MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons (13th), Dearing, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Simmons (12th), Stone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY OF ROSEDALE MAYOR, PASTOR, SOCIAL ACTIVIST AND LEGENDARY MISSISSIPPI DELTA POLITICAL LEADER DR. JUNIPER YATES "J.Y." TRICE.
WHEREAS, it is with a profound sense of regret that we note the passing of legendary Mississippi Delta Political Leader Dr. Juniper Yates "J.Y." Trice. He was born on August 10, 1921, to the late Mr. Robert Trice and Mrs. Dina Williams Trice in Verona, Lee County, Mississippi. He was the fifth of eight children. He departed this life on Friday, February 5, 2016. Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Detrice Scales-Trice; his beloved daughter, Hortense; four brothers: Herbert Trice, Sr., Robert Lee Trice, Perry Trice and J.B. Trice; and two sisters, Elaine Trice and Mellisie Trice Rainey; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Juniper Yates "J.Y." Trice is a longtime Mayor, Pastor, Social Activist and Legendary Mississippi Delta grassroots Political Leader, a native of Verona, Mississippi, and has resided in Northeast Mississippi before making his permanent home in Rosedale, Mississippi. Dr. Trice has been a student of academia his entire life, having been educated at Mary C. Wade Elementary School in Verona, receiving his high school and baccalaureate matriculation at Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, completing his post-baccalaureate studies at Tuskegee University, the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi Industrial College, earning his Master of Education, Education Specialist and Doctor of Divinity Degrees, respectively, and undertaking further studies at Savannah State University, University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Trice, the Executive Director of Bolivar County Council on Aging in Cleveland, Mississippi, has always exemplified professionalism and leadership and has worked extremely hard to better the quality of life for all segments of our society, as evidenced by his most reputable career, which has traversed many boundaries and stereotypes, including his incomparable services rendered as: Principal and School Superintendent for 40 years; Pastor of 38 years in churches throughout Mississippi after entering the ministry at age 14 under the auspices of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; presiding Elder over Aberdeen, East Mississippi and Greenwood-Jackson South Mississippi Conference for 30 years; Secretary of Publishing Board; Secretary of Board of Evangelism; the first African-American President of South Delta Planning and Development District; the first African-American Chairman of the State Education Finance Commission; Mayor of the City of Rosedale, Mississippi, for 16 years; Chief Executive Officer of the Bolivar County Council on Aging for more than 30 years; and the sole African-American member of the Great River Bridge Committee and the National I-69 Coalition; and
WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. J.Y. Trice, as he is commonly known, has lived a life complete with the highs and lows afforded any person having endured the turbulent times of the segregated South, and has taken all of those trials to become a more polished and refined individual, thus fostering his innate ability to be a catalyst for fulfilling the need to effectuate a much-needed and positive change. A learned and accomplished individual in his own right, Dr. Trice's proven record as a people's servant irrefutably boasts a laundry list of achievements, awards and recognitions, including his historic membership on numerous boards, committees and coalitions; the purchase of a fleet of vans for transportation of elderly citizens in his capacity as Executive Director of the Bolivar County Council on Aging; the improvements to the Port of Rosedale; the acquisition of the Great River Road State Park; federal housing built during his term as Mayor, J.Y. Trice Apartments were named in his honor; winning the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce Kossman Award for being the Outstanding Community Volunteer in 1992; nationally being awarded the Dr. Aaron L. Henry Award by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) in June 2009 for outstanding service and leadership, to name a few; and a well-spoken and well-versed orator; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Trice's rapport and reserved demeanor has afforded him the friendships of highly influential national, regional and state political figures, including United States Senator Thad Cochran; former United States Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy; former Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives Billy McCoy; and President Barack Obama. Throughout his most distinguished career as a zealous leader, Dr. Trice has been overwhelmingly and lovingly supported in all of his endeavors by his equally accomplished and civic-minded family, including his wife, Detris Scales-Trice, until her passing; and children, Dr. J.O. Trice and Reverend Harriman Trice. Dr. Juniper Yates "J.Y." Trice was acknowledged by the State of Mississippi as a living legend:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby extend the sympathy of the Legislature to the bereaved family of Rosedale Mayor, Pastor, Social Activist and Legendary Mississippi Delta Political Leader Dr. Juniper Yates "J.Y." Trice.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Dr. Trice, forwarded to the Mayor of Rosedale, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.