MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2009 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Hopson, Bryan, Blount, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Clarke, Dawkins, Dearing, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jordan, Turner
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF RESPECTED VICKSBURG ARTIST AND EDUCATOR JANN TERRAL FERRIS, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi lost a respected arts educator, advocate and artist with the death of Jann Terral Ferris on June 23, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Jann was the wife of former State Senator Grey Flowers Ferris of Vicksburg, Mississippi, who as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee was the author of the Mississippi Adequate Education Act of 1997 and other important education reform legislation; and
WHEREAS, Jann Ferris' professional legacy is the infrastructure and expansion of the Mississippi Arts Commission's Whole Schools Initiative, a program of comprehensive school reform through arts-integrated curriculum; and
WHEREAS, Jann met Grey Ferris while she was a freshman at Sophie Newcomb College. They married in June 1970. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and she later received two masters degrees from Mississippi College in Art Education and Administration; and
WHEREAS, passionate about children and education, Jann spent the major part of her working life as an arts educator, advocate, and creative artist, leaving a remarkable legacy in arts education in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, she served as President of the Mississippi Craftsman Guild and spearheaded arts in the curriculum program at Beechwood Elementary School in Vicksburg in 1991. This effort won the school a Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1998 and the program became a national model. Still thriving today, the Whole Schools Initiative Program places Mississippi at the very top of its field in the area of arts education; and
WHEREAS, Jann went on to work for the Mississippi Arts Commission and in recent years received recognition for her jewelry designs, as well as for her fanciful and exuberant drawings. These drawings were featured in a one-woman show called "Freefall into Grace" at the Mississippi Museum of Art in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Jann was born in Ruston, Louisiana, on June 29, 1949, to Dr. William Terral and Lylen (Mitty) Terral. She is survived by her parents and her daughter, Lylen Ferris and husband, Michael Swiericzuk; grandchildren, Nathan and Ruby Swiericzuk; son, Jason Ferris and wife, Rebecca; brothers, Dr. Buddy Terral, Mark (Scott) Terral, Brett Terral and wife, Lizette, Dr. Greg Terral and wife, Lori; mother-in-law, Shelby Flowers Ferris, and many adoring nephews, nieces and friends; and
WHEREAS, Jann's life and public service set the highest standard in all of her many roles, and Mississippians are greatly diminished by her passing:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and service of respected Vicksburg artist and educator Jann Terral Ferris, wife of the late State Senator Grey Ferris, and express to her surviving family our sympathy on her passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Jann Ferris and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.