House Concurrent Resolution 88

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING REVEREND JOHN EARL "JOHNNY" CAMERON UPON THE CELEBRATION OF HIS 33RD ANNIVERSARY AS PASTOR OF THE GREATER MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

WHEREAS, Reverend John Earl "Johnny" Cameron will be honored on Saturday, March 1, 2003, at an appreciation banquet given by Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church in celebration of his 33 years as their pastor; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Cameron, the son of A.C. and Courtney Cameron, was born on June 11, 1932, in Petal, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Springfield Vocational High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Reverend Cameron attended Rust College, where he received his bachelor's degree and also studies at the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, having spent more than 40 years in the ministry, Reverend Cameron's first pastoral position was at Second Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1970, Reverend Cameron became pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, where he has ministered to many throughout his community; and

WHEREAS, Reverend Cameron was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, having worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on voter registration campaigns in Hattiesburg, as well as on a national level and has been cited in a recent oral history project documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, an active member of his community, Reverend Cameron has served as a member and leader in various organizations such as serving as the director of the Hattiesburg Ministers Project and as Ambassador to Central America; the first speaker at the annual Martin Luther King Celebration at the University of Southern Mississippi; Historian for the Progressive National Baptist Church; the Board of Directors for the Pearl River Valley Redevelopment Basin in Hinds County and Vice President of Cooper's Well, Incorporated; and

WHEREAS, throughout his long and distinguished career, Reverend Cameron has been recognized by Who's Who in Black America, Notable Americans in the Bicentennial Era and Outstanding Community Leader and has received proclamations for outstanding service from Governor Ronnie Musgrove, Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck, former Jackson Mayor Dale Danks, Jr., Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr., and many others; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians such as Reverend Cameron who has dedicated his life to the ministry and meeting the spiritual needs of many people:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Reverend John Earl "Johnny" Cameron upon the celebration of his 33rd Anniversary as pastor of the Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church and express our heartiest wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Reverend John Earl "Johnny" Cameron and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.