MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Frazier, Norwood, Jones, Jordan, Horhn, Stone, Dawkins, Butler (36th), Butler (38th)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS OF LILLIE B. AYERS OF GLEN ALLAN, MISSISSIPPI, LEAD PLAINTIFF IN MISSISSIPPI'S COLLEGE DESEGREGATION LAWSUIT.
WHEREAS, Lillie B. Ayers, who became the lead plaintiff in Mississippi's college desegregation lawsuit after the death of her husband, passed away at her home in Glen Allan, Mississippi, she was 85; and
WHEREAS, Jake Ayers, Jr., died in 1986, six years before the United States Supreme Court ruled in Jake Ayers, Jr., et al. and the United States of America v. Ronnie Musgrove, Governor, State of Mississippi, et al. Ayers filed the lawsuit against the state's university system in 1975. It cited inequitable funding for the state's three predominantly black universities - Jackson State, Alcorn State in Lorman and Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena. A settlement was finally approved in 2004 when appeals were exhausted; and
WHEREAS, Lillie Ayers had initially tried to opt out of the settlement, but her efforts were denied by the courts. She told The Associated Press in a 2001 interview that the settlement "doesn't address the intent of my husband's lawsuit." "It's not about money," she said. "It's about equality"; and
WHEREAS, Lillie Ayers was an independent woman who loved her children, her husband and her freedom. "She was a person who would stand up for what she knew was right and would seek a solution to the problem," he said; and
WHEREAS, she is survived by a daughter, Gwendolyn (Green) Moore; eight sons: Henry (Ann) Ayers, William (Dycia) Ayers, Jake Ayers, Jr., Vernon Ayers, Kenneth (Sonya) Ayers, Herbert (Sharon) Ayers, Hubert (Tippi) Ayers, and Lester Ayers; two sisters, Dorothy Molden and Odessa Fortune; two brothers, Jessie (Molly) Short and Bobby Short; 32 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; and
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of this Mississippi citizen whose name is closely connected with the Civil Rights Movement in our state:
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 and commend the life of Lillie B. Ayers of Glen Allan, Mississippi, lead plaintiff in Mississippi's college desegregation lawsuit, and extend our sympathy and prayers to her surviving family on her passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Lillie Ayers and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.