MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Thames

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING DR. CHARLES HARRELL WEATHERSBY FOR HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN ASSISTING THE MENTALLY ILL IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Dr. Charles Harrell Weathersby grew up in McComb, Mississippi, and graduated from McComb High School, received the baccalaureate degree from the University of Mississippi, master's degree from Tulane University, Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, and studied as a Fulbright Fellow at Christiaan Albrechts Universitat in Kiel, Germany; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Weathersby has spent the majority of his career working in Mississippi, primarily in various capacities to help the mentally ill of this state; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Weathersby worked in the Community Support Division of the State Department of Mental Health and as Director of the Division of Community Support at Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield and is currently the Director of Singing River Services, the community mental health center for Jackson and George Counties; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Weathersby was instrumental in pioneering a Family Education Program for the families of the mentally ill and in encouraging the establishment of a Mississippi Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, all with the support of the Mississippi State Department of Mental Health, under the direction of Dr. Randal Hendrix, Mr. Bradley Sanders and Mr. Larry Swearengen, and later under the supervision of Director James G. Chastain and Assistant Director Winona Winfield of Mississippi State Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Weathersby continues his creative and effective programming for the mentally ill and mentally retarded citizens of the state at Singing River Services, with the support of Commissioners Wayne Brown and Winfred Morie; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Weathersby has taught and continues to train social workers and mental health professionals in cutting-edge psychosocial rehabilitation methods and practices, thus sharing his special expertise and enhancing the quality of treatment for the mentally ill throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has established the "Harrell Weathersby Father of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Award" in his honor, to be given to a professional mental health worker each year in his name:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, That we hereby commend Dr. Harrell Weathersby for his accomplishments in assisting the mentally ill in Mississippi and their families and in serving the state faithfully and effectively in his chosen field, and further commend all those institutions and agencies that have supported and enabled his outstanding achievements.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Dr. Weathersby and the Regional Commission for Jackson and George Counties, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.