MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2006 1st Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Lee (47th), Albritton, Browning, Dawkins, Dearing, Frazier, Gordon, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), King, Lee (35th), Little, Pickering, Thames, Walls, White
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVE MARGARET T. "WOOTSIE" TATE OF PICAYUNE, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the Legislature and the State of Mississippi lost a friend and colleague with the death of former Senator and Representative Margaret Townsend "Wootsie" Tate of Picayune, Mississippi, on Friday, June 9, 2006; and
WHEREAS, Senator Tate served as a Representative from 1984-1988. She was elected to District 47 of the State Senate in 1988 and served until 1992; and
WHEREAS, Senator Tate was born on January 10, 1934, and graduated from Picayune Memorial High School and Pearl River Junior College. She was very active in the business of her community, as an insurance agent, real estate agent, homebuilder, contractor, President of the Pearl River County Homebuilders Association, member of the Pearl River County Chamber of Commerce and professional insurance agents and realtors; and
WHEREAS, "Wootsie" fought against a bill to authorize a landfill to be placed in Hancock County and authored a mandatory seat belt bill that was passed by the Senate. However, perhaps her greatest contribution in the Legislature was serving as Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee. She was known as the "windpool" Senator. Her insurance bills were designed to help people living on the coast from distructive hurricane damage; and
WHEREAS, Wootsie's straight-forward behavior also made quite an impression on her legislative colleagues. You never had to question what her stand on an issue was, and she was known for her stubbornness; and
WHEREAS, a favorite antedote about Senator Tate involved the Senate bathroom on the third floor of the Capitol where, at the time, there weren't any women restrooms. The women would have to walk all the way down to the ground floor to use the restroom, but the men had their own restroom off of the Senate Chamber. When Wootsie had to use the restroom, she would always get the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms to stand outside of the men's restroom and keep any men from coming inside instead of walking down to the bottom floor. The Sergeant-At-Arms even turned the Governor away from the bathroom once. Finally, Wootsie influenced the Senate to build a female restroom off of the Senate Chamber; and
WHEREAS, Wootsie was the driving force behind the Picayune Senior Center, securing a grant for the land and building and serving as its President. The City of Picayune wasted no time in naming this building in memory of a state lawmaker. The Senior Center in Picayune is now named the "Wootsie and Billy Tate Building", after former State Legislator Margaret "Wootsie" Tate and her husband; and
WHEREAS, Senator "Wootsie" Tate was a determined lady with a mission. She did a lot of good things for her district. She was a strong lady and a good, strong public servant whose service was exemplified by sound judgment:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of community service of former Senator and Representative Margaret Townsend "Wootsie" Tate of Picayune, Mississippi, and express to her husband, William, and surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on her passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of former Senator Tate and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.