MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Gibbs (72nd), Banks, Hines, Johnson, Bell (65th), Foster, Brown (70th), Crudup, Dortch, Holloway, Paden, Straughter, Summers, Walker, Watson
A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. ERIC DEVAUGHN STRINGFELLOW.
WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, on February 5, 2020, the grand architect of the universe summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mr. Eric DeVaughn Stringfellow, to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family, friends and community; and
WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi and the City of Jackson lost a wonderful friend, revered journalist and community leader with the passing of Mr. "Ricky" Stringfellow, who was born on August 31, 1960, in Meridian, Mississippi, to Clint and Delores Stringfellow, 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, Mr. Stringfellow graduated from Provine High School in 1978, and while at Provine, he was the quarterback of the football team, played on the basketball team, served on many clubs and organizations and was named "Mr. Provine"; and
WHEREAS, after graduating, Mr. Provine continued his legacy of athletic greatness as a Jackson State University Tiger, earning both his undergraduate and master's degree from Jackson State University, where he later became a life member of the JSU National Alumni Association, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Stringfellow had an illustrious career in journalism that spanned decades and numerous life-altering stories, and it all began at The Commercial News in Danville, Illinois, where he served as an intern and general assignment reporter; and
WHEREAS, during his first tenure with the Clarion Ledger, he served as a general assignment reporter, county government reporter and City Hall reporter before leaving for a brief period and joining The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio's largest newspaper, where he was a general assignment reporter and covered state and federal courts; and
WHEREAS, after returning from Cleveland, Ohio, where he also served as president of the Cleveland Chapter of the JSU National Alumni Association and president of the Cleveland Association, Mr. Stringfellow returned to the Clarion Ledger, where he served as night editor, political editor, public editor, a member of the Editorial board and even started his own column; and
WHEREAS, additionally, he was the founding chairman of Tougaloo College's Department of Mass Communication and served as executive director of University Communications at Jackson State University and interim chair of Jackson State University's Department of Mass Communications, and in 2018, he moved to Hawkins, Texas, to serve as Director of Mass Communications at Jarvis Christian College; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Stringfellow is the past president of the Jackson Association of Black Journalists, the 100 Black Men of Jackson, a former board member for Mission Mississippi, Baby Steps and Tiger Fund, and he was a member of the Margaret Walker Alexander Research Center and a board member of the Jackson State University Sports Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, a member of New Horizon Church International in Jackson, Mississippi, Mr. Stringfellow was the recipient of the Mary Church Terrell Literacy Club Award for Journalism, Alpha Phi Alpha's Community Service Award, Phi Beta Sigma's Community Service Award for Journalism, the Mississippi Black Chamber of Commerce's Charles Tisdale Award for Journalism, and the 2008 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher of the Year for Tougaloo College; and
WHEREAS, the legacy of Eric DeVaughn Stringfellow will continue to refresh the hearts and memories of his beloved survivors: his parents, Clintorice and Delores Stringfellow; son, Courtney (Kiana); grandson, Braxton; sisters, Deborah, Felicia Wilson (Dewayne), Brenda Williams (Bobby) and Yolanda; brother, Clintorice, Jr.; five nephews; three nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, Eric DeVaughn Stringfellow touched the lives of all he encountered in his years on this earth and always strived for excellence, and now, we encourage the family to find solace from the overwhelming sadness created by the earthly departure of their beloved family member and renewed in their faith that Eric fulfilled the purpose of his appointed time in adherence to the commandment of II Timothy 4:7, by having "fought a good fight, finishing his course and keeping the faith until the hour of his departure was at hand"; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the lives of fine Mississippians, especially those such as Mr. Eric DeVaughn Stringfellow, whose life light illuminated the path of hope for all he 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 Mr. Eric DeVaughn Stringfellow, to whose family we express sincere and deepest sympathy upon his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Eric DeVaughn Stringfellow and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.