House Concurrent Resolution 38

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING SHERIEL FAYE WALKER-PERKINS AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND FIRST FEMALE MAYOR OF GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, on September 28, 2006, Mrs. Sheriel Faye Walker-Perkins made history when she was certified as the first African American and first female mayor of Greenwood, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Perkins struggled for 17 months, four elections and a lengthy lawsuit before becoming certified by a marginal win of 292 votes; and

WHEREAS, she has faithfully served as Greenwood's mayor since taking the oath of office on September 29, 2006; and

WHEREAS, she is a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, and the daughter of Mrs. Leona and the late Fred Harris, Sr.; and

WHEREAS, she shares the accomplishments in her life with her distinguished husband, attorney and member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, Willie J. Perkins, Sr., and their five children: Willie James, Jr., Takiyah, Jamilah and Jamal Perkins and Ashaki Osborne; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Perkins has achieved other firsts in her lifetime as she was the first Black Assistant Vice President of First Federal Savings and Loan Association; and

WHEREAS, before being elected mayor, she served on the Greenwood City Council for Ward 4, serving 12 years unopposed, with two terms as vice president until she decided to step down and run for Mayor of Greenwood; and

WHEREAS, she is also very active in her community as a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Greenwood Voters League and the Cotillion Federated Club; and

WHEREAS, she is a born-again Christian who is not ashamed to tell the world about Jesus and actively serves the Lord at Providence Missionary Baptist Church where she is President of the Mission Society, a member of the Mother's Board and Youth Leader; and

WHEREAS, as evidence of the adoration her community has for her, she has received numerous appreciation awards from various churches, community clubs and schools, including her most recent honor as the recipient of the 2007 Magnolia Bar Harriet Tubman Award; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, she was awarded the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award from Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, the Community Service Award from Wesley United Methodist Church as part of their Heritage Celebration, the 2004/2005 Parent of the Year for the Greenwood Public School District, the Greenwood Voter's League Community Service Award and the Community Civic Leadership Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend excellence as evidenced by such outstanding Mississippians as Mayor Sheriel Fay Walker-Perkins:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Mrs. Sheriel Faye Walker-Perkins for making history by being elected the first African American and first female Mayor of Greenwood, Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Sheriel Walker-Perkins and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.