Bill Text: MS SC587 | 2017 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Extend condolences of the Legislature and commend judicial service of Honorable Clare Sekul Hornsby.
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-1)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-14 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC587 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-SC587-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gollott, Tindell, Dawkins, Moran, Seymour, Watson, Wiggins
Senate Concurrent Resolution 587
(As Adopted by Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE JUDICIAL SERVICE OF HONORABLE CLARE SEKUL HORNSBY OF BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXTENDING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of a Biloxi attorney who was an inspiration, role model and mentor for Mississippi Gulf Coast attorneys. Clare Sekul Hornsby, a prominent Biloxi lawyer, passed away on January 24, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Honorable Clare Sekul Hornsby was a graduate of Ole Miss School of Law in 1945, the only woman in her class. She spent more than 60 years practicing law and was a Partner at Sekul, Hornsby and Tisdale in Biloxi; and
WHEREAS, she was the second female graduate of the University of Mississippi's School of Law, and former Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Gandy was her roommate; and
WHEREAS, adoptions and divorces made up most of her cases. While Hornsby was known as a tough attorney who would fight for her client, she also was a strong advocate for marriage. At the beginning, she would sit down with them and ask, "Is there any room for reconciliation?" She wanted to bring people back together if at all possible. "People always came first"; and
WHEREAS, Harrison County Youth Court Judge Margaret Alfonso said Hornsby did many adoptions through the years, hundreds, if not thousands. The Biloxi attorney had a special concern for abused and neglected children; she never turned away anyone who was seeking permanent adoption of a child; and
WHEREAS, Grandson Dub Hornsby, himself an attorney, had been helping to ease his grandmother's caseload, even as she was going into the office every day into her 90s. "We had to revamp her practice a few times in the later years," he said. "My law partner, Mark Watts, and I would help her with the more contentious cases, but the one thing she said she would not stop doing was the adoption cases. In fact, there are three adoption cases in her office right now, and we'll be taking those over. It was so important to her to put a child with a family"; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Hornsby consistently lectured on professional standards of the practice, including ethics, integrity, civility, courtesy and adherence to the Golden Rule. Mrs. Hornsby's life honored both The Mississippi Bar and this great State of Mississippi that she loved and served:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the judicial service of Honorable Clare Sekul Hornsby of Biloxi, Mississippi, and extend the condolences of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Mrs. Hornsby, forwarded to The Mississippi Bar, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
