House Resolution 94

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. GLADYS EARL LODREE AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in II Corinthians 4:17-18, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal," and as such, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mrs. Gladys Earl Lodree, to rest eternally, on Tuesday, March 3, 2016, as she has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family and friends; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi lost a wonderful friend with the passing of Gladys Lodree, born on March 1, 1928, in Jackson, Mississippi, to her late parents, Flora Bell Lipscomb and G.D. Hall, and there is now a hush in our hearts as we come together to pay our respects to the memory of one who has been called to join that innumerable heavenly caravan; and

WHEREAS, on the first Sunday of August 1936, at the tender age of eight, Gladys was baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior with her two lifelong friends Betty and Bonnie Thomas at Cedar Grove Baptist Church in the Pocahontas community of Hinds County; and

WHEREAS, after receiving her early education at Holy Ghost Catholic School in Jackson, Gladys went on to attend and receive a bachelor of science degree in history from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she also pledged and became an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, during a summer visit to Chicago, Illinois, Gladys met Emmett J. Lodree, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, who she later married; and

WHEREAS, while living in Chicago, Gladys was blessed to have four children, and she worked as a model, worked in community services at the YMCA, worked with VISTA (Volunteer Independent Services to America) and finished her career in sales; and

WHEREAS, after retiring, Gladys moved back to Mississippi to care for her mother and was a faithful and devoted member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Pocahontas, where she was fond of her Pastor Danny Ray Hollins and attended church regularly until her health no longer allowed her to do so; and

WHEREAS, a lover of fine arts, music and traveling around the world, Gladys was fascinated with foreign languages and desired to become fluent in speaking other languages; and

WHEREAS, her home was a neighborhood icon for laughter and love with lots of great conversations whether it was Gladys sharing tales about shopping adventures or just "shooting the breeze" about things, and while Gladys was always the life of the party and had many friends, nothing could compare to her love for her children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, though she has traversed the river of life to reunite in glorious fanfare with those loved ones who made life's transition to eternity before her, including her parents and her husband, the legacy of Mrs. Gladys Earl Lodree's indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of her beloved survivors: children, Emmett Carmen, Irene Lodree, Aishah Islam and Andre Lodree, Sr.; grandchildren, Shafegah Lodree, Yve S. Banks, Mercedes S. Banks, Aishah Bostic, Danny Islam, Emmett J. Lodree II, Andre Lodree, Jr., Ashley Lodree, Alexandria Lodree, Christopher Carmen, Andrea Carmen and Jesse Carmen; great grandchildren, Tamia Dupree, Ava Henry, Charles Henry III, Raina Star James, Nichele Lodree, Andre Lodree III, Layla Lodree, Caragan Lodree and Tatum Lodree; special cousins, Ollie Mae Anderson, Shirley Ward, Rufus Taylor and Mildred Cole; and a host of relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the life of a genuine and selfless individual such as Gladys Earl Lodree, whose light illuminated the path of hope for all she encountered along this earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of Mrs. Gladys Earl Lodree, and express sincere sympathy to her entire family and friends upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the surviving family of Mrs. Gladys Earl Lodree and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.