House Resolution 10

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE, LEGACY AND MONUMENTAL SERVICE OF MR. JIMMY CARTER FAIRLEY, AN ESTEEMED HATTIESBURG CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, esteemed and instrumental Hattiesburg civil rights leader, Mr. Jimmy Carter Fairley, born on August 11, 1921, to the late Aleck and Viola Carter Fairley in rural Collins, Mississippi, departed this earthly life on Wednesday, January 5, 2011, at the age of 89, to enter into rest with his Heavenly Father, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Fairley attended Williamsburg School, and joined the United States Army in 1942, serving in World War II, and upon discharge from the service, furthered his education at Prentiss Institute where he was later employed; and

WHEREAS, upon relocating to Hattiesburg, he became actively involved in various organizations, including: the NAACP, where he served two terms as president; Prince Hall Masons, where he was Master Mason; and a member of American Legion Post No. 225; and

WHEREAS, a man of spiritual conviction, Mr. Fairley joined St. James CME Church, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent, District Lay Leader, trustee and steward, and brought up his family in the fear and admonition of God and to treat your fellowman with a Christ-like servant's compassion; and WHEREAS, during the height of the Civil Rights era, he was deeply engaged in advancing equality among the races, as he involved himself in organizing local boycotts for human rights, particularly the Hattiesburg bus boycott, and as president of the local chapter of the NAACP, he was responsible for the protest of downtown Hattiesburg businesses after the death of noted civil rights icon, Vernon Dahmer; and

WHEREAS, in 1961, Mr. Fairley became the first African American to open his own television repair shop in Hattiesburg, operating a successful entrepreneurial business for some 19 years before retiring in 1980; and

WHEREAS, throughout his entire adult life, even when his health deteriorated, Mr. Fairley remained faithful to his cause and beliefs of justice and equality for all, and the legacy of his works and service as a pillar of the community will be long remembered for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, though he has traversed the river of life to now stand on golden heavenly shores and to place his life's battle sword into the sands of time no more, the heart with which he loved and the spirit with which he served will forever be cherished in the memories of his loving survivors, including: his wife of nine years, Mrs. Lillie Racheal Reed Fairley; six sons, Winston Fairley, Jimmy Carter Fairley, Jr., Anthony Fairley,

Emmanuel Fairley, Darrell Reed and Mike Gibson; five daughters, Ethelyn Reed-Fairley, Marie Weathersby, Sheila Reed, Connie Clark and Brenda Hinton; one brother; four sisters; and a host of other relatives and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the life of such a noble individual as Mr. Fairley, whose life was marked by a commitment to service and serving others:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life, legacy and monumental service of Mr. Jimmy Carter Fairley, an esteemed Hattiesburg civil rights leader, and express deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Fairley and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.