HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1439
By Powers
A RESOLUTION to honor and congratulate Mary Hammond on
the celebration of her 100th birthday.
WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pay tribute to
those citizens who are celebrating special occasions in their estimable lives; and WHEREAS, Mary Hammond will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 14, 2024, a milestone that will be commemorated as yet another precious souvenir of life's rich pageant;
and WHEREAS, Mrs. Hammond has lived a remarkable life, having experienced firsthand the most eventful and productive years in American history; and WHEREAS, one of eight children in her family, Mary Hammond was born in River Junction, Florida, located some fifty miles west of Tallahassee; and WHEREAS, as a student at George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Mary Hammond worked in the school's library to help subsidize her education; although she did not complete her degree there, she did meet Charles Patrick, whom she married; and WHEREAS, the newlyweds moved to central Florida, by way of Kokomo, Indiana, and Mrs. Hammond enrolled as a student at Stetson University; and WHEREAS, after the untimely passing of her first husband, Mary Hammond worked full time, attended college at night, and raised two children: Jerry and Lynnette; and WHEREAS, Mary Hammond completed her teaching degree at Stetson University and married her second husband, Bennett Hammond, soon after graduation; and WHEREAS, Mr. Hammond was the father of three children: two adult sons, Leonard and Jack, and a young daughter, Zola, who was the same age as Jerry; and WHEREAS, because Mary Hammond had loved Tennessee since her days as a student at George Peabody College, the Hammonds later bought farmland in Middle Tennessee and HJR1439
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began raising Beefalo cattle; they also helped organize the Beefalo Association of Tennessee;
and WHEREAS, in addition to farming, Mrs. Hammond served as a substitute teacher for high school agriculture classes in Lebanon; she also made weekly visits to nursing homes,
where she enjoyed reading a variety of books to residents; and WHEREAS, dedicated to serving others, her volunteer work continued in Anderson County, where she read to residents of Norris Rehabilitation and Nursing Home as well as
Meadow View Senior Living in Clinton; and WHEREAS, wherever Mary Hammond resided, whether in Florida, Middle Tennessee,
or East Tennessee, she taught Sunday School with many different age groups of children and youth; and WHEREAS, a woman of abiding faith, Mrs. Hammond founded a Children's Church in
Liberty, a Children's Church in Smithville, and, after moving to Andersonville, a Children's Church at Norris Baptist Church, where she also taught the senior ladies' Sunday School class and planned the senior ladies' service for many years; and WHEREAS, Mary Hammond's commitment to education was unfaltering, as she consistently volunteered at Norris Elementary School, working with students in Pre-K through fifth grade in reading, writing, and mathematics and developing an after-school tutoring program; she also continued to volunteer at Clinton Middle School, where her daughter,
Lynnette, was teaching; and WHEREAS, knowing the importance of reading, Mrs. Hammond helped develop a reading incentive program for fourth- and fifth-grade students at Norris Elementary School; the school's popular reading contest awards gifts to the top readers at the end of the first semester of every year; and WHEREAS, as she gracefully enters her 100th year, Mary Hammond remains a blessing to all who know her and is highly valued for her grace, compassion, and kindness; and
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WHEREAS, we wish to grasp this golden opportunity to specially recognize one of
Tennessee's most outstanding citizens on this very special occasion; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that we hereby honor and congratulate Mary Hammond on the celebration of
her 100th birthday and extend to her our best wishes for much continued success and happiness.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear without House or Senate designation.
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