, 1866, who married Austin Williams, a freed slave from 
Tennessee; they were the parents of 10 children, one of whom was 
Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams, born June 1, 1889; and

	WHEREAS, Mamie Elizabeth "Mama Mae" Williams was the 
matriarch of the Williams-Livingston family until October 13, 1987,
when she died at the age of 98; and

	WHEREAS, She was the mother of four daughters who moved 
with their families to other parts of Texas, including Dallas, 
where many of the Williams-Livingston family members reside and 
work today; and

	WHEREAS, This year's reunion will showcase the life and 
legacy of Mamie's sister, Aggie Bertha Williams, who was born in 
Freestone County on November 23, 1894; she was the mother of two 
children, Howard Fulshur Williams and Lucy Veatras "Veatrice" 
Williams; she had one step-grandson, Theodore Leroy Williams, who 
was adopted by Howard; she also had five step-great-grandchildren 
and four great-great-grandchildren; and

	WHEREAS, Nicknamed "Aunt Pigg" and "Pigg," Aunt Bertha
was the character in the family, and her mischievous nature was 
recognized by all; she was outspoken and enjoyed interacting with 
the young people in the family; her hobbies were cooking, sewing, 
and canning; and

	WHEREAS, She was a domestic engineer and worked for 
numerous families in Kirvin; an amputee, she drove her car with 
one leg until the remaining limb had to be removed; she died 
January 25, 1990, and was buried in the Carter Colored Cemetery 
in Kirvin; and

	WHEREAS, The Williams-Livingston family members are 
successful men and women who have contributed greatly to their 
communities through their leadership, professionalism, and 
concern for others; each year more descendants from the other 
children of Caroline and Charles Livingston come to the reunion, 
thus reconnecting the original family; and

	WHEREAS, The yearly reunion of the members of the 
Williams-Livingston family is a manifestation of their belief
in family unity, loyalty, and pride in one's heritage; now, 
therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby extend to the members of the 
Williams-Livingston family best wishes for a joyous and 
memorable family reunion; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
the family as a memento of this special occasion.
                                                                            West




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on May 29, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate