LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Mother Christine Odessa Webb upon the
occasion of her designation for special recognition by the New Hope
Missionary Baptist Church on June 16, 2012

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Mother Christine Odessa Webb has given not only of her time
and energies but also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and
consequently has been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Mother Chris-
tine Odessa Webb upon the occasion of her designation for special recog-
nition by the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, to be celebrated at
its First Ladies Appreciation Banquet on Saturday, June 16, 2012, at the
Imperial Room in Inwood, New York; and
WHEREAS, Mother Christine Odessa Webb has been called upon to contrib-
ute her time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and
has always given of herself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Christine Odessa Webb was born on May 1, 1917, in Putman
County, Georgia; she received her elementary and middle school education
in a one room school house, as did many of Putman County residents; and
WHEREAS, In 1938, Christine Odessa Webb moved to New York City, where
she was afforded the opportunity many of her peers were not, a higher
education; and
WHEREAS, Christine Odessa Webb came to meet Mr. Julius Webb who she
fell in love with and married; from this loving union of 58 years, three
children were born, Richard, Marilyn, Judy; they later became the grand-
parents of six grandchildren, who Christine helped to raise; and
WHEREAS, Christine Odessa Webb has served in God's house for 50 years
under the leadership of Reverend Miller; throughout her many years of
service she has earned the title and honor to be called Mother Webb; and
WHEREAS, Mother Christine Odessa Webb is truly on a mission for God
and always has been; she has taught Sunday school lessons for many of
students, and has had the joy of seeing them called to shepherd God's
children as she was called to do many years before; and
WHEREAS, Five of Mother Webb's students are Reverends amongst Pastors
and Evangelists; her current Pastor, Reverend Larry L. Shell Sr. of the
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, was also one of her students; and
WHEREAS, Other Reverends such as Evangelist Mary Nebitt from New
Jerusalem Baptist Church, Evangelist Irving from Jerusalem True Baptist
Church, Reverend Gray, and Reverend Sheila Smart from Macedonia Baptist
Church, which is where Mother Christine Odessa Webb was a member of its
Missionary board, were all students in Mother Webb's Sunday school
classes; and
WHEREAS, Visiting the sick and the shut in was one way in which Mother
Christine Odessa Webb served her community; she has selflessly cleaned
homes, cooked dinner for the sick and shut in; and
WHEREAS, Mother Christine Odessa Webb has also volunteered at Peninsu-
la Hospital, with the youth choirs, to sing for the patients for more
than 16 years; and
WHEREAS, Mother Christine Odessa Webb currently sings on the senior
choir at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church; she is an honorary
member of the missionary ministry because of her steadfast dedication to
the service of God; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Mother Christine Odessa Webb has
stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and

WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Mother Christine Odessa Webb has
displayed throughout her life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Mother Christine Odessa Webb upon the occasion of her designation
for special recognition by the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church on
June 16, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mother Christine Odessa Webb.