House Concurrent Resolution 82

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE OF MRS. NORMA WILLIAMS SULLIVAN AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Norma Williams Sullivan, at the age of 100, departed this life on Friday, January 25, 2002, causing great sorrow and loss to her family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sullivan, a native of Prentiss, Mississippi, was the daughter of Homer and Irene Hubbard Williams; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sullivan attended Belhaven College for two years, where she was a member of Sigma Iota Chi sorority, before transferring to Mississippi Woman's College, now William Carey College, where she graduated in 1921 with a bachelor's degree in piano performance; and

WHEREAS, exhibiting academic and social excellence, Mrs. Sullivan was accepted to the University of Chicago's graduate program, working in the Department of Romance Languages before moving to Missouri to teach French and Spanish at Cottey College; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sullivan later returned to Mississippi, where she was united in holy matrimony to her college sweetheart, Caruthers Sullivan, and began what became a 57-year marriage; and

WHEREAS, generous with her time and talents, Mrs. Sullivan served as president of the Orpheus Club, Galaxy Club and Study Club of Hattiesburg, acted as a board member of the Hattiesburg Historical Association, served as a member of the Hattiesburg Little Theatre and past president of the PTA; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sullivan was a devoted member of the Main Street United Methodist Church, serving as Children's Sunday School Superintendent and a life member of the Lydians, now known as the Woman's Society of Christian Services; and

WHEREAS, named a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow in 1998, Mrs. Sullivan had a profound effect on the youth of Hattiesburg, and she was elected "Lifetime Mother" by the Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa National Fraternity; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Sullivan is survived by her son, Garland Williams Sullivan, and his wife, Sally; six grandchildren, Garland Williams Sullivan II, Lynn Strickler Sullivan, Elizabeth Sullivan McCollough, Kathleen Sullivan Davis, Martha Caruthers Sullivan Nichols and John Magruder Sullivan II; ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds it most appropriate to pay special tribute to such an outstanding woman as Mrs. Norma Williams Sullivan, a woman whose life was supremely dedicated to service:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life of Mrs. Norma Williams Sullivan and express our deepest sympathy to her family and friends upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mrs. Norma Williams Sullivan and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.