Senate Concurrent Resolution 600

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING MRS. ZULA CRIDDLE WARNICK OF HOUSTON, MISSISSIPPI, ON THE OCCASION OF HER 104TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, one hundred four years ago began an amazing journey of a hard-working hero. Mrs. Zula Criddle Warnick will be 104 years young on February 16, 2010. She was born February 16, 1906, to James Madison and Ella Smith Criddle and is one of eleven children; and

WHEREAS, she married John Warnick and they had one son, John Edward "Billy" Warnick, born on July 23, 1927; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Warnick worked at the shell factory in Prairie during World War II, lived through the Depression of 1916 and 1932, then went to work at Rice Stix, later Reliance for 14-1/2 years. After this factory closed, she worked for three years at the school wearing many hats as supervisor; and

WHEREAS, after this time, she became caregiver to many elderly and sick people in the county for 25 years until the age of 85. At that time she went home to stay with her sick husband and son, who both died in 1990 one month apart. She now lives at Floy Dyer Manor, where she has resided since the age of 100 in 2006. Mrs. Warnick has a daughter-in-law, Hazel Nabors Warnick, and several nieces and nephews, who all love her dearly; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Warnick contributes her longevity to her faith in God and the fact that she remained active even after retirement. During her lifetime everyone who has had the honor of meeting her has been blessed by being in her presence and gaining the wisdom and knowledge that she offers. Mrs. Warnick was born when Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States of America and James Vardaman was Governor of the State of Mississippi. (President Roosevelt made a famous bear-hunting trip to the Mississippi Delta and used Greenville resident and Civil War Veteran Holt Collier as a guide.) Mrs. Warnick'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 to win a major party presidential nomination; 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. We join her descendants and are indeed blessed to share life with her:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute Mrs. Zula Criddle Warnick of Houston, Mississippi, on the occasion of her 104th birthday, and extend our best wishes on this auspicious event.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Mrs. Warnick and her family, forwarded to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Houston and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.