MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2009 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Frazier, Butler, Davis (36th), Fillingane, Horhn, McDaniel, Dawkins
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING BERNICE ALLEN STIMLEY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND CONGRATULATING HER UPON THE OCCASION OF HER 100TH BIRTHDAY, MARKING A CENTURY IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE.
WHEREAS, on February 24, 1909, Bernice Mae Allen was born in Meehan Junction, Mississippi. She was the third child of Frank and Pernila Cole Allen. Her father worked in the local sawmill and her mother was a housewife who worked in her home as a hairdresser while she cared for immediate and extended family members who lived in the Allen's home; and
WHEREAS, in 1928, her parents permitted Bernice to leave Picayune High School in order to attend Alcorn College, where her older brother was already enrolled. While enrolled there, Bernice met the man she would eventually marry, Charles Edmond Stimley. He was from Centreville, Mississippi. He was also a football star at Alcorn College, and his teammates gave Charles the nickname "Snake" because of his ability to get through the defensive line. Bernice was a girls' basketball star and, because of her petite size, she was known as "PeeWee." Both were education majors and they planned to have careers as teachers. After graduating from Alcorn, they migrated to Chicago, Illinois, in search of employment and the couple remained; and
WHEREAS, Bernice and Charles Stimley were always hardworking people, and each held a variety of jobs during their tenure "up North." These included a small neighborhood grocery store business for Charles and his brother; a clerk in the Ladies Hat Department at Marshall Field's Department Store for Bernice. During World War II, Charles became a blast furnace worker in a steel mill, and Bernice became a certified welder making wing assemblies for Douglas Aircraft Company. While living in Chicago, three of the four Stimley children were also born: Sherman in 1944, Pernila in 1946 and Frank in 1948; and
WHEREAS, in 1950, Bernice and Charles Stimley decided to move back South and raise their family in Jackson, Mississippi, away from the dangers of a big city and closer to Bernice's parents and brother. They opened Stimley & Allen's Grocery Store in the Georgetown section of North Jackson, with Bernice's brother. Bernice Stimley joined New Hope Baptist Church in the early 1950s, with Reverend H.L. Hunt, Pastor. Currently, Bernice Allen Stimley is the oldest living member of the New Hope Baptist Church, Reverend Jerry L. Young, Pastor; and
WHEREAS, the four Stimley children attended Holy Ghost Elementary Catholic School, and later transferred to Lanier High School, where they each graduated with honors and distinction. During their time at Lanier, Bernice Stimley was active in all phases of their school life - academic, athletic and extracurricular. A strong supporter of the school's parent-teacher organization, Bernice Stimley served as PTA President for a number of years. In addition to her work in the grocery store, and time devoted to Lanier school spirit and support, Bernice Stimley also operated a nursery/daycare center in her home; and
WHEREAS, extraordinary time and efforts were directed towards providing the Stimley siblings with every opportunity to pursue the best education possible. Bernice's hard work made it possible for their four children to graduate with distinguished records from Lanier, and continue their postsecondary education at prestigious colleges, universities and law schools, including Kansas University, Columbia University, Boston University, The University of Texas, The University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University's Law School, Business School and Kennedy School of Government; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Stimley was born when Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States of America and James Vardaman was Governor of the State of Mississippi. Mrs. Stimley's life spanned the administration of 18 United States Presidents from Roosevelt to Barack Obama's triumphant step into history as the first African-American President; 35 United States Attorney Generals; and 27 Mississippi Governors from James Vardaman to Haley Barbour. This family icon witnessed many historic events during her lifetime, including the invention of the automobile by Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers' first airplane flight and man's walk on the moon; and
WHEREAS, on June 12, 1974, Harvard Law School recognized the uniqueness of the Stimley family and held a reception for Bernice Stimley at its commencement. The Dean of the Law School presented her with a special framed certificate on which the names and graduation dates for each of her children were inscribed, and he praised the "intangible creation of motivation" that she had inspired in them; and
WHEREAS, widowed earlier in the same year as the Harvard reception, she remained an active, involved resident of the City of Jackson, dedicated to her immediate and extended family, her church and her community. Indeed, during the historic political events of 2008, Bernice Stimley continued her unbroken legacy of voting for almost half a century, because she "never got accustomed to not wanting to get ahead." Mrs. Bernice Allen Stimley celebrates her 100th Birthday on February 24, 2009, marking a century in pursuit of excellence:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate Bernice Allen Stimley of Jackson, Mississippi, upon the occasion of her 100th Birthday, and join her family and friends in recognizing this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mrs. Bernice Allen Stimley and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.