House Resolution 35

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PERCY LEE BREWER, SR., AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, Percy L. Brewer, Sr., born February 26, 1931, to the late John and Janice Brewer, Sr., departed this earthly life on January 19, 2004, causing great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, a prominent leader and activist in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, during the Civil Rights Movement, Mr. Brewer, who was also a longtime member of the NAACP, was devoted to his beliefs in equality for all; and

WHEREAS, on August 19, 1964, Mr. Brewer, along with his two brothers, Eugene and Jessie, were the first blacks to enter the Tallahatchie County Courthouse to register to vote; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brewer traveled to Washington, D.C., in order to bring the Civil Rights Movement to Tallahatchie County, and after returning, he, along with Gus McClinton, Jessie Thomas, Jessie Brewer and Bessie Tyler were the first to register their children into a segregated school under the Freedom of Choice Form; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brewer's activism during the Civil Rights Movement was imperative to Project Headstart being brought into Tallahatchie County, working diligently along with other outstanding Civil Rights activists such as Margaret Block, Solomon Gort, Fannie Lou Hamer, Professor Gray, Jessie Brewer, Naomi Wiggins and Stokley Carmichael to name a few; and

WHEREAS, living a life of remarkable undertakings and even greater feats of success, Mr. Brewer's hope for an equally unified nation and state paved the way for the future of Tallahatchie County; and

WHEREAS, a devoted and faithful member of the Old Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Mr. Brewer was united in holy matrimony to the former Alzea Lee McKinley on July 9, 1954, and to their union 17 children were born; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence in the lives of such outstanding individuals as Mr. Brewer, whose tireless devotion to the cause and furtherance of the Civil Rights Movement were monumental in the advancement of the rights of African Americans in Tallahatchie County:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life and accomplishments of Percy Lee Brewer, Sr., and express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Brewer's wife, Alzea Brewer, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.