House Resolution 53

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF MRS. AURABELLE DENISE MONDY CAGGINS AND EXTENDING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Aurabelle Denise Mondy Caggins left our mortal world to share in the eternal promise of salvation with her creator March 2, 2016, and although words may fail to define her legacy or vanquish the pain of loss experienced by those who knew her, the light of her love shines unremitting in the hearts of those blessed to call her mother, wife, grandmother and friend; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Aurabelle Caggins, wife of the late Deacon Myles B. Caggins, Sr., was born June 15, 1917, in Kiln, Mississippi, raised rich in love by her parents, Minister James Wallace Mondy and Mrs. Viola Williams Mondy, along with her two brothers, Mr. Arthur Mondy and Mr. James Wallace Mondy; and

WHEREAS, she graduated from 33rd Avenue High School in 1937, and furthered her education at Alcorn A&M, now called Alcorn State University, with a degree in home economics, graduating in 1941; and

WHEREAS, yearning to further her education, she continued her studies at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern Mississippi, and earned her master of science in home economics from Tuskegee University; and

WHEREAS, wanting to share her passion for learning, Mrs. Caggins began educating the young minds in her community when she returned to 33rd Avenue High School, this time as a teacher, brightening the lives of countless young people, so that they too might adopt her love of learning and live lives rich with knowledge; and

WHEREAS, over the course of her illustrious and incomparable teaching career which spanned 44 years, Mrs. Caggins brought the light of education to Pilate Attendance School in Newton County, Nichols High School, Gulfport High School and Gulfport East High School; and

WHEREAS, committed to the value of education at all ages, she served as the Director of the National Council of Negro Women Day Care Center, and played an instrumental role in attaining federal funding for the Gulfport Head Start Program, which led to the first Head Start Program being founded in Soria City, Gulfport, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in 1985, Mrs. Caggins became the first African-American woman to seek the office of Gulfport Mayor, she further served her community as the City of Gulfport's fourth precinct Chairperson for the 1988 Democratic National Caucus, she served as a delegate to the county, district, state and national Democratic Conventions, and she was later elected Harrison County Precinct Commissioner, serving for 12 years as the oldest elected official in the State of Mississippi and the oldest African-American female elected official in the country at age 87; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her public service, Mrs. Caggins also served in various capacities for the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the National Council of Negro Women, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Vogue Socialite Club-Gulf Coast Cotillion, serving as part of the leadership team to organize and sponsor the annual gala for junior and senior high school girls; and

WHEREAS, a woman of indelible faith, Mrs. Caggins belonged to Morning Star Baptist Church, Gulfport, Mississippi, where she worshipped alongside many lifelong friends and served the congregation as the church's treasurer; and

WHEREAS, though Mrs. Caggins has now transcended this physical world, her memory stirs warmth in the hearts of those who knew her and who survived her, including: three children, Colonel Myles Berry Jr., Mr. Elliot Roosevelt Sr., and Don Randolph Sr.; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of loving relatives, church members and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize the lives of outstanding individuals like Mrs. Aurabelle Caggins, whose life of love, service and care brought joy and happiness to those who called her a friend, teacher, colleague, mother and leader:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commemorate the life and legacy of Mrs. Aurabelle Denise Mondy Caggins, and extend 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. Aurabelle Denise Mondy Caggins and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.