Senate Concurrent Resolution 700

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF FORMER STATE SENATOR AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE ORENE FARESE OF ASHLAND, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature and the State of Mississippi lost a progressive legislator from a prior generation with the passing of former Senator and Representative Orene Ellis Farese of Ashland, Mississippi, on April 10, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Orene Ellis Farese was one of the first women elected to the Mississippi Legislature. She and her husband, John, were both elected to the House of Representatives in 1952, becoming the first couple in the United States and the State of Mississippi to be elected to a state Legislature. Mrs. Farese then was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 1956, and her husband was returned to the House of Representatives for another term; and

WHEREAS, Orene Ellis Farese was born on May 20, 1916, in Choctaw County between Reform and Mathiston, Mississippi, to William A. Ellis and Mamie Ethel (Haimes) Ellis. She was the youngest of four girls: Eleanor Hester, Orlene and Jackie Lorene. There were three younger brothers: Howard, Herbert and Hugh Fred; and

WHEREAS, Orene started school at Reform, Mississippi, and after her third year, the family moved to Mathiston, Mississippi. Her grammar school years were at the local public school and her high school years were at Bennett Academy, which later became Wood Junior College, a Methodist Missionary School; and

WHEREAS, Orene attended two years at Holmes Junior College at Goodman, Mississippi, from 1934-1936. It was there she met John B. Farese of Lynn, Massachusetts, who was also a student at Holmes Junior College; Orene finished her last two years as an English and Speech major at Blue Mountain College, Blue Mountain, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, she began her professional career as a high school English teacher at Ashland, Mississippi, in Benton County in 1938. When John graduated from law school in 1939, they announced their marriage and became citizens of Benton County. Orene became active in the Home Demonstration Club, Ashland Baptist Church, P.T.A. and other civic projects; and

WHEREAS, when World War II became imminent, Orene was appointed Chief Clerk of the Benton County Draft Board by Governor Paul Johnson, where she served until John volunteered in the Air Corps. During the following four years, she did civil service work at several stations where John was assigned; and

WHEREAS, after the war, coming home to Ashland, both she and John became interested in politics and began their career in the Legislature. Even though Senator Farese was not the first woman elected to the Senate (Senator Belle Kearney of Flora was elected in 1924), she served with integrity in a legislative chamber composed of 51 men and one woman; and

WHEREAS, Senator Farese was an independent thinker and achieved many things we take for granted. She introduced the bill to allow women to serve on juries; and she was a staunch advocate for educational reforms and equal rights for all. She lost her bid for reelection after speaking out against a bill which would have taken away the tax-exempt status in Mississippi for the Methodist Church because it had allowed black citizens to worship in the church. In her speech, she reminded each Senator that "all men were created equal" and the bill failed 59-1. She and her husband, "Big John," were the first husband/wife team in the United States to serve in a legislative body at the same time; and

WHEREAS, after their legislative careers, both she and her husband remained active in community service. Orene served in many civic capacities, organized Ashland's first P.T.A., served three times as Den Mother in scouting, organized the first arts festival in Benton County, sponsored local baseball programs, 4-H Clubs, trips for graduating classes to the State Capitol to observe "Government in Action," was a member of the Salvation Army and countless other local civic projects, and was active in the Ashland Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, we join the citizens of Ashland in recognizing the legacy of selfless service by this public servant who brought honor to her family, her community, to the Mississippi Legislature and to the State of Mississippi:

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 public service of former State Senator and State Representative Orene Farese of Ashland, Mississippi, one of the first women elected to the Mississippi Legislature, and extend to her and her family our sympathy on her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Mrs. Farese and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.