MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2021 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Gibbs (72nd), Anderson (110th), Anthony, Bailey, Banks, Bell (65th), Blackmon, Brown (70th), Burnett, Clark, Clarke, Crudup, Denton, Faulkner, Foster, Gibbs (36th), Harness, Hines, Holloway, Hudson, Jackson, Johnson, Karriem, McCray, Mickens, Miles, Osborne, Paden, Porter, Reynolds, Rosebud, Scott, Stamps, Summers, Taylor, Thompson, Walker, Watson, Williams-Barnes, Yates, Young, Boyd

House Resolution 23

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MRS. RUTH ANTOINETTE BATTON CAMPBELL AND EXPRESSING SINCEREST SYMPATHY 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. Ruth Antoinette Batton Campbell, a woman of beauty and grace, who was blessed with a servant's heart to help her fellowman, to eternal rest on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at the age of 80, as she made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family and many friends throughout Central Mississippi and beyond; and

     WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi lost an unsung heroine, wonderful friend, revered educator and media personality with the passing of Mrs. Campbell, a native of Benton, Mississippi, born on June 30, 1939, to her late parents, Viola Brice and Cleophas Batton, who reared her in love, 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 to the glory foretold in Romans 8:20-21, "For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God"; and

     WHEREAS, entrenched with a keen awareness of the importance of receiving an education, Ruth's insatiable thirst for knowledge led her to earn an associate's degree from Coahoma Junior College in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1959, and in 1961, she attained her bachelor's degree in language arts from Jackson State College; and

     WHEREAS, as one who always set herself apart by advancing to the next level to continually perfect her craft, Mrs. Campbell furthered her educational matriculation by earning a master's degree, in 1970, from the University of Southern Mississippi, and utilizing her degrees as a paramount master of the English and French languages, public speaking and literature, she imparted all of her acquired knowledge into the impressionable minds of young people as a public school teacher; and

     WHEREAS, as fate would lend itself to being built in accordance with the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of her life by the Great Deity and grand architect of our lives' destiny, the young Ruth's heart was pierced by the love, chivalry and affection of Leon Campbell, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony, and embarked upon a journey together in a life of awareness as public servants called to social and civic activism, the tenets of which they embedded in the lineal fabric of their three children; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Campbell, after making a positive impact in the public school system, made contributions as a market analyst with the Mississippi Research and Development Center, and she later entered the field of broadcasting at the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television, where she made her indelible mark as host of the longest running minority-oriented public affairs series in the Magnolia State, and she served as the executive producer for all public affairs programming at the network; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Campbell also served as a special assistant to Governor Ray Mabus, and she served as the associate director at the Jackson State University Lifelong Learning Center, and completed her dynamic career as the deputy director for the City of Jackson's Department of Human and Cultural Services; and

     WHEREAS, cognizant of the words recorded in I John 3:2 - "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is," Mrs. Campbell, through her zealous commitment to the people and causes dear to her heart, strove diligently to exemplify a Christ-like walk before her family and friends, and evidenced her faith in Christ through her diligent works at Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she served in numerous capacities, and which acknowledged her esteemed service with the presentation of the Distinguished Leadership Award; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Campbell received a plethora of awards in recognition of her community service and giving spirit, including:  Humanitarian Award from the University of Southern Mississippi, Presidential Citation for Alumni of the Year Award from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Founders Award from the National Black Programming Consortium; and

     WHEREAS, Mrs. Campbell made impactful contributions as the chair of the National Black Programming Consortium, member of the advisory board for Catholic Charities, member of the advisory council for 21st Century Community Learning Center, and was a pioneer in her own right as a founding member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in Jackson, as well as Friends of Public Broadcasting - which was a testament of her forward thinking nature; and

     WHEREAS, though she has traversed life's river to now stand upon the celestial shores in wonderment of Heaven's grandeur in glorious reunion with the kindred spirits who transitioned before her, including her parents, the memories of Mrs. Campbell will continue to flourish in the hearts and minds of her survivors, some of whom include:  her devoted husband, Leon; children, Kimberly, Sheva and Cord; and her doting grandchildren, Sage, Brelan, Iliya, Cord and Carrie Antoinette; and

     WHEREAS, we encourage the Campbell family to find solace from these words recorded in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."; and

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the monumental life of genuine and selfless individuals of Mrs. Campbell's caliber, whose life's light illuminated the path of hope and change throughout the State of Mississippi, as well as for all she encountered along her earthly sojourn:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life, legacy and contributions of Mrs. Ruth Antoinette Batton Campbell and express deepest sympathy upon her passing to her family and friends.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the family of Mrs. Ruth Antoinette Batton Campbell and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.