House Concurrent Resolution 1

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. BOBBY PASCHAL MARTIN, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

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 November 4, 2020, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mr. Bobby Paschal Martin, to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and

friends; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Martin was a distinguished man whose extraordinary devotion to his family and his community will always be remembered, and precious memories of time spent with him will hopefully continue to provide warmth, peace and comfort to his loved ones; and

WHEREAS, born on February 13, 1933, to Mr. Elijah Martin and Mrs. Valca Hobson Martin, Mr. Martin was a veteran of the United States Army who served his country during the Korean War, and was the beloved husband of Mrs. Barbara Moore Martin for 64 years, and his family was second only to God in his life; and

WHEREAS, with a lifelong passion for serving others, Mr. Martin was led to a career in banking at The Peoples Bank, where he was the Chairman of the Board and also served as CEO and President from 1970 until 2012, and his career at The Peoples Bank brought him great joy by allowing him to faithfully serve the community he loved for over 59 years; and

WHEREAS, because Mr. Martin believed in giving back to the industry that had given so much to him, as evidenced by his service as Chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association and the Mississippi Board of Banking Review, he mentored and inspired numerous students, entrepreneurs, employees, and other community, state and national leaders, and he furthered his own education by becoming a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University; and

WHEREAS, a Mississippi State University graduate and avid Bulldog sports fan, Mr. Martin bled maroon and white and served Mississippi State University in many capacities, including as Chairman of the MSU Foundation and President of The Bulldog Club, and in honor of his many years of service, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Mississippi State University in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Martin had a contagious, driving passion for improving the lives of the citizens of the State of Mississippi, particularly the northeast Mississippi area, and served as Chairman of both the CREATE Foundation and the North Mississippi Medical Center in addition to serving as Chairman of the Yocona Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and

WHEREAS, as a lifelong advocate for education, Mr. Martin served as Chairman of the Blue Mountain College Board of Trustees and on the Board of Trustees for Northeast Mississippi Community College; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Martin's service on untold boards, committees, and task forces was priceless to his community, but always most important to him were the countless friends and connections he made along the way; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to his faith, Mr. Martin was a member of First Baptist Church, where he spent many years singing in the choir, serving as a deacon and as a member of the Faith Sunday School Class; and

WHEREAS, though he has traversed the river of life to reunite with those who answered God's summons to life eternal and now beckon his arrival to the celestial shores of Heaven's grandeur, such as his parents, Mr. Elijah Martin and Mrs. Valca Hobson Martin and his sisters Georgia Crook, Virginia Coombs and Peggy Marvin, the legacy of Mr. Martin's indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his loved ones, including his loving wife, Barbara; daughter, Mary Childs; grandson, Bob Glover; great-grandchildren, Snow, Graham and Pierce Glover; several very special nieces and nephews, and a host of other family members and dear friends; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Martin will forever be loved, cherished and missed by all who knew him, and since it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:8, that to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," his family and friends can find peace and comfort during this difficult time; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and commend the lives of outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Mr. Martin, who certainly inspired everyone he met and whose life's light illuminated the path of hope for all he encountered along his earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of Mr. Bobby Paschal Martin, and express sincere and deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Bobby Paschal Martin and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.