MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Frazier, Blount, Norwood, Horhn, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th)
A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEGEND DELORES OREY.
WHEREAS, Delores Orey, a Civil Rights legend, one of the women who was instrumental in the fight for equal rights in Mississippi, passed away January 8, 2014, in Slidell, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Delores Christina Brown Orey was born September 24, 1932 in Martinsville, Mississippi, she was the eldest of five children to the late Alpheus and Ella Brown. She was preceded in death by one sister, Stella Brown, and one brother, Troy Brown. After leaving Martinsville, Delores Orey relocated to Jackson, Mississippi, where she resided. Later, she became ill in Houston, Texas, while attending a national NAACP Convention. She was moved to Slidell, Louisiana, where she received rehabilitation services at Trinity Services until her death; and
WHEREAS, Delores accepted Christ at an early age and joined Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. She later joined Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church under the late Reverend Fred Black. She attended Piney Woods School and graduated from Parish High School in Hazlehurst, Mississippi; further studied at Tuskegee Institute; and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Sociology from Jackson State College. She became concerned about the disparate treatment that she and other African-American Mississippians received and joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People under the leadership of Dr. Aaron Henry. She was very dedicated to the NAACP and served the organization in various capacities. She worked as Secretary in the NAACP State Office and also drove Dr. Henry around the state to investigate discrimination complaints. Delores was jailed for her unwavering activism and was spied on by the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission. During that time, she helped organize Voter Registration Drives and Boycotts. She invited Freedom Riders, both black and white, to stay at her home even under the threat of violence and started a Freedom School at her church, Mt. Nebo. She attended and helped to organize many marches for Civil Rights alongside Medgar Wiley Evers, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., to name a few. She also ran for the Mississippi House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, because of her activism on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, she developed a special relationship with former President Jimmy Carter and was invited to represent Mississippi in his Inaugural Parade. She was a close confidant of former Governor Cliff Finch and this led to her son, Alfonso and his wife, Sadie, becoming the first African-American to have an official wedding ceremony on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. She was one of the first Head Start Directors for Mississippi Action for Progress and worked for the Mississippi Council on Aging and was an AARP Volunteer. She loved children and served as NAACP State Youth Advisor for several terms. She mentored many young people among them our immediate past NAACP National President, Benjamin Todd Jealous, and our current Mississippi State Conference President, Derrick Johnson. Delores has been credited with maintaining the Jackson Branch NAACP through the years by serving in all capacities from President to Treasurer to Secretary. She received numerous honors and prestigious awards throughout her distinguished life. Delores enjoyed spending time with her loving family. They shared her passion for her advocacy. On numerous occasions they accompanied her to various activist events, especially her beloved national NAACP Conventions; and
WHEREAS, Delores united in holy matrimony with Alfonso Orey, Sr. and to this union eight children were born: Alfonso, Jr. (Sadie); Janice (Timothy) Matthews; Tyrone; Lesia; Kathryn (Cornelius) Perry; James; Lewis; and Balarie. She is also mourned by her sister, Ora Nell Taylor and her brother, Sam Brown (Mary); two sister-in-laws, Victoria Reed and Willie Mae King; one brother-in-law, Edward Orey (Bessie); and, a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, in 81 years the women who worked to give blacks the right to vote and equal footing in Mississippi lived to see America elect a black president, all through lessons in commitment, lessons she passed on to her 19 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. It is with sadness that we note the passing of this most public spirited citizen of Mississippi, whose enormous civic energy is a matter of record and an example for all Mississippians:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the life of civil rights legend Delores Orey and extend our sympathy to her surviving family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Delores Orey and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.