MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Clarke, Aguirre, Anderson (110th), Anderson (122nd), Anthony, Arnold, Bailey, Bain, Banks, Barnett, Barton, Bell (21st), Bell (65th), Bennett, Blackmon, Bomgar, Bounds, Boyd (19th), Boyd (37th), Brown (20th), Brown (70th), Burnett, Busby, Byrd, Calvert, Carpenter, Clark, Cockerham, Crawford, Creekmore IV, Criswell, Crudup, Currie, Darnell, Denton, Deweese, Eubanks, Eure, Evans (45th), Evans (91st), Faulkner, Felsher, Ford (54th), Ford (73rd), Foster, Gibbs, Goodin, Guice, Gunn, Hale, Haney, Harness, Hobgood-Wilkes, Holloway, Hood, Hopkins, Horan, Horne, Huddleston, Hulum, Jackson, Johnson, Karriem, Kinkade, Ladner, Lamar, Lancaster, Mangold, Massengill, McCarty, McCray, McGee, McKnight, McLean, McLeod, Mickens, Miles, Mims, Morgan, Newman, Oliver, Osborne, Owen, Paden, Patterson, Pigott, Porter, Powell, Read, Reynolds, Roberson, Robinson, Rosebud, Rushing, Sanders, Sanford, Scoggin, Scott, Shanks, Smith, Stamps, Steverson, Straughter, Summers, Taylor, Thompson, Tubb, Tullos, Turner, Walker, Wallace, Watson, Weathersby, White, Williamson, Yancey, Yates, Young, Zuber
A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. FREDA MCKISSIC BUSH, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER 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 January 15, 2023, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Dr. Freda McKissic Bush, to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family, friends and community; and
WHEREAS, born on February 25, 1947, to Mr. James E. McKissic and Mrs. Rosa Daniels-McKissic, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Dr. Bush devoted her outstanding career to women's health for over fifty years; and
WHEREAS, dedicated to academic excellence, Dr. Bush graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Nursing and practiced as a nurse, and later, she graduated from Colombia University, and became a nurse-midwife, and she decided to further her education, and went on to graduate from the University of Mississippi Medical School, and in 1987, she completed her residency training at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush was a practicing OB-GYN in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1987, until her retirement in February 2017, and was a clinical instructor in the OB-GYN department and family medicine department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush was a partner in private practice with East Lakeland OB-GYN and Associates in Jackson, a Fellow of the American College OB-GYN, and a board member of the American Association of Pro-life OB-GYN, and served as a member of the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure from 1996 until 2006, including a term as president from 2000 until 2002, and later, she assumed the position of chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards' (FSMB) Board of Directors in 2010, and in February 2012, she became President/CEO of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush co-authored two books with Joe S. McIlhaney, M.D.: HOOKED, New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children, and the last book released in January 2012, Girls Uncovered, New Research on What America's Sexual Culture Does to Young Women, and she was a contributing writer to Faith Matters: How African American Faith Communities Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy published by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush also served as a member of the Mississippi Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Teen Pregnancy Prevention, chair of the Medical Advisory Subcommittee, a presidential appointee to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) from 2006 until 2009, member of the Physician's Resource Council for Focus on the Family, a medical advisor for Heartbeat International and CareNet, and medical director for the Center for Pregnancy Choices, Metro Jackson; and
WHEREAS, during her distinguished career, much of Dr. Bush's time was spent speaking on sexual health, sexually transmitted diseases, and social behavior education, and she presented seminars for health professionals, educators, parents, and youth in several cities and states, and co-sponsored a conference in Jackson for seven years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush was interviewed on several television programs as well as numerous radio programs, including: Focus on the Family and Family Life Today with Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family with Dr. Jim Daly, and Family Life Today with Dennis Rainey, and she also published articles in the Journal of Medical Regulation, The MS State Medical Association Journal, Christianity Today, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Living Metro Jackson; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush was a proud resident of Jackson, Mississippi, and gave back to her community of West Jackson and to others, and her faith and light shone brightly and touched everyone she encountered, and she was also a dedicated member of New Horizons Church in Jackson; and
WHEREAS, though she has traversed the river of life to reunite with those who answered God's summons to life eternal and now beckon her arrival to the celestial shores of Heaven's grandeur, the legacy of Dr. Bush's indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of her loved ones, including her husband of 53 years, Mr. Lee Bush; four children; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and dear friends; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Bush will forever be loved, cherished and missed by all who knew her, and since it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:8, that to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," her family and friends can find peace and comfort during this difficult time; and
WHEREAS, a genuine and lovely lady of exceptional character, Dr. Bush's outstanding legacy will continue for generations to come, and precious memories of time spent with her will hopefully continue to provide warmth, peace and comfort to her loved ones; and
WHEREAS, it is most appropriate to recognize and honor the lives of great Mississippians, especially those such as Dr. Bush, a wonderful lady whose life's 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 honor the life and legacy of Dr. Freda McKissic Bush, and express deepest sympathy to her family and friends upon her passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Dr. Freda McKissic Bush, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.