Senate Concurrent Resolution 653

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING 40 YEARS OF INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP BY THE REVEREND DR. JOHN E. CAMERON, SR., PASTOR OF THE GREATER MT. CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, on March 14, 2010, the Reverend Dr. John E. Cameron, Sr., and First Lady Lenora Cameron will be honored by the Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, for 40 years of inspirational leadership with the theme "A Legacy of Leadership, Love, and Spiritual Guidance"; and

WHEREAS, John Earl (Johnny) Cameron was born on June 11, 1932, in Petal, Mississippi. His parents were A.C. and Courtney Cameron. He is the fourteenth of sixteen children; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Cameron was educated in the Springfield Vocational High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he graduated in 1951. He later attended Alcorn A&M College in Lorman, Mississippi. He attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he received his B.S. degree. Reverend Cameron also attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, where his major was Social Science (theology); and

WHEREAS, Reverend Cameron has been serving in a pastoral position for more than 40 years. His first position was at First Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi. He is currently the Pastor at Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, where he has served since 1970. Reverend Cameron has been active in numerous organizations and actively involved in the civil rights movement extending back prior to his involvement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Additionally, Reverend Cameron worked with Dr. King on voter registration campaigns in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, area; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Cameron has been involved in civic affairs, which included his bid for the United States Congress Fifth Congressional District in the State of Mississippi. He was the Director of the Hattiesburg Ministers' Project and served as Ambassador to Central America. Presently he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pearl River Valley Redevelopment Basin in Hinds County; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Cameron has been cited in Who's Who in Black America, Notable Americans in the Bicentennial Era, and Outstanding Community Leader. He has received a proclamation from former Jackson Mayor, Dale Danks, Jr., a proclamation from Judge Alexander in Hinds County, and he served as a Colonel on Governor Cliff Finch's staff; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the congregation of Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in commending the charitable and civic career of this community leader:

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 40 years of inspirational leadership by the Reverend Dr. John E. Cameron, Sr., Pastor of the Greater Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, on the occasion of the service in his honor on Sunday, March 14, 2010, and extend our best wishes to Reverend Cameron, First Lady Lenora Cameron and the members of the congregation at this auspicious event.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Reverend Cameron and First Lady Cameron and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.