Senate Resolution 29

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. WARNER WEBSTER, SR., ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, on Saturday, November 30, 2002, there will be a 100th Topaz Birthday celebration for the friends and family of Mr. Warner Webster, Sr., of Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Warner Webster is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie Webster of Madison County, Mississippi. He was born November 18, 1902, in Pocahontas, Mississippi, and is the oldest of eleven children; five of which are now deceased; and

WHEREAS, he received a limited education at the Mount Center Church School in Pocahontas during the early years of the 1900's. While his education was limited, he never ceased to excel at anything that he set his heart, hands and mind to do in life. He was born for greatness, and great he is. At the age of eight, he would help haul in 20 bales of cotton and over 30 loads of corn each day. The rest of the time he gathered sweet potatoes, peas and watermelons from the field and took care of the chickens and hogs before he helped make molasses; and

WHEREAS, in December of 1923, Mr. Webster married the woman of his dreams, the late Leila Miller of Flora, Mississippi. To this happy and devoted couple, ten delightful gifts were given of God in the names of Annie, Rosie, Viola, Shellie, Mattie, Warner Jr., Robert, Pearlie, W.C., and Willie. Prior to his marriage to Leila, he was blessed with a daughter, Betty. Warner and Leila helped raise two of their grandchildren, Ernestine and Robert Earl. He taught his children to love, respect and help others. He instilled in them that there was something in a name, especially the Webster name which demanded respect of both young and old alike; and

WHEREAS, at a very youthful age, Mr. Webster made his confession of Christ at the Mount Center Church. His spiritual gifts let him work diligently and relentlessly in many segments of the church. As an active member of the Mount Center Church, he labored dutifully as a Deacon of the church, a member of the Senior Choir, and a servant to those who needed help. He was a great hymn leader and prayer warrior as he often sung and prayed during weekly church services and never failed to pray each morning as he rose to start his day and each evening as he ended his day; and

WHEREAS, attributes and principles of true manhood were manifested in his daily appearance, his walk and his countenance. To him everyone is "beautiful"; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Webster's occupation for many years was that of a farmer. He, his wife and their ten children worked diligently sowing and reaping in the fields at "Big Black," an area of Flora, Mississippi, where he lived shortly after marriage in 1923 until 1954. In 1955, he moved those family members, not yet grown and on their own, to Madison, Mississippi, were he continued to sow into the earth and received great harvests of cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts and all the vegetables that a garden could grow. He distributed to the needy and performed many charitable acts throughout the area; and

WHEREAS, with four children and two grandchildren remaining at home, Mr. Webster continued to farm the land. In 1956, he took a job in Jackson, at the Mississippi Baptist Medical Center as a dietary production worker where he worked for over twenty years while he continued to farm for at least four more years. Mr. Webster worked untiringly at the Medical Center, hardly missing a day, showing up even during hazardous weather; and

WHEREAS, in November 1960, Mr. Webster ended his farming career and moved to Jackson. He continued to work at the hospital until he retired in 1979 at the ripe old age of 78. After retirement, he could do all the things that he loved and enjoyed on a more regular basis; and

WHEREAS, in the Summer of 1975, Mr. Webster lost his fourth daughter, Shellie. In the Winter of 1980, he lost his second child, Rosie and in April 2001, he lost his daughter Betty. In October 1985, he lost his wife Leila; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Webster still resides at his Jackson home and is cared for by family members. God has given him longevity. Because Warner Webster has lived during the 20th Century and is now a part of the 21st Century or New Millennium, his family and friends call him the "New Millennium Man"; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we offer special recognition to this Mississippi citizen who is an inspiration to his family, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Warner Webster, Sr., on the occasion of his 100th birthday, and extend to him and his family the best wishes of the Senate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mr. Webster at his 100th Birthday celebration and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.