House Resolution 47

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIAM W. MARTIN, ESQUIRE, AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, "To everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, the earthly season of Mr. William W. Martin, Esquire, has passed, much to the sadness of his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, he was born on October 18, 1956, in Cleveland, Mississippi, but had resided in Gulfport, Mississippi, for the past 26 years; and

WHEREAS, he graduated from East Side High School in Cleveland in 1974, received his bachelor of science degree in political science from Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1978, and completed law school at the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1981; and

WHEREAS, after law school, he began his legal career in McComb, Mississippi, at Southwest Mississippi Rural Legal Services as a staff attorney, where he remained one year before moving on to private practice with the law firm of Hays & Jackson, P.A. as managing attorney of the office in Moss Point, Mississippi, where he remained for three years; and

WHEREAS, in February 1985, he was hired in the Jackson County Public Defenders Office, becoming the first African American to hold the position of assistant public defender, during which time he acquired a great deal of trial experience defending indigent defendants charged with felonies and minors charged with delinquent acts; and

WHEREAS, in February 1987, he began working as an assistant district attorney for the Office of District Attorney of the Second Circuit Court District of Mississippi, and was once again the first African American to hold such a position; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, he became a law partner in the firm of Conway and Martin, Attorneys-at-Law, with his longtime friend, Warren L. Conway; and

WHEREAS, in January 1999, he was appointed by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors as a Supervisor for District Four, and successfully elected during the next election, and in successive terms thereafter; and

WHEREAS, during his time with the board, he was elected by his fellow board members as their vice president (2001) and president (2002); and

WHEREAS, to cherish his memory, he leaves three children: Kegi, Wendelyn, Tyler and one grandson; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the lives of public servants who worked diligently for the citizens of this state during their lifetime:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life of Mr. William W. Martin, Esquire, and express deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

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