Senate Resolution 25

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MRS. IRENE J. MITCHELL UPON THE OCCASION OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Irene J. Mitchell was born on October 24, 1902, in Leflore County, Mississippi. Mrs. Mitchell, along with her friends and family, will celebrate her centennial birthday on October 24, 2002; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mitchell is a long-time resident of Leflore County. Mrs. Mitchell attended Cypress Grove (a small country church) and McNease School as a child. Most of her 100 years have been spent working and doing for others; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mitchell has worked as a maid, a laundress and a laborer in a meat packing plant and at the oil mill. She can give a vivid account of the Depression and how hard times were. Mrs. Mitchell also speaks of how many people her hands have nursed back to health and fed in her community; and

WHEREAS, as a young adult, Mrs. Mitchell had to nurse and care for her mother until she died. In addition to taking care of her mother and numerous unrelated people, she also nursed an uncle and aunt until their death; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mitchell was unable to have any biological children, so at age 60 and 64, she and her late husband adopted a son and a daughter. After the death of her husband, she was left to take care of the children who now are deceased. She now cares for a 19-year old granddaughter whom she has been raising since age six when her mother died; and

WHEREAS, at nearly 100 years old, Mrs. Mitchell is still very active in her church, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. She is a member of the Prayer Chain, a group that gets together to pray for others and their special intentions and an associate member of Pax Christi, a group that works to improve the conditions of others. Also, she still plants and works a garden every year so that she can share vegetables with others, and cooks and feeds the shut-ins and the poor in her community. Mrs. Mitchell says she believes that her willingness to be of service to others is the reason God has allowed her to see almost 100 years; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this landmark event in the life of a Mississippian whose life serves as a model to others:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mrs. Irene J. Mitchell, of Leflore County, Mississippi, upon the occasion of her 100th birthday, and extend to her the best wishes of the Senate.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mrs. Mitchell and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.