2021 -- S 0967

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LC002943

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MARY ANITA DEWITT

     Introduced By: Senator Dawn M. Euer

     Date Introduced: June 17, 2021

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this Senate has learned of the passing of Mary

Anita Dewitt, a lifelong resident of the City of Newport and the beloved mother of Gail DeWitt,

Fred DeWitt, Terri Lawrence, Ernest DeWitt, and Ronald DeWitt, and daughters-in-law Wanda

DeWitt and PJ DeWitt, and her bonus daughter Laurie Allan; and

     WHEREAS, "Anita" as she was fondly called by her family and many friends was the

daughter of the late Mary Brookins and Ernest Weston, and the sister of Valerie Lee, with whom

she shared a very close relationship, and Kenneth Black, Edward Weston, and the late Charlotte

Weston Smith, and Michael Black. She was a graduate of Rogers High School, and received her

Associate's degree from Roger Williams Community College and her Bachelor of Science and

Master's degrees from Salve Regina University; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Dewitt was the kind of grandmother that every child needs and

deserves. She was exceptionally proud of her seven grandchildren, who in return, loved her

dearly, and fondly called her Grandma or Two Shoes. She will also be deeply missed by her

thirteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews; and

     WHEREAS, For several years Mrs. Dewitt had been employed with the Newport

Telephone Company, Project Head Start, and Newport Martin Luther King Center. Most recently,

she had worked with the Newport School Department, where she served as Community Advisory

Specialist for twenty-one years, until her retirement; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Dewitt was dedicated to her community and education. She had been a

member of numerous local and state organizations committed to inclusion and fairness for

minorities and the underserved in Newport, including the Aquidneck Island Minority Student

Scholarship and Mora Brown Hammonds Scholarship, Dr. Martin Luther King Center Board of

Directors, and the Early Childhood Development Advisory Committee, to name but a few; and

     WHEREAS, Also devoted to her faith, Mrs. Dewitt was a member of the Community

Baptist Church where she was a member of CBC Sisterhood Ministry, had faithfully sent cards to

the sick and shut-in for many years, and was honored for her contributions to the children, the

homeless, and angel tree gift giving. In addition, she had been recognized for her community

service by the Cape Verdean American Association, and received the Jefferson Award and the

National Alliance of Businessmen Award; and

     WHEREAS, Anita Dewitt loved her family, her community, and traveling, especially her

adventures with the Daisy Divas. She was a beautiful soul and special lady whose love, kindness,

and generosity will be forever remembered and dearly missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby extends deepest

condolences on the passing of Mary Anita Dewitt; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Gail DeWitt, Fred DeWitt, Terri Lawrence,

Ernest DeWitt, Ronald DeWitt, and Laurie Allan.

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LC002943

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