Bill Text: MS SC553 | 2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Recognize Mrs. Mary Pearl Clark Burnett on 100th birthday.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-22 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC553 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SC553-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Ward
Senate Concurrent Resolution 553
(As Adopted by Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING MRS. MARY PEARL "PEARL" CLARK BURNETT OF THE LYNVILLE COMMUNITY, KEMPER COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, ON THE OCCASION OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY.
WHEREAS, one hundred years ago began an amazing journey of the respected eldest member of a family and church. Mrs. Mary Pearl "Pearl" Clark Burnett, originally of the Lynville Community in Kemper County and now a resident of Philadelphia, Mississippi, will be 100 years old on February 20, 2012. Mrs. Burnett has given of herself so that the quality of life for her family and other fellow citizens could be improved; and
WHEREAS, Mary Pearl "Pearl" Clark was born on February 20, 1912, to John William "Will" and Mary Lucy "Lucy" Land Clark at Preston in the Lynville Community, Kemper County, Mississippi.
She married Byron Floyd Burnett on November 1, 1936, and they had two children, Byron Clark Burnett and Lynda Pearl Burnett; and
WHEREAS, Mary Pearl Clark Burnett grew up on a 160-acre Farm purchased for $800 by her father in 1899. Will Clark was a farm Overseer and Store Manager for Nicholson Farms in Noxubee County before he purchased the farm in Kemper County. He and his new wife, Lucy, moved there in December 1899. Pearl was one of nine children. Her older siblings were Frank, Henry, Bonhue, Johnny and Ellen. Her younger siblings were Nannie Gray and Mildred; and
WHEREAS, she attended school at Lynville School, starting at the age of five. The school went only to the 8th Grade when she started but went through the 12th Grade by the time she graduated from high school. She was a first team basketball player for three years in high school, and won 1st Place in a countywide math contest when she was in the 8th Grade; and
WHEREAS, the Clark home was the site of a home demonstration when a traveling salesman brought the first radio into the community in the 1920s. The Clarks were soon enjoying the marvel of public broadcasting. Lynville Community was thriving and growing at the turn of the century. There was a grist mill and a store within a mile of the Clark farm; and
WHEREAS, Pearl came to faith in Christ as a teenager at a tent revival at Bluff Springs Baptist Church. In 1929, Pearl finished high school at the age of 17. By that time two of her brothers were working for Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. At 18 years of age the height of The Great Depression, she left for Detroit to live with Bonhue "Bonna" and his wife, Walterine, and their family for 2-1/2 years. While living in Detroit, she hemmed pants at a pressing shop and babysat to pay her expenses. Pearl missed the South and her parents and friends. She came back home to Mississippi in 1933 to stay. Back in Mississippi, Pearl was fortunate to find a job as Supervisor of the Lynville School lunchroom; and
WHEREAS, when Byron and Pearl were married on November 1, 1936, they moved into their newly constructed home a month later. By 1948, progress was coming to the rural areas of Mississippi. Many in Kemper County had access to electricity and indoor plumbing and had for years, but some remote areas were still without. With the move to the Lynville Community, Pearl had the opportunity to put her skills as a cook into service again in the Lynville School lunchroom; and
WHEREAS, Pearl had a love for the outdoors and all of God's creations from an early age. Never idle, Pearl milked the cows, tended the chickens, cultivated and harvested the vegetable garden, canned vegetables, churned and made buttermilk and butter, cooked and baked for her family and anyone else who wandered in at mealtime, was an excellent seamstress and made clothes for herself, her family and at times for the public, she was adept at tatting (an almost lost art) and embroidering, enjoyed quilting with friends, helped with "hog killing," and somehow found time to keep her home clean, neat and welcoming; and
WHEREAS, in October of 2002, Byron (age 92) and Pearl (age 90) moved from their home at Lynville to the newly opened Bee Hive Homes of Philadelphia. On January 3, 2005, Pearl lost her best friend of over 70 years and beloved husband of 69 years. Pearl still enjoys serving and encouraging others whenever she has the opportunity. Mary Pearl Clark Burnett was and continues to be on her 100th birthday a Proverbs 31 woman: "Her children rise up and call her blessed"; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Burnett contributes her longevity to her faith in God and the fact that she remained active even after retirement. During her lifetime everyone who has had the honor of meeting her has been blessed by being in her presence and gaining the wisdom and knowledge that she offers. Mrs. Burnett was born when William Howard Taft was President of the United States of America and Edmond Noel was Governor of the State of Mississippi. Mrs. Burnett's life spanned the administration of 18 United States Presidents from Taft to Barack Obama; 36 United States Attorneys General; and 24 Mississippi Governors from Edmond Noel to Phil Bryant. This family icon witnessed many historic events during her lifetime, including the invention of the automobile by Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers' first airplane flight and man's walk on the moon. We join her descendants and are indeed blessed to share life with her:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute Mrs. Mary Pearl Burnett of Kemper County, Mississippi, on the occasion of her 100th birthday, and extend our best wishes on this auspicious event.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mrs. Burnett and her family, forwarded to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Philadelphia, Mississippi, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
