Bill Text: MS HR58 | 2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed

Mississippi House Resolution 58 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Samuel Clayton Kelly, Jr., Charles Walker Kelly and Bryant Mason Wilbanks; commend the lives of.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2012-03-02 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR58 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2012-HR58-Engrossed.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Martinson, Baker, Blackmon, Buck (72nd), Coleman (65th), Denny, Gunn, Smith (27th), McGee, Warren

House Resolution 58

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LIVES OF SAMUEL CLAYTON KELLY, JR., CHARLES WALKER KELLY, AND BRYANT MASON WILBANKS AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS UPON THEIR PASSING.

WHEREAS, Sam Clayton Kelly, Walker Kelly and Mason Wilbanks departed this life on October 30, 2011, while returning to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) to attend church services with their Kappa Alpha Order pledge brothers after a surprise visit home to spend time with family and friends; and

WHEREAS, all graduates of Madison Central High School and freshmen members of the Kappa Alpha Order pledge class at the University of Mississippi, Sam Clayton, Walker and Mason were friends throughout high school, building a special bond that continued upon arriving at Ole Miss; and

WHEREAS, Madison Central Principal Edith Mitchell said the three had smiles that would long be remembered and called the trio "The Three Musketeers," noting that Sam Clayton, Walker and Mason were inseparable in life, and even now in life after death; and

WHEREAS, the bond shared between the three was further strengthened when they pledged Kappa Alpha Order together at Ole Miss, and the bond was so strong among the three that their families believed it was only appropriate to combine their visitation and funerals; and

WHEREAS, Sam Clayton and Mason were roommates at Ole Miss, while Mason and Walker played youth soccer together, and in high school, the three built a network of friends that were impacted greatly by the lives they led and the example they were for others; and

WHEREAS, on January 28, 2012, the memory of Sam Clayton, Walker and Mason was posthumously honored, as they were initiated into the Alpha Upsilon Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order at the University of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the impact on the lives of those they touched, even in the brevity of their lives' journeys upon this earth, was evidenced by their friends from universities and colleges, throughout the state and the country, who returned home upon the news of their passing to mourn their deaths and to comfort family and friends; and

WHEREAS, hundreds of students at Madison Central paid tribute to the three young men, lining the roadway during the funeral procession; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Clayton Kelly, Jr., was born July 29, 1993, affectionately known to his friends and family as Sam Clayton or Sammy, graduated with special distinction from Madison Central High School where he excelled as a student, and later was a member of the Honors College at Ole Miss; and

WHEREAS, while in high school, Sam Clayton was a manager for the Madison Central Baseball Team, a spirited Jaguar fan, an avid Ole Miss fan and he also enjoyed deer hunting; and

WHEREAS, Sam Clayton is survived by his parents, Sam and Kim Kelly; sisters, Maggie Kate Kelly and Anna Claire Kelly; paternal grandmother, Jane Kelly, of Madison, and his maternal grandparents, Weir and Nancy Byrd, of Fulton; and

WHEREAS, Charles Walker Kelly was born October 5, 1992, and was a lifelong resident of Madison, graduating with distinction from Madison Central High School, where he excelled as a student and was a member of the Madison Central Jaguar Soccer Team; and

WHEREAS, Walker played Select, Division II and recreational soccer for the South Madison County Soccer Association, enjoyed wake boarding, motocross and spending time with friends and family; and

WHEREAS, Walker is survived by his parents, Chris and Christine Kelly; siblings, Martin Lindsey Kelly and Megan Lynn Kelly; and grandparents, Sally and Lestar Martin of Gibsland, Louisiana, and Bonnie and Charles Kelly of Clinton; and

WHEREAS, Bryant Mason Wilbanks was born July 8, 1992, and was a lifelong member of Broadmoor Baptist Church where he was an active participant in the church's youth group, represented the church and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the basketball court, the softball diamond and with the Madison-Ridgeland Youth Club; and

WHEREAS, Mason graduated with distinction from Madison Central High School where he excelled as a student and some of his fondest memories of high school being the school's pep rallies and the activities leading up to game day, including the morning parades into the school; and

WHEREAS, Mason loved to dance and make others laugh, was a skillful soccer player, playing Division II and recreational soccer for the South Madison County Soccer Association, he was a lifelong fan of the Ole Miss Rebels and loved everything Red and Blue; and

WHEREAS, Mason is survived by his parents, Ken and Lynn Wilbanks of Madison; his brothers, Charles Jamison Wilbanks and Peyton Michael Wilbanks; maternal grandmother, Peggy Gallagher of Madison, and paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Sarah Wilbanks of Olive Branch; and

WHEREAS, these faithful servants of Christ lived life to emanate the grace that had been bestowed upon them, and they lived by the Gospel, a favorite verse of the young men was Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me,"; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the lives of outstanding young individuals, such as Samuel Clayton, Walker and Mason, whose lives are prematurely shortened, but have a lasting effect on the lives of those touched by each of these three young men:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the lives of Samuel Clayton Kelly, Jr., Charles Walker Kelly and Bryant Mason Wilbanks and express deepest sympathy to their families and friends upon their passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the families of Samuel Clayton Kelly, Jr., Charles Walker Kelly, Bryant Mason Wilbanks, the University of Mississippi, the gentlemen of the Kappa Alpha Order at the University of Mississippi, Madison Central High School and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.