House Resolution 94

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, ESTEEMED SERVICE, AND REMARKABLE LEGACY OF TRAILBLAZING JOURNALIST, EDUCATOR AND PUBLIC SERVANT, DR. ELAYNE HAYES-ANTHONY, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, COMMUNITY OF ALUMNI MENTEES AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, the immaculate author and finisher of our souls' destiny summoned the mortal presence of a distinguished Mississippi trailblazer, educator, mentor and pioneering journalist, Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, who departed this earthly life on March 5, 2026, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family, colleagues, students and the many communities whose lives were enriched by her wisdom, leadership and compassionate spirit; and

WHEREAS, the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi lost a revered daughter, visionary communicator and champion of education whose extraordinary life journey helped reshape the fields of journalism, broadcasting, higher education and public service across more than five decades of dedicated work, 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, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Hayes-Anthony distinguished herself early as a scholar and leader, graduating from Jackson State University as a scholarship recipient before earning the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, an academic achievement that marked the beginning of a career dedicated to teaching, mentorship and professional excellence; and

WHEREAS, she made history in Mississippi media as the first African-American woman to serve as an anchor, producer and reporter at WJTV-TV12, the CBS affiliate in Jackson, courageously breaking barriers in broadcast journalism and opening doors of opportunity for generations of aspiring journalists throughout Mississippi and the nation; and

WHEREAS, following the completion of her doctoral studies, Dr. Hayes-Anthony returned to her beloved hometown of Jackson to serve as chair of the Department of Mass Communication at Jackson State University, where under her visionary leadership the department achieved national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, while also expanding academic offerings to include public relations and advertising; and

WHEREAS, after a decade of distinguished service in higher education, she accepted appointment as Assistant Superintendent of Public Information and Staff Development for the Jackson Public School District, serving as spokesperson for the district's board of trustees and strengthening communications between educators, families and the community; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hayes-Anthony later served as an educational consultant before joining Belhaven University, where she became the founding chair of the Department of Communication and ultimately served as a tenured full professor and longtime academic leader who inspired and prepared countless students for careers in media, communications and public service; and

WHEREAS, throughout her illustrious academic career, she also served as interim president of Jackson State University during a critical period of transition, while simultaneously maintaining her long-standing role as Chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, where she mentored generations of communicators whose voices now shape media and public discourse throughout the state and nation; and

WHEREAS, her passion for storytelling and public engagement extended beyond the classroom through broadcast programming, including hosting the television program "F.Y.I. with Elayne Anthony" and later the program "In Depth with Elayne Anthony" on JSU-TV, where she continued to inform, educate and inspire audiences through thoughtful dialogue and public affairs discussion; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hayes-Anthony's leadership extended across professional and civic organizations, including serving on more than 15 accreditation teams for the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and providing consultation to the Florida and Louisiana Boards of Regents regarding journalism education; and

WHEREAS, she was an active member of the Jackson Association of Black Journalists, served on the advisory board for iHeartRadio, participated on the Randolph Hearst national scholarship committee, and served as a member of the Board of Visitors for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and

WHEREAS, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to public service and community well-being, Dr. Hayes-Anthony served nearly two decades on the Mississippi State Board of Health following her initial appointment by Governor Haley Barbour in 2007, continuing her service through subsequent gubernatorial appointments while contributing her insight and leadership to matters of public health policy; and

WHEREAS, among her many historic achievements, she became the first African American to serve on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and later the first African-American woman, educator and communicator to serve as President of that statewide organization, further cementing her legacy as a barrier-breaking leader within the communications profession; and

WHEREAS, tributes from leaders across Mississippi reflect the profound impact of Dr. Hayes-Anthony's life and work, including recognition of her as a trailblazer, educator and devoted public servant whose influence shaped journalism, higher education and public policy across the state; and

WHEREAS, though she has traversed life's river to now stand upon the celestial shores of eternal rest, the indelible imprint of Dr. Hayes-Anthony's courage, intellect and servant leadership will continue to inspire future generations of journalists, educators, public servants and community leaders; and

WHEREAS, we encourage her family, colleagues and the countless students she mentored to find comfort in the words recorded in II 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 with sincere humility that the Mississippi House of Representatives honors the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, whose commitment to excellence in journalism, education and public service illuminated the path of opportunity and inspiration for countless individuals throughout the State of Mississippi:

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, esteemed service and remarkable legacy of Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, and express deepest and most sincere sympathy to her family, colleagues, community of alumni mentees and friends upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.