TITLE: In memory of Bernice Jones Washington.

SUMMARY: In memory of Bernice Jones Washington.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, A rich and purposeful life drew to a close with the passing of Bernice Jones Washington on November 11, 2023, at the age of 73; and WHEREAS, The daughter of Sarah Blacksher Jones and James Jones, the former Bernice Jones was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on November 16, 1949; she earned her bachelor's degree in microbiology and medical technology from Southern University in Baton Rouge, where she joined the Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; after completing her MBA at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, she married her college sweetheart, Lymon Washington Jr., in 1973; they became the proud parents of two children, Andrea Renee and Michael Benjamin; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Washington was employed by Bayer Healthcare for 38 years; known for her ability to connect with people both professionally and personally, she excelled as a regional marketing manager; later, she became owner and CEO of Urgent Care clinics and president and CEO of BJW Consulting Group, a motivational speaker company; she addressed audiences across the United States and abroad, and she offered commentary on national TV and in such publications as Southern Living and Jet;and WHEREAS, Admired as a force of nature, Mrs. Washington was a member of the boards of more than six dozen organizations, among them the DFW Airport Board, the Regional Transportation Council of North Texas, and the Texas Healthcare Trustees; she served as president of the board of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Plano; in addition, she was a member of the Plano North Metroplex Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, for a quarter century; she volunteered and raised funds for Southern University, the NAACP, the Leadership Texas Alumnae Association, and local and national political campaigns; engaged in civil and human rights activism as well, she fought anti-Semitism, homophobia, and discrimination against women; she also held leadership roles at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church, and she was instrumental in establishing the Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center; and WHEREAS, Bernice Jones Washington made a lasting, positive difference through her wide-ranging contributions, and those she left behind will forever treasure their memories of her vibrant personality and tremendous kindness; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the life of Bernice Jones Washington and extend sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her husband, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Lymon Washington Jr.; to her children, Andrea Renee Wallace and her husband, James, and Michael Benjamin Washington; to her grandchildren, Alexander James and Adriana Sloan Wallace; to her siblings, Dorothy Jones Williams and her husband, Roy, Billy George Jones, and McKinley Young; to her best friend, Wilma "Teen" Flucas; and to her many other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Bernice Jones Washington. Davis Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Anch a Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slawson Cook Kuempel Smith Cortez Lalani Smithee Craddick Lambert Spiller Cunningham Landgraf Stucky Darby Leach Swanson Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico Dean Longoria Tepper DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris Frank Manuel Tinderholt Frazier Martinez Toth G mez Martinez Fischer Troxclair Garcia Metcalf Turner Gates Meyer VanDeaver Gerdes Meza Vasut Geren Moody Vo Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson Gonz lez of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu Gonz lez of El Paso Morrison Zwiener Goodwin Mu oz, Jr. Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 43 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on November 17, 2023. Chief Clerk of the House