MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Blount, Browning, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Montgomery, Powell, Stone, Yancey
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS OF SPIRITUAL AND CIVIC LEADER THE REVEREND GLEN RAY TRAVIS.
WHEREAS, The Reverend Glen Ray Travis, respected spiritual and civic leader from Raymond, Mississippi, and former leader of the United Pentecostal Church in Mississippi, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2009; and
WHEREAS, although he was District Superintendent of the state's United Pentecostal Church for 22 years, his fame reached beyond the boundaries of his denomination. He was a friend of many of the state's leaders. Governor Haley Barbour praised Reverend Travis: "Mississippi has lost a great Christian leader"; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Travis was born August 8, 1938, in Walthall County near Tylertown to Tom J. and Lena Dillon Travis, the ninth of 10 children. After dedicating his life to the Lord Jesus Christ at age 13, Reverend Travis accepted God's call to preach the gospel at age 17. On February 1, 1958, he married the love of his life, Delilah Keene, and they were blessed with three daughters; and
WHEREAS, at age 19, Reverend Travis and his wife accepted their first pastorate in Bogalusa, Louisiana, at Second United Pentecostal Church. Over the next few years, they pastored the following churches: Powell's Grove United Pentecostal Church, Jayess; New Chapel United Pentecostal Church, Collins; and Pleasant Hill United Pentecostal Church, Corinth; and
WHEREAS, during these early years, Reverend Travis began to serve the United Pentecostal Church Mississippi District in a more formal capacity. He served as Sectional Youth Director, District Youth Secretary, District Youth President, Sectional Presbyter and District Secretary. In 1971, they moved to Vicksburg to pastor First United Pentecostal Church, where they remained for 18 years. In 1981, he was elected District Superintendent of the Mississippi District of the United Pentecostal Church and served for 21-1/2 years, having a tremendous impact. After retiring as District Superintendent, he was asked to pastor Heritage Apostolic Church in Holly Springs, where he remained until 2007; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Travis' ministry was not limited to Mississippi. He served on various regional and national boards for the United Pentecostal Church, International. These included Jackson College of Ministries, UPCI Ministers' Retirement Fund, Tupelo Children's Mansion and the Lighthouse Ranch for Boys. He also served on various committees such as the UPCI General Board Planning Committee, and as Chairman for the Ministers' Retirement Fund, General Board Liaison Committee and the General Board Legislative committee, and as Regional Presbyter for the Eastern Region. He served as Director for Compassion Services International, a humanitarian disaster relief organization. In addition to the numerous other committees he served on, Reverend Travis and his wife traveled across the nation, and other countries, including El Salvador and the Philippines, preaching and teaching the gospel of salvation; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Travis' influence was not limited to the religious arena. He served on the Mississippi Board of Nursing under then-Governor Cliff Finch and worked with local and state elected officials helping make communities safer for families; and
WHEREAS, survivors include his wife; three daughters and sons-in-law, Bonita and Pastor Britt Prince of Richland; Ginger and Mark Majors of Melville, Louisiana; and Wanda and James Marshall of Raymond; 10 grandchildren, Travis, Dillon and Marshall Prince, Andrea Majors Ryder and husband Julien, Anthony, Naomi and Nathaniel Majors, and Jeremy, Jason and Joshua Marshall; a brother, Lynn Travis of McComb; two sisters, Elizabeth Carlisle of Hollywood, Florida, and Hulene Givens of Magnolia; several nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends and people influenced by his life and ministry:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss of spiritual and civic leader The Reverend Glen Ray Travis of Raymond, Mississippi, and extend our sympathy to his surviving family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of The Reverend Glen Ray Travis and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.