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Floral display honors Barbara Bush in downtown Houston

The display is featured at Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza outside the Houston Public Library.
Credit: Matt Keyser / KHOU.com
A floral display rests at center stage at Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza in downtown Houston.

HOUSTON – The purple roses and blue orchids blew softly in a breeze Thursday evening at Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza.

A picture of Barbara Bush, whom the plaza is named after and who died Tuesday at age 92, sat amongst the beautiful flowers at center stage. Hundreds stopped to take pictures and to offer their condolences to the former first lady who was beloved by so many Houstonians.

“She was very humble, very loving. … She exemplified what a first lady of our country needed to be,” said Licia Green-Ellis, the chairman of the Houston Public Library Foundation.

Hiram Smith designed the floral display. Smith said he incorporated the color blue—Mrs. Bush’s favorite color—and purple because they’re a sign of royalty.

“She’s a royal icon here in the city of Houston and the state of Texas,” Smith said. “I admired that about her.”

Credit: Matt Keyser / KHOU.com
Hiram Smith hangs a pearl necklace below a picture of Barbara Bush at Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza in downtown Houston.

Below Mrs. Bush’s photo, Smith hung a pearl necklace similar to the ones Mrs. Bush became known for.

The city reached out to Mrs. Bush in November 2016 to inquire about naming the plaza after her. Green-Ellis said Mrs. Bush was the perfect match for the plaza.

“There is no one else in this country that’s name is synonymous with literacy other than Barbara Bush,” Green-Ellis said.

At a table not far from the stage, people from across the world lined up to write messages to Mrs. Bush, offering their condolences to the Bush family and thanking Mrs. Bush for all she had done in her life.

“Thank you for always making education our nation’s #1 priority,” wrote Ed Safaryan.

“Thank you for leading a life of integrity and service. This country and the city of Houston are better for the work you’ve done,” Bridget Fair wrote.

Photos: Messages for Barbara Bush

Mrs. Bush passed away in her Houston home Tuesday evening after suffering from chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, a chronic lung disease that restricts the lungs and affects breathing.

Mrs. Bush chose to forgo medical treatment after a series of stays in the hospital, choosing instead to spend her remaining days at home with her family.

“For Mrs. Bush, it was all about family," Green-Ellis said. "Family first and then everything else after that."

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