House Concurrent Resolution 8

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE STELLAR CAREER AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP OF MR. ALBERT M. RAY, SR., PROVIDED TO THE CITY OF LAUREL AND THE ENTIRETY OF JONES COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once stated - "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love," - and as such, has become the essence of service, the key ingredient that both inspires and sustains great humanitarians to serve, and serves as the nexus of commitment evidenced by Mr. Albert M. Ray, Sr., for which he is being honored on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Morning State Missionary Baptist Church in Laurel, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Mr. Ray, a highly esteemed and veteran educator and former state employee, matriculated collegiately at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he was a member of the Rust College Acapella Choir and Men's Quartet before earning his bachelor's degrees in social studies and history, with an English minor, and subsequently pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University, both in Hattiesburg; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Ray was compelled to lead a life of service, pouring back into the lives of those whose stories chronicled that of his own, and thus immersed himself in a career that allowed him to have a profound impact in directing the paths and shaping the minds of children and adults alike as an educator and youth counselor; and

WHEREAS, from the onset of his career as a teacher/caregiver at Friends of Mississippi Head Start, to his service as Youth Counselor for Pearl River Valley Opportunity and the Laurel Branch of the Mississippi Employment Office for five years subsequent thereto, before ultimately making a return to the classroom and devoting 29 years to the East Jasper School District as an 8th to 12th Grade history and social studies teacher, Mr. Ray imparted his infinite wisdom into his passion for teaching to make the learning experience an enlightening one for all of his students; and

WHEREAS, equally devoted to civic and social activism as he was devoted to cultivating the mental and intellectual landscape of the impressionable minds of the state's most valuable resource, its children, Mr. Ray, who is a member of the Jones County Economic Development Authority, has a fond appreciation of culture acquired through access to the arts and entertainment, and hones his cultural awareness through the productions brought to life on the stage of the Laurel Little Theatre with great acclaim as: Ole' Man River, Big River, Wess & Friends - Music We Love, Little Shop of Horror, Wess & Friends - The Show Must Go On, Dreamgirls and Always Patsy Cline; and

WHEREAS, having discovered the agape love of God as a young man, Mr. Ray, would soon discover the romantic love of his life when he met and married the former Miss Ora Lee Lindsey, in fulfillment of the words recorded in Proverbs 18:22, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD," and with whom he has embarked upon a lifetime of joyous occasions, which has included the addition of three sons, Albert M. Ray, Jr., Vernon D. Ray and Charlie Vickers; five grandchildren, Mark, Corey, Tyler, Myles and Candus; and ten great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, equipped with the tools acquired through his formal educational training, as well as those spiritually and divinely gifted by the supreme god-head of the spiritual Deity, through his steadfast Christian walk as a member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as chairman of the Deacon Board, Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent and director of the Male Choir and Senior Choir, Mr. Ray's gifts and talents have made room for him in accordance with Proverbs 18:15-16 - "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men"; and

WHEREAS, men of Mr. Ray's integrity are rare in these times of social and moral decline in America, but nevertheless, he endeavors to uphold everything that is good and right about this country as an example to every other citizen of a man's limitless potential when premised on a firm spiritual foundation and continued demonstration of humility and excellence in operating in the gifts of his calling; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to acknowledge the selfless generosity and timeless services of such remarkable individuals as Mr. Ray's pristine caliber, whose life's works have established a respected rapport among the community and state that precedes his immediate presence:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the stellar community service, career and leadership of Mr. Albert M. Ray, Sr., and extend best wishes for continued health, prosperity and success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Albert M. Ray, Sr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.