MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Harden

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MRS. MINNIE JANE BURNS FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS AN HONOREE AT THE MISSISSIPPI WOMAN '99 CONFERENCE.

WHEREAS, Governor and Mrs. Fordice are hosting the third annual conference to recognize women in the state who are outstanding volunteers in their community, which is entitled MISSISSIPPI WOMAN '99: THE "POWER OF ONE"; and

WHEREAS, Minnie Jane Burns is one of this year's honorees; and

WHEREAS, Minnie Jane has been a teacher, historian, newspaper columnist, former editor of the Mississippi Business Women's Journal and the first woman cotton buyer in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, her extraordinary musical talent was discovered when she started playing piano for silent movies at the Carthage, Mississippi, theater when she was 11 years old, and today at 85 years of age, her Big Band selections spread sunshine in every direction as she entertains hospice patients; and

WHEREAS, Minnie's days are filled with service and volunteerism: she developed the Acolyte program at the Madison Methodist Church as well as the Sunday School class, The Truth Seekers, she has provided hands-on support for the Kiwanis Club Habitat for Humanity program, and isn't about to slow down; and

WHEREAS, her advice to women is "Get outside of yourselves" and Minnie is most proud of being a mother and grandmother and the wife of her late husband, Walter; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this outstanding volunteer whose service has meant so much to her community and state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Minnie Jane Burns for being recognized as an honoree at the MISSISSIPPI WOMAN '99 CONFERENCE.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Minnie Jane and Mrs. Pat Fordice at the conference awards banquet on March 1, 1999, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.