House Concurrent Resolution 95

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DEVOTED CIVITAN MRS. CELIA BUNTIN EMMERICH OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AND EXTENDING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, Celia Buntin Emmerich, of Jackson, Mississippi, departed this earthly life on March 1, 2012, at the blessed age of 80, to enter into eternal rest, causing great sorrow and loss to her family and many friends; and

WHEREAS, a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, Mrs. Emmerich was a graduate of Gulfport High School where she was active in theatre and numerous other activities, including her lifelong love of sailing; and

WHEREAS, after high school, Mrs. Emmerich attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, where she was a cheerleader, and as a friend described her, "a force of nature," while in college, stealing the hearts of numerous young male collegians; and

WHEREAS, the young Celia Buntin met the dashing John Emmerich while both were students at Ole Miss, and they were married on February 16, 1951, and the two shared 44 years of marital bliss together until his untimely death in 1995; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Emmerich worked as a teacher in Gulfport while awaiting her husband's return from Korea, and after his return, the young couple moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her husband accepted a newspaper job, and while living in Minneapolis, the couple welcomed the birth of their first child, a daughter, Melanie; and

WHEREAS, the couple later moved to McComb, Mississippi, to work at the McComb Enterprise-Journal, a newspaper owned by the family of Mrs. Emmerich's husband, and while in McComb, the two were extremely instrumental in overcoming the racial violence of the early 1960s; and

WHEREAS, before settling their young family in Greenwood, Mississippi, the family also lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Baltimore, Maryland; and Houston, Texas; and

WHEREAS, while living in Greenwood, Mrs. Emmerich played numerous roles as a devoted wife and mother and as a committed citizen of her community and state, hosting numerous parties at the family's gorgeous home on the edge of Valley Hill, overlooking Mississippi's beautiful Delta, and directing several children's plays, including Man of La Mancha and Oliver; and

WHEREAS, after the death of her beloved husband, Mrs. Emmerich moved to San Antonio, Texas, to be near her daughter and precious sister-in-law, and then moved to Jackson to be near the young children of her son, Wyatt; and

WHEREAS, not one to sit still, Mrs. Emmerich was an avid tennis player with an amazing drop shot, and she trekked the bounteous Himalaya Mountains alone in her 50s, sailed the Maldive Islands in her 60s, and spent many summers living in France, enjoying the beauty of its cities, including Paris and Provence; and

WHEREAS, amongst her friends and family, there could not have been a better wife, mother or friend than Mrs. Emmerich, whom they consider to be the embodiment of grace, love and devotion; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Emmerich has traversed the river of life to now stand on the golden shores of Heaven's landing in a family reunion of the ages with those who preceded her in life's transition to immortality, including her beloved husband, John; and

WHEREAS, the rich legacy of love and Christian devotion will be forever and indelibly etched into the hearts and memories of her loving survivors, including: daughter, Melanie Ann Stringfellow; son, John Wyatt Emmerich; adopted son, Tommy Hughes; son-in-law, Steven Stringfellow; daughter-in-law, Virginia Knight Emmerich; grandchildren, Steven Jacob Stringfellow, Sarah Wyatt Stringfellow, John Oliver Emmerich, III, Lawrence Tucker Emmerich and Ruth Olivia Emmerich; sister, Mary Frances Buntin Martin; sister-in-law, Fae Hardy; and numerous other relatives and steadfast friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend the life and legacy of the daughters of Mississippi who devoted their lives to service, such as Mrs. Emmerich, and who touched the lives of countless individuals in their community and in this great state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and legacy of Mrs. Celia Buntin Emmerich, and express deepest sympathy to her family and friends upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mrs. Celia Buntin Emmerich and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.