MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Harden

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BOBBIE NELL OATIS OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, 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, Bobbie Nell Oatis is a leader of vision, determination and courage and is one of this year's honorees; and

WHEREAS, Bobbie's life has been dedicated to education and improvement of those she serves: although she retired in 1994 as Associate Dean of Student Services at Jackson State University, her work to encourage and serve people continues; and

WHEREAS, Bobbie has received many honors and awards, and her professional activities are numerous: she has appeared in "Outstanding Young Women of America," is listed in "Personalities of the South" and "Who's Who of American Women," was the first African American President of the Mississippi Association of Administrators, Counselors and Deans, was Chairperson of the University Section of the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors, and is the nominee of the Jackson Branch of the American Association of University Women for the state "Women of Achievement" award; and

WHEREAS, she is an active member of College Hill Missionary Baptist Church, is a Sunday School teacher, is a Bible teacher for her Mission Circle and Vice-President of the General Mission; and

WHEREAS, her advice to women is "Be the Best you can be, put forth your best effort" and Bobbie credits her parents for teaching her she could be anything she wanted to be; 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 Bobbie Nell Oatis of Jackson, Mississippi, for being recognized as an honoree at the MISSISSIPPI WOMAN '99 CONFERENCE.

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