MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Frazier, Dearing, Kirby, Browning, Gollott, Burton, Bryan, Simmons (13th), Barnett, Blackwell, DeBar, Fillingane, Jackson (32nd), Stone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF LONGTIME SENATE PORTER JOHN HENRY DAVIS WHO PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 14, 2017.
WHEREAS, Mr. John Henry Davis was an institution in the Mississippi Senate. During the 1980s the Senators would ask "John Henry" if it was time to adjourn Sine Die and he would always know when the time was right. John Henry was born on September 2, 1919, in Lawrence County, Mississippi, and passed away on January 14, 2017, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he had moved after retirement; and
WHEREAS, John Henry Davis attended Jackson State College from 1946-1950 where he made "really good grades" and then taught math for a short time. He came to work for the Mississippi Senate in the early 1950s where he was able to earn a better salary than teaching school. He worked for the Senate until the early 1990s; and
WHEREAS, John Henry enjoyed sports, particularly football, baseball and the Indy 500. He recalled watching the Negro Leagues play at Tougaloo and having watched Shoeless Joe Jackson and other Negro League top players. He followed Jackson State University's football and baseball teams, watching as many games as he could. He followed every Minor League baseball team in Jackson and was thankful to owner and former Senator Con Maloney for season tickets. Without writing any notes John Henry could tell you how many times each player had been at bat and how each performed every time at bat. Once he moved to Milwaukee to be with his son, Arthur Ray, and as long as his health permitted, he would return to Jackson for 7-10 days to watch JSU football games. In Milwaukee he attended as many Milwaukee Brewers' games as he could; and
WHEREAS, his survivors are: daughters, Carolyn Parker and Shirley Willis; son, Arthur Earl Ray; grandchildren: Elmos Randell Ray, Arthur Earl Ray, Jr., Andre Earvin Ray, Antoine Eric Ray; and granddaughter, Adrianna Eric Ray; and it is with great pride that we cherish fondly the memory of an inspirational and most public-spirited member of the Mississippi legislative staff: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby pay tribute to the memory of longtime Senate Porter John Henry Davis who passed away on January 14, 2017, and extend the condolences of the Mississippi Legislature to John Henry's surviving family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of John Henry and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.