House Concurrent Resolution 1

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE HONORABLE JUDGE HENRY W. PALMER, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, "To everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven," and as such, God, in his divine providence in the orchestration of our lives' destiny of faith, love and service as the grand architect of the universe, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny, has brought to a close the life of our beloved brother, colleague and friend, the Honorable Henry W. Palmer, as his mortal presence has been summoned to Heaven's court of eternal rest, upon making life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi's legal community, particularly the citizens of the City of Meridian and Lauderdale County, lost a wonderful friend, philanthropist, avid sportsman, community leader, accomplished and experienced lifelong Meridian trial attorney and former judge on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, with the untimely demise of Judge Palmer, son of the late, V. Bernard Palmer and Mary Moore Palmer; and

WHEREAS, having obtained his bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Mississippi in 1970, Judge Palmer acquired his juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1972 and immediately commenced his law career, admitted to practice before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and all courts in the State of Mississippi, including the United States Federal District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts; and

WHEREAS, a shrewd and well-versed barrister, Palmer, who had a history of involvement in local politics, was elected as District Attorney for the 10th Judicial District in 1974, serving, at the time, as the youngest elected district attorney in Mississippi history before his subsequent election and eight-year service as Circuit Judge for the 10th Judicial District; and

WHEREAS, a past President of the Lauderdale County Bar Association and a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Judge Palmer loved the practice of law and remained committed to the service of his clients and mentoring colleagues, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation matters to successful jury verdicts in wrongful death, products liability and personal injury matters, as well as prosecuting and defending criminal defendants in the criminal law tribunal; and WHEREAS, in his capacity as District Attorney and Circuit Judge, he prosecuted or presided over many notable and infamous cases in Lauderdale, Kemper, Clarke and Wayne Counties, and as a force of reckoning for his litigation prowess and extensive wealth of legal knowledge; additionally, Judge Palmer served as the attorney for the Kemper County Board of Supervisors, as he had for 20 years, in addition to his service as attorney for the City of Meridian's Civil Service Commission, the Lauderdale County Tourism Commission, and Mississippi Power's involvement with the Kemper County Coal Plant; and

WHEREAS, Palmer's record and contribution of service to the State of Mississippi includes, but are not limited to, the following: Advisory Committee to the Mississippi Supreme Court responsible for drafting and recommending the adoption of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, Mississippi Rules of Evidence and Uniform Jury Instructions; committees that assisted the United States District Courts in filling positions; President of the Mississippi Association of County Board Attorneys Association; President of the North Meridian Optimist Club and Meridian Jaycees; past District Chairman for the Sowashee District; Chairman for the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America; and chairman of Lauderdale County's first March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon; and

WHEREAS, reared on the tenets and precepts of Christian love and service to mankind, the immeasurable value and importance of sowing back into the community, were deeply embedded into a young and very impressionable Henry by his parents, as evidenced through his community involvement and devotion to his fellowship at Highland Baptist Church as a Gideon and Deacon; and

WHEREAS, as fate would lend itself to the building upon the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of his life by the god-head of the Great Deity, Judge Palmer's chivalry and affection pierced the heart of the former Jan Collum, and the high school sweethearts became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony, completing their family unit with the fruitful addition of three sons and four grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, in the Honorable Judge's transfiguration from mortality to immortality, he now awaits in holy anticipation the wondrous event of the bridegroom's return, as it is written in the Book of Revelation 21:1-2 -- "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."; and

WHEREAS, though he has traversed the river of life to now stand upon the celestial shores of heaven's grandeur, the legacy of Judge Palmer's memory will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his beloved survivors: doting and caring wife of 45 years, Jan Collum Palmer; sons, Henry A. Palmer, Gilbert M. Palmer and his wife Cassandra, and J. David Palmer and his wife Lindi; grandchildren, Jackson Henry Palmer, Olivia Ann Palmer, Laney Elizabeth Palmer and Aiden "Big A" Vance Palmer; sister, Carolyn Palmer Kirk; Eddie Briggs, Jimmy Lee and Charles Henry Stokes, cousins who were among his special friends that he considered brothers; a host of other relatives, colleagues and friends; and

WHEREAS, Judge Palmer was a solemn voice of reason, and it is the policy of this Legislature to acknowledge the selfless humanitarianism of an individual of his esteemed caliber whose public service was exemplified by fairness and sound judgment and epitomized the highest standard of leadership, deference and fairness:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of public service of the Honorable Judge Henry W. Palmer, to whose family we express sincere and deepest sympathy and to whom we convey grateful appreciation for his distinguished services provided to the citizens of the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Judge Henry W. Palmer and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.