Bill Text: MS HR120 | 2013 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Mrs. Martha Ann Rice Vaughn; commend life's works as an educator and community pillar.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-03-27 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR120 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2013-HR120-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Ellis
House Resolution 120
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE'S WORKS OF MRS. MARTHA ANN RICE VAUGHN AND ACKNOWLEDGING HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STARKVILLE COMMUNITY AND OKTIBBEHA COUNTY AS AN ESTEEMED EDUCATOR AND COMMUNITY PILLAR.
WHEREAS, for more than eight decades, Mrs. Martha Ann Rice Vaughn has been an upstanding citizen and community pillar and matriarch in Starkville, Mississippi, and throughout Oktibbeha County, molding and shaping the lives of those privileged to cross paths with the infinite wisdom she has accrued while traversing her own life's highways; and
WHEREAS, born on May 3, 1924, to the proud and loving parents of James "Buck" Rice and Bessie Ozella Rice in the Hickory Grove Community of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, as one of 14 children, who survived on their father's modest sharecropper's salary in an era when most African-American families raised most of their food, traveled by foot, wagon, buggy or a 1925 automobile, and walked barefoot, putting on their only pair of dressy shoes shortly before entering the church; and
WHEREAS, as fate would lend itself to the building upon the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of her life by the Great Deity, Mrs. Martha's heart was pierced by the love, chivalry and affection of Mr. Clinton King Vaughn who was a soldier in the United States Army serving in World War II, and after four months of courtship the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh upon exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony;
WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn's union was fruitfully blessed with the addition of three talented and productive children: Dorothy Ann, an assistant professor of art at Mississippi Valley State University; Evelyn Delois, a retired plant chemist at Holcim; and Clinton Vaughn, Jr., a community affairs officer for FDIC � Memphis Region for the states of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the branches of the Vaughn family tree continued to blossom with the addition of three grandchildren, Chandra Vaughn Harden, Victoria Vampy Vaughn and Clinton Vaughn III, and three great-grandchildren, Anya Sophia Harden, Nadia Esmee Harden and Simon Alexander Harden; and
WHEREAS, undeterred by the hardships life presented her as a child, Mrs. Martha's zeal, tenacity and determination to make a better life for herself and others, especially young people, was the catalyst that fueled her drive to fulfill her dream to acquire an education, which she successfully accomplished three times over, upon obtaining her high school diploma from Oktibbeha Training School in Starkville, circa 1946, a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Tougaloo College in 1959, and in 1970, she received a master of education degree in elementary education from Mississippi State University; and
WHEREAS, unselfish with the blessing of the education she had acquired over the years, Mrs. Martha's genuine concern and love for humanity prompted her to enter the teacher profession, to devote as much time, care and concern to the impressionable and educable minds of the community's youth, imparting the skills and knowledge acquired throughout her training into the lives of her pupils as an undeniably gifted, visionary, dedicated and outstanding teacher for 39 years, which yielded doctors, lawyers, professors, corporate executives, teachers, athletes, entrepreneurs and other outstanding citizens; and
WHEREAS, during the course of her educational tenure Mrs. Martha taught at Blackjack Elementary, Ebenezer Elementary, Beat One Elementary (changed later to Emerson Elementary), Overstreet Elementary, Rosie Stewart Elementary and Ward Middle Grade; and
WHEREAS, a God-fearing Christian before all other roles she assumed, a devoted wife and nurturing mother next, and always the children's advocate, Mrs. Martha, the living embodiment of a woman of Proverbs 31:10 distinction and possessing the ambitious spirit akin to that of King David, she was a woman after God's own heart, using the benefit of her office not to be served, but to be of service mostly to those without a voice, the children, as evidenced in her assumption of additional responsibilities at Ebenezer Elementary and Emerson Elementary as a principal for a period of time and coach of the boys basketball team, respectively; and
WHEREAS, one who relied heavily on her faith, Mrs. Martha confessed her belief in Christ at an early age, has remained devout in her Christian service and patronage throughout her life, reflecting her passion for God through her commitment to assisting others and her Christlike care and concern for the building of the kingdom, an allegiance she continues to manifest as a member of the Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, where she served in numerous capacities, in addition to the fulfillment of expectancies with her various affiliations, including: coaching for the boys and girls basketball teams, 4-H Club Leader, Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack 40, school nurse at Emerson Elementary, and assisting and providing sponsorship to the boys baseball teams in the Ebenezer Community and Emerson Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to honor and commend the life and works of such a remarkable individual as Mrs. Martha Vaughn, whose caliber exceeds the greatest riches ever to be paid for the extent of her service, her humility and willingness to extend benevolence and impart a word of wisdom to all:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life's works and contributions of Mrs. Martha Ann Rice Vaughn, acknowledge her contributions to the Starkville Community and Oktibbeha County as an esteemed educator and community pillar, and extend our most sincere wishes for continued health, joy, happiness and success in all of her endeavors for many years to come.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Martha Ann Rice Vaughn and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
