MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn, Norwood, Frazier, Blount, Jordan, Simmons (13th), Simmons (12th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING RENOWN ACTRESS DR. TOMMIE "TONEA" STEWART OF GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HER RECEIPT OF THE 2016 GOVERNORS ARTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ACTING.
WHEREAS, Dr. Tommie "Tonea" Stewart is a native of Greenwood, Mississippi, and a tenured Professor, former Chair of Theatre Arts, and Dean of Performing and Visual Arts at Alabama State University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stewart is a trailblazer in theatre. She was the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate from Florida State University's School of Theatre and the first McKnight Doctoral Fellow in Theatre Arts. During her study at Florida State University, Dr. Stewart received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1995, Dr. Stewart was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, during her time as a student and later as a Professor at Jackson State University, Dr. Stewart was a protégé of Writer Dr. Margaret Walker Alexander. Over the years, Dr. Stewart has returned to Jackson State to participate in theatrical productions. Notably, in 1973, she was one of the featured lecturers at the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival, which featured 30 of the leading black female artists of the day, including Alice Walker, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, and Charlayne Hunter Gault; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stewart began her professional acting career in 1969 at New Stage Theatre, where she was the first African-American to direct and star in a leading role. Since then, Dr. Stewart has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and for audiences in Turkey, South Korea, Scotland, Mexico, and Canada; and
WHEREAS, her film credits include "The Rosa Parks Story," "Mississippi Burning," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers III," "The Wronged Man," "The Hollars," and "A Time to Kill." Her performance in "A Time to Kill" garnered an NAACP Image Award. Tonea's television appearances include the shows "Walker," "Texas Ranger," "Memphis Beat," "Matlock," "ER," and "Touched by an Angel." Dr. Stewart may be best known for playing Aunt Etta Kibbie on the television series "In the Heat of the Night" in more than 30 episodes; and
WHEREAS, she is a 1999 Gabriel Award winner, and a New York World Festival Gold Medal Award winner for her narration of the Public Radio International series "Remembering Slavery." Dr. Stewart has also been recognized for her artistic excellence as a "Champion of Change" by President Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, along with teaching generations of young actors at the college level, she led community education programs in acting for youth and adults. With a group of arts leaders, Dr. Stewart helped the Mississippi Arts Commission initiate the Governor's Arts Awards in 1988; and it is with great pride that we recognize a Mississippi Artist whose record of achievement has brought honor to her community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate renown Actress Dr. Tommie "Tonea" Stewart of Greenwood, Mississippi, upon her receipt of the 2016 Governors Arts Award for Excellence in Acting, and extend our best wishes to Tonea on this high honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this resolution be presented to Tonea Stewart, forwarded to the Mississippi Arts Commission, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.