LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring The Reverend and Mrs. Jesse V. Bottoms
upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the Quality of
Life Award by Family Services on April 7, 2011

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individ-
uals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its
citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor The
Reverend and Mrs. Jesse V. Bottoms upon the occasion of their desig-
nation as recipients of the Quality of Life Award by Family Services to
be celebrated at its 2011 Family of the Year Awards Dinner on Thursday,
April 7, 2011, at The Grandview, Poughkeepsie, New York; and
WHEREAS, Twenty years ago, The Reverend Jesse and Jacquette Bottoms
had great jobs with good salaries that matched their growing responsi-
bilities; he was pastor of the Beulah Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie,
New York, and she was a manager at Reader's Digest; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Jesse V. Bottoms strongly believes debt is just
as destructive and addictive as drugs and alcohol and it limits your
possibilities and your freedom; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend and Mrs. Jesse V. Bottoms changed their lives by
ridding themselves of debt and committing to remaining debt-free which
has become a key component of their ministry; and
WHEREAS, Jacquette Bottoms earned a certificate in financial planning
from Marist College to complement her degree in business administration
from Mercy College; together they now teach debt-free living to their
congregation, the community, and others across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Without the constraints of debt, The Reverend Jesse and
Jacquette Bottoms have had the freedom to structure their lives around
what they care about most and since then the Buelah Baptist congregation
has grown to over 900 members; and
WHEREAS, Seven years ago, following her dream Jacquette Bottoms left
her position as a creative director at Reader's Digest and opened the
Jubilee Bookstore; since then she has been able to invest more time at
Beulah Baptist where she serves on the planning council and teaches in
the Member Orientation Department; teaching the Biblical Principles of
Financial Management remains her passion; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Jesse V. Bottoms has become a prolific author,
lecturer, instructor, and mentor to young pastors; he has led many
community and church projects such as chairing the Dr. Martin Luther
King Commemorative Committee of Dutchess County and serving as President
of the Dutchess County African American Clergy Association; and
WHEREAS, As Vice President-at-Large, second in command, for the
National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, Reverend Bottoms trav-
els frequently to serve the 5000 churches in its fold; and
WHEREAS, Whenever feasible, The Reverend Jesse and Jacquette Bottoms
travel together to make time for each other despite their busy lives;
Reverend Bottoms likes to say that Mrs. Bottoms is his chief advisor and
partner; they are best friends; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding couples' recipe for quality of life includes
building friendship as the cornerstone of marriage, pursuing the freedom
that comes with debt-free living so you can make the best choices for
your family, pursuing work that is meaningful and providing children
with love, time, and a model of the adult you want them to become; and

WHEREAS, The Reverend Jesse and Jacquette Bottoms have continually
demonstrated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent
leadership in their unwavering service to their commtunty; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor The Reverend and Mrs. Jesse V. Bottoms upon the occasion of their
designation as recipients of the Quality of Life Award by Family
Services on April 7, 2011; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Reverend and Mrs. Jesse V. Bottoms.