House Resolution 19

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MRS. IDA AMELIA FRANKE LADNIER SHAW UPON THE OCCASION OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, on January 7, 1919, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the world was blessed with the birth of Mrs. Ida Amelia Franke Ladnier Shaw, and decades later, upon the auspicious occasion of her 100th birthday, she continues to shower those around her with unconditional love and support; and

WHEREAS, Ida attended Pineville Elementary School and when she was old enough, she learned the family business bottling milk in her father's dairy, and after she graduated from Pass Christian High School, she was determined to further her education, so with only her mother's help and encouragement, she dressed chickens to earn tuition money and attended Perkinston Junior College; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure at Perkinston, she played the piano and sang in the Glee Club, and to earn extra money, she waited tables at a local restaurant, worked in the library and even graded papers for a professor on campus; and

WHEREAS, Ida received her teacher's certificate during the summer session at Mississippi Southern Teacher's College in Hattiesburg, and in 1939, she accepted her first job in education as the beginners, first and second grade teacher at the school headed by the new principal, Mr. Royal M. Ladnier; and

WHEREAS, as their work relationship progressed, so did their personal one, and in 1940, Royal M. Ladnier and Ida Amelia Franke exchanged the vows of holy matrimony at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Lizana, and the two love birds were married for 57 years before Royal's passing in 1997; and

WHEREAS, over the next several years, Mr. and Mrs. Ladnier lived in several locations and made several career moves, but as the landscape of their lives changed, their love and adoration for one another never wavered, and they expanded their family with the addition of seven children: Randall, Royce, Linda, Glen, Dale, Janice and Kevin; and

WHEREAS, when Royal became the principal of Sellers School in Perkinston, Ida taught second grade there as well as piano to some students, and it seemed as though they had finally found a place they could settle down, so they began building a home for their family along Highway 53 and in 1952, they moved in; and

WHEREAS, eventually, Ida closed the teaching chapter of her book and accepted a job with the Department of Welfare as it was known back then, and after 17 years of placing children in foster care and performing research, she retired in 1970; and

WHEREAS, after retirement, Ida spent several years selling her delicious canned fruit and preserves as well as plants at the farmer's market in Biloxi, and in the late 1970s, the Ladniers began raising thoroughbred horses, selling some and racing others in Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, after Mr. Ladnier's passing in 1997, Ida married Mr. Gilmer Shaw in 2002, but unfortunately, he passed away in 2003, and Ida herself has had to survive breast cancer, a stroke, nose cancer and the passing of her youngest daughter, Janice, but despite all that, Ida remains a fighter; and

WHEREAS, throughout her life, Ida has played the organ at St. Ann's Catholic Church for 50 years, quilted masterpieces her entire life, grown breathtakingly gorgeous, award-winning camellias as well as created a new, dark red bloom variety, served as a notary public and income tax preparer, worked for the census bureau, traveled to numerous exotic places, including Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and Alaska, and in 2008, she attended the Olympics in China; and

WHEREAS, for the past 100 years, Mrs. Ida Amelia Franke Ladnier Shaw has undoubtedly inspired her family and friends, greeting everyone she meets with a million-watt smile that could illuminate even the darkest day, and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren love her tremendously and revere her as the wonderful mother and grandmother she truly is; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the lives of Mississippi's wisest generation, especially those such as Mrs. Ida Amelia Franke Ladnier Shaw on the occasion of her 100th birthday, for being a gracious woman who always puts others before herself and loves her family and friends unconditionally, bringing glory and honor to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Ida Amelia Franke Ladnier Shaw upon the occasion of her 100th birthday and extend our most sincere wishes for her happiness on such a momentous occurrence.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Ida Amelia Franke Ladnier Shaw and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.