MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th), Jackson (11th), Barnett, Kirby, Jordan, Frazier, Seymour, Wiggins, Norwood, England, McCaughn, Thompson, Suber, Butler (38th), Simmons (13th), Barrett, Tate, Blackwell, Fillingane, Horhn, McLendon, Thomas
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY OF FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND STATE SENATOR VERNON DELMA FURNISS OF RENA LARA, MISSISSIPPI, AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO HIS CAREER OF PUBLIC AND CHARITABLE SERVICE.
WHEREAS, we join the residents of the Mississippi Senate District 11 (Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica Counties) and state leaders in mourning the death of former Mississippi State Representative and State Senator Vernon Delma Furniss. Senator Furniss was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1984 to 1993 and a member of the Mississippi State Senate from 1993 until his retirement in December 2003. The 88-year-old passed away on January 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, one of ten children, Vernon Delma Furniss was born in Belen, Mississippi, on July 30, 1934, to Alvy George and Gertrude Mary Alice Ferguson Furniss. According to Delma's mother, when Delma was two years old, his family relocated from the land they were renting near Marks, to Rena Lara, Mississippi. The Furniss family became proud participants in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Resettlement Administration Farmers Security Program. The Furniss' were provided with a small acreage (part of the old Walnut Grove Plantation) to work in exchange for the option to purchase the land. The payment for the farm was $212.45 each year for 40 years, and the Furniss' managed to pay for the farm several years early. Delma loved the land and his community in Rena Lara; and
WHEREAS, Delma graduated from Sunflower School and later helped establish a nonprofit Commission through the automobile tag program to fund maintenance of the school after it closed. Delma (or as his coworkers on the railroad affectionately called him "Fireball") was a believer in education. He received a Bachelor's Degree in English, History and Political Science from Delta State University, earning a perfect 4.0 GPA while working full time on the Illinois Central Railroad. He went on to earn a Master's Degree in History from the University of Mississippi, again with a 4.0 GPA. Delma held memberships in the Delta State University and the University of Mississippi Alumni Associations, the Clarksdale-Coahoma Chamber of Commerce, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Alpha Theta, and Lambda Iota Tau Fraternities; and
WHEREAS, Delma was devoted to his wife, Edith "Edie" Roark. They were married for over 50 years, until her passing in 2004. Delma wanted to honor Edie, who received her LPN Degree at age 31 and her RN Degree at age 34, overcoming many obstacles to receive her education. To honor Edie, Delma set up the Edie Furniss LPN Scholarship in 1993 to be awarded annually to a graduate of Coahoma Community College who is over 25 years of age and who has overcome many obstacles to receive his or her degree. Edie and Delma had four children, who benefited from their mom and dad's love of family and education. Delma loved God and his church family as well. He attended Rena Lara Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon since 1975; and
WHEREAS, while his career on the railroad was winding down, Delma was building up steam pursuing a career in the Legislature where he could make a positive difference for fellow Mississippians. Upon his retirement from the Senate, Senate Resolution 109 said the following about Senator Delma Furniss: "Senator Furniss served in the House of Representatives from 1984-1993, and has served in the Senate from 1993 to the present, and has taken a leading role in virtually every meaningful economic development, agriculture, health care and progressive education program in his district during his tenure; he has been a champion of veterans' rights, taking an extremely active role in the development of the States Veterans' Homes, the Mississippi Vietnam Monument Commission and the Youth Challenge Program operated at Camp Shelby; took a particular interest in assisting the Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Center at Delta Regional Hospital by sponsoring legislation creating a special trust fund for burn victims. Senator Furniss served with distinction, and we will miss his friendship"; and
WHEREAS, Delma's colleagues in the Mississippi State Legislature thought so much of his service in general and more specifically with his tireless efforts on the Highway 61 four lane project that they dedicated the Hospitality Center in his honor. On March 13, 2003, the State of Mississippi declared that "The state hospitality station constructed and located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 49 and U.S. Highway 61 in Coahoma County is designated and shall be known as the Senator Delma Furniss Hospitality Station"; and
WHEREAS, Delma is survived by his four children: Jerry Furniss (Shannon), Dr. Jan Furniss (Bob Lowry), Jeff Furniss (Laurel), and Julia Furniss-Roberts (Larry Roberts); grandchildren: Ben Lowry, Sam Lowry, Ashley Smith, Candace Goodman, Jasmine Gagnon, Joshua Delma Furniss, Jacob Furniss, Shaun Bramlett, Derek Bramlett, Edie Furniss, Lesli Stearns, Paige Furniss, Bobby Jahrig and Cody Jahrig; and great-grandchildren: Connor Goodman, Sidney Gagnon, Dylan Bramlett and Rayna Bramlett. Delma was predeceased by his wife, Edith Roark Furniss; his second wife, Doris Evelyn Furniss; parents, Gertie and A.G. Furniss; and nine siblings: Hubert Furniss, George Furniss, Edward Furniss, Herman Furniss, W.G. Furniss, "Little" Howard Furniss, Juanita Anderson, Annie Pearl Russell and Isabel Dill; and
WHEREAS, Senator Furniss felt honored to be a member of the State Legislature where he truly enjoyed and took seriously the duties and responsibilities of serving the people. He loved and respected the body of the State Senate, its traditions, its procedures, and the camaraderie of the men and women with whom he worked in the Capitol. He formed lasting friendships there. Senator Furniss was a genuine, humble man of strong principles and integrity who cared about doing the right thing and was very good at making government work to serve the needs of his community and the people of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Delma loved God, his family, his church, his community, and the State of Mississippi, and we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi and friend:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the deepest sympathy of the Legislature to the bereaved family of former State Representative and State Senator Vernon Delma Furniss of Rena Lara, Mississippi, and pay tribute to his career of public and charitable service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of former Senator Vernon Delma Furniss, forwarded to the Clarksdale-Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.