MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Butler, Albritton, Browning, Burton, Carmichael, Chaney, Clarke, Cuevas, Davis, Dawkins, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Harvey, Hewes, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (15th), Jackson (11th), Jordan, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), Little, Mettetal, Moffatt, Morgan, Nunnelee, Pickering, Ross, Simmons, Thames, Walley, White, Williamson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT TIMOTHY R. OSBEY OF MAGNOLIA, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS A COMBAT CASUALTY IN IRAQ ON FEBRUARY 16, 2005, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, Sergeant Timothy R. Osbey, of the Sherman Community near Magnolia, Mississippi, was killed on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, in a vehicle accident while on combat duty in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, carried by a military honor guard, he came home to his community and family with funeral services on Saturday, February 26, 2005, at Cook's Cemetery, less than a mile from Sherman M.B. Church where Timothy sang in the choir; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Osbey was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, out of McComb, Mississippi, which is attached to the 155th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. He was one of two Mississippi Army National Guard soldiers to die in the same accident; Timothy, along with Specialist Joseph Andrew Rahaim of Meridian, Mississippi, were the third and fourth members of the unit to die in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Timothy is the 24th soldier or sailor with Mississippi ties to die in the war in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, during his funeral, Specialist Osbey was awarded the Bronze Star and the Mississippi Medal of Valor posthumously by Major General Harold Cross, Adjutant of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Osbey is the eighth Mississippi National Guard soldier to give his life in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Timothy had married Marie Dickenson Osbey shortly before leaving for Iraq. He was the father of a 9-year-old daughter, Saderia; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Osbey was born September 25, 1975, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was the son of Sherry Osbey and Eugene Crier of Osyka, Mississippi. He was a member of Sherman M.B. Church and its male chorus; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his parents; his wife, Marie Dickerson Osbey of Osyka, Mississippi; a daughter, Saderia Osbey of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a sister, K. Michelle Osbey of Osyka, Mississippi; a brother, Tonio Osbey of Osyka, Mississippi; his mother-in-law, Hilda Dickerson of Osyka, Mississippi; four nieces, three nephews and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and special friends; and
WHEREAS, his family has received an outpouring of grief and support from across the state, demonstrating the community's acknowledgment of the sacrifice made by the Mississippi National Guard; and
WHEREAS, to a country, a fallen soldier means a national loss; to a community, a fallen soldier means a true hero; to a parent, a fallen soldier means a son who won't be coming home. Mississippians understand the costs of conflict because we have paid them in the past, and it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of this great American and Mississippian, who was the guardian of civilization as we know it today:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby remember the gallant service and commend the life of Sergeant Timothy R. Osbey of the Sherman Community near Magnolia, Mississippi, who was killed in action in Iraq on Wednesday, February 16, 2005, and extend the thoughts and prayers of the Legislature to his family and our sorrow on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Sergeant Osbey and be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.