MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Perkins, Johnson (94th), Gibbs (72nd), Clarke, Anderson, Bailey, Bain, Banks, Bell (65th), Blackmon, Burnett, Clark, Cockerham, Denton, Dixon, Dortch, Faulkner, Gibbs (36th), Hines, Holloway, Hughes, Jackson, Karriem, Mickens, Middleton, Myers, Paden, Reynolds, Scott, Smith, Straughter, Sykes, Taylor, Thomas, Walker, Watson, Williams-Barnes, Wooten, Young
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE, SERVICE AND LEGACY OF MR. ALIX H. SANDERS, SR., AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.
WHEREAS, it is written in II Corinthians 4:17-18, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal," and as such, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mr. Alix H. Sanders, Sr., to rest eternally, as he has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and
WHEREAS, the City of Greenwood and the entire Leflore County Community lost a wonderful friend with the passing of esteemed barrister of the law, Mr. Sanders, on Friday, March 16, 2018, who now enjoys the eternal peace described in Luke 2:29, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word"; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sanders, a man of uncompromised faith, whose career as a well-versed attorney spanned some 50 years, was a trailblazer and iconic community pillar throughout Leflore County, becoming the county's first African-American practitioner of the law, as well as the first African-American County Supervisor; and
WHEREAS, from his humble beginnings in his native Greenwood, Mr. Sanders, upon completing his primary and secondary education in the public schools of Leflore County, furthered his academic and professional matriculation at Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi Law School, where he respectively earned a bachelor's degree in history and political science and his Juris Doctorate degree in 1966 and 1969, which made provision for him to become a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow, which postured him to receive additional training at the University of Pennsylvania, shaping himself into a man of valor and integrity; and
WHEREAS, upon the completion of his fellowship program and a brief internship in Washington, D.C., Mr. Sanders returned to his dear Greenwood, where he accepted a position with the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights Law and served as director of North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, which immersed him into a life of community service advocating for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised, which chronicles his life and career as a "defender of the poor, a refuge for the needy or distress, a strong shelter from the storm and a cool shade from the heat," as described by fellow Jackson State alum, James Bailey; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Sanders' fate would lend itself to being built in accordance with the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of his life by the Great Deity and grand architect of our lives' destiny, when his love, chivalry and affection pierced the heart of the former Miss Betty Wilkins, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony, building a lifetime of memories with the addition of three children, Neysha, Neeka and Alix Jr., with each of whom they shared the abundant blessings of honor and humility; and
WHEREAS, cognizant of the words recorded in II Thessalonians 3:10 "that if any would not work, neither should he eat," Mr. Sanders was a diligent worker who, in addition to building a formidable private law practice, also served the citizens of Leflore County as a visionary member of the Board of Supervisors for 20 years who set out to accomplish things others would not dare dream of doing, in addition to providing legal counsel to the Greenwood, Holmes County and North Panola school boards, municipal judge for Greenwood and Tchula, Leflore County prosecutor and hearing officer for the State Personnel Board; and
WHEREAS, one who never met a stranger, Mr. Sanders was the unifying tie that bound his family together, as he sought to always be their provider, not only for his family, but as a community patriarch who led in an exemplary display of selflessness, as made evident through his professional and civic affiliations, including: president of the Leflore County Bar Association; the Magnolia Bar Association, which honored him with the organization's most prestigious award for achievement, the R. Jess Brown Award; 15 years of service on the CLE Commission of the Mississippi Bar Association; and recipient of the Greenwood Commonwealth's Community Service Award; and
WHEREAS, a God-fearing Christian before all other roles he assumed, a devoted husband, protective and doting father next, Mr. Sanders possessed an ambitious spirit akin to that of King David, he was a man after God's own heart, who demonstrated a great faith and commitment to Jesus Christ, his family and his church, Turner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a diligent service that confirms the recording of Roman 14:8, "If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord"; and
WHEREAS, in his transfiguration from mortality to immortality, Mr. Sanders now adorns the spiritual raiment, awaiting the bridegroom's return in holy anticipation of that wondrous event recorded in 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 reunite with those who answered God's summons to life eternal and now beckon his arrival to the celestial shores of Heaven's grandeur, the legacy of Mr. Sanders' indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his beloved survivors: his wife, the Honorable Betty Wilkins Sanders; his children, Attorney Neysha Sanders, Dr. Neeka Sanders Johnson, M.D., and Dr. Alix H. Sanders, Jr., DDS; and a host of other relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, we encourage the family to find solace from the overwhelming sadness created by the earthly departure of their beloved family member and be renewed in their faith that Mr. Sanders fulfilled the purpose of his appointed time in adherence to the commandment of II Timothy 4:7, by having "fought a good fight, finishing his course and keeping the faith until the hour of his departure was at hand"; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend the life and service of such a genuine and selfless individual as Mr. Sanders, whose light illuminated the path of hope for all he encountered along this earthly sojourn:
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 Mr. Alix H. Sanders, Sr., and express sincere and deepest sympathy upon his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Alix H. Sanders, Sr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.