MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Little, Robertson, Dearing, Farris, Turner, Nunnelee, Burton, Stogner, Harvey, Kirby, Browning, Mettetal

A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING JOY T. FERGUS UPON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Joy Fergus, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, is the daughter of Frank and Rook Tilley; and

WHEREAS, she initially came to work for the Senate as a session-only employee when Carroll Gartin was Lieutenant Governor and subsequently became one of only two full-time Senate employees; and

WHEREAS, as the workload and number of Senate employees increased, Joy remained an indispensable member of the staff and served as a valuable repository of institutional memory; she was always ready and willing to do whatever was needed to keep the work of the Senate on track; and

WHEREAS, her retirement and that of Peggy Phillips, a steadfast friend and former Senate employee, has suspended the traditional lunchtime bridge game played in the interim by a foursome which also included longtime House staff members Sylvia Watts and Peggy Martin; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Fergus retired at the end of the 1998 Regular Session, and has been and will be sorely missed as both friend and colleague; and

WHEREAS, having been one of the legislative staff's "Mimis" (as grandmothers sometimes call themselves), one of the chief delights of retirement for her has been the increased opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren, Lindsey and Scott Lord, and with her daughters, Julie Lord and Vicki Fergus; and

WHEREAS, Joy and her husband, Henry, are enjoying the increased time they have to spend together, including travel and their frequent long walks which make Joy's retirement a very special time; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Senate to thank Mrs. Fergus for her many years of faithful and conscientious service to this legislative body:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Joy T. Fergus for her many years of service to the Mississippi State Senate, and extend our heartfelt congratulations to her upon her retirement, along with our best wishes to her for many healthy and happy years to come.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Fergus.