MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Horhn

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE LONGSTANDING CIVIC AND CHARITABLE SERVICE OF THE LATE CLARIE COLLINS HARVEY UPON THE OCCASION OF THE DEDICATION OF THE HARVEY WELLNESS CENTER NAMED IN HER MEMORY.

WHEREAS, even though Clarie Collins Harvey departed this life in May 1995, her contributions to the City of Jackson, Mississippi, and her considerable volunteer service to civic and charitable organizations will be recognized as the Harvey Wellness Center is dedicated in her honor; and

WHEREAS, the only child given to this earth through Malachi C. and Mary Rayford Collins, Clarie was a Thanksgiving gift to them and the world on November 27, 1916, in Meridian, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Clarie Collins Harvey's education: Smith Robertson Elementary School, Jackson, Mississippi; Jackson State Laboratory, Jackson, Mississippi; Tougaloo College Secondary School, Tougaloo, Mississippi; graduated high school; Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, Economics (1937); Indiana College of Mortuary Science, Indianapolis, Indiana (1942); Professional Studies, Echols College of Mortuary Science, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Certificate in Embalming; M.A. Degree in Personnel Administration, Columbia University (1951); post-graduate Business Administration at New York University, Graduate School of Business Administration (1948-1950); post-graduate studies in Religious Education, Union Theological Seminary, New York City, New York (1950-1951); School of Metaphysics, Jackson, Mississippi (1983-1984); various management seminars through the years; and her educational honors include: Doctor of Humanities, Rust College (1968); and Doctor of Humane Letters, Spelman College (received first honorary from Spelman University); and

WHEREAS, she married Martin Luther Harvey in 1943 and they shared 32 years of togetherness until Martin's death in 1976; and

WHEREAS, Clarie's business profile was as follows: Chief Executive Officer, Collins Funeral Home and Insurance Companies, Inc.; Unity Life Insurance Company; Abundavita Wholistic Health Enterprises, established in 1903, 1918, 1978 and 1985, respectively; bookkeeper for the family funeral home and insurance companies (1937-1939); vice-president and partner with her mother (Mary Rayford Collins); and management consultant; and

WHEREAS, Clarie's volunteer service was as follows: Trustee Leadership Jackson since 1989; International Trade Commission Advisory Board (1986); Advisory Board, Habitat for Humanity, Inc., a nonprofit Christian housing ministry dedicated to helping poor people around the world improve the conditions in which they are forced to live (1986); Church Women United - Chairperson for National Financial Development (1981-1984), Member National Governing Boards (1967-1984), and state and local leadership roles, including ecumenical committee (1967-1984); World Council of Churches - Chairperson of Program Unit III: Education and Renewal (first black and first woman to serve, 1972-1975); and Consultant to Central Committee (1972-1975); and

WHEREAS, her service to educational institutions includes: Trustee (first black woman), Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, Chair for Investment Responsibility Committee (1972); Secretary, Atlanta University Center, Board of Trustees, (1973-1986); Trustee (first black), Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi (1974-1985); Trustee, Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change (1970-1976); Trustee, Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi (1959-1969); and Danforth Associates, Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1960-1969); and

WHEREAS, her service to professional organizations: member Children's Defense Fund Board, Washington, D.C. (1972-1980); member Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity; National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association - District Governor (first woman, 1958-1962), Secretary of Commission on Mortuary Education (1958-1960), and State President of the Mississippi Funeral Directors and Morticians Association; and member Founding Board, State Mutual Savings and Loans Association, Jackson, Mississippi (1956-1968), which became a multi-million dollar institution; and

WHEREAS, other national, state and local volunteer services include: National Co-Chairperson, Shriver for President (1975-1976); member of the Board of Southern Regional Council, Inc., a 13-state southern human relations institution in Atlanta, Georgia, only husband and wife team member (1965-1975); Chairperson, Hinds Council Community Service Association sponsored by the Office of Economic Opportunity (1968-1971); member Mississippi Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (1960-1970); board member Mississippi Industrial Special Services; appointed by Mayors to the Progressive Action Committee, City of Jackson; appointed by Governor to the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women (1960); honorary member of Archousa Beta Gamma Boule (formerly Archousa Alpha Xi Boule); honorary member of National Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.; member Terrell Literary Club; member Links, Inc., Jackson Chapter; member National Urban League, Inc.; life member National Council of Negro Women; life member National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; life member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority since 1939; National Undergraduate Program Advisor (1952-1954); and a support group for the activities of the major Civil Rights Movements and also provided opportunities for Mississippi youth to receive scholarships and education in northern and eastern universities (1962-1976); and

WHEREAS, her honors and awards: Outstanding Small Business Woman, Central Region, National Council of Small Business Management Development (1976); International Upper Room Citation, presented to the first black woman and first black American at a banquet for 700 persons in Jackson, Mississippi, March 1, 1976; Albert Gallatin Business Award Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievements in business and community (1975); Churchwoman of the Year Award, Religious Heritage of America, Inc., (1974); Clarie Collins Harvey Day in Mississippi declared by Governor William Waller, December 30, 1974; Top Hat Award, New Pittsburg Courier (1974); Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference Award (1973); commencement speaker, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia (1973); Outstanding Citizen of City of Jackson (1971); Outstanding Alumni Award, Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia (1966); citation for outstanding efforts for civil rights and peace by General Board of Christian Social Concerns of the Methodist Church (1961); First Woman of the Year, National Funeral Directors Association (1955); Millsaps College, Black Students Association for Outstanding Leadership (1982); Christian Leadership Award (1988); Award of Distinction, University of Mississippi (1989); Council of Deliberation Black History Award (1990); Jackson State University Black History Award (1990); NAACP Generational Awards (1991); and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we review the dedicated service of this person who has contributed so much to her church, her profession, her community and to her state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the longstanding civic and charitable service of the late Clarie Collins Harvey upon the occasion of the dedication of the Harvey Wellness Center named in her memory.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Board of Directors of the Harvey Wellness Center and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.