House Resolution 9

A RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. HARRY C. FRYE, JR., AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the Heaven," and as such, on January 10, 2021, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Dr. Harry C. Frye, Jr., to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, born on September 2, 1923, to Mr. Harry C. Frye, Sr., and Mrs. Evelyn R. Frye, in Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Frye spent his early childhood days in Newton, Mississippi, and subsequently moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he met the love of his life, Ms. Helen McGehee, when they both attended Central High School; and

WHEREAS, as friends appropriately termed them "the constant couple," the two went on to attend Millsaps College, until World War II intervened, and Dr. Frye joined the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, the "constant couple" united in holy matrimony on

April 24, 1944, immediately before Dr. Frye was deployed to Europe, where he served as a Sergeant in the 26th Infantry Division, Canon Company, a part of General George Patton's Third Army, and for his service during the Battle of the Bulge, which was one of the greatest land battles ever fought and won by the United States Army, he was honored with the Bronze Star; and

WHEREAS, upon his return from the war effort, Dr. Frye contracted polio, which created in him a desire to become a physician, and as he was mentored by his friend, the great public health champion Dr. Felix Underwood, who encouraged him to enter medicine and specifically, public health, he went on to attend Tulane Medical School under the firm tutelage of Dr. Alton Oschner, graduating in 1951; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Frye then completed a Family Practice residency at Vicksburg's Mercy Hospital, and joined the staff at Beacham Memorial Hospital in 1952, where he practiced family medicine for 65 years; and

WHEREAS, emphasizing that the heart of medicine is the patient/doctor relationship, Dr. Frye's simple motto was, "Be available and take care of them," and because of his outstanding character, integrity and dedication to his patients and to the practice of medicine, he was the McComb Enterprise Journal recipient of the Life Achievement Award, and in 2005, the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians named him "Family Physician of the Year"; and

WHEREAS, in his spare time, Dr. Frye was known to be an avid golfer at Fernwood Country Club and had a lifelong passion for swimming, and he was also a talented musician, playing the alto sax and clarinet in his younger days, and in high school he was awarded "best clarinet player in the state," and played Miller and Dorsey "Big Band" tunes in swing bands; and

WHEREAS, committed to civic, church and community organizations, Dr. Frye joined the Mississippi State Medical Association in 1951, and remained an active member throughout his career, and he served on the South Pike School Board for 47 years, many of them as president, and because his steady leadership guided them through many difficult times, the Educational Services Building in Magnolia, Mississippi, is named in his honor; and

WHEREAS, since 1952, Dr. Frye was a faithful member of Magnolia United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities, including chairman of the administrative board, and he was a longtime member of the board of directors of First Bank, and also served as president of the board of Fernwood Country Club and South Pike Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Frye became a resident of Camellia Estates in 2017, and before entering the nursing home, at age 93, he was walking the halls at Beacham, checking on all the patients, and his service to others continued after becoming a resident at Camellia Estates, as he offered compassionate counseling and advice to his fellow residents when requested; and

WHEREAS, a genuine and distinguished man, Dr. Frye's extraordinary devotion to his family and to his community will always be remembered, and precious memories of time spent with him will hopefully continue to provide warmth, peace and comfort to his loved ones; 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, such as his wife of 74 years, Mrs. Helen McGehee Frye, and daughter, Betsy Frye Randall, the legacy of Dr. Frye's indelible imprint upon our lives will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his loved ones, including his children, Nancy McElwee and Charles Frye; grandchildren, Elizabeth McElwee, Brinson Wall and Mary Helen Wall; great-grandchildren, Kaylea, Charles "CJ" Johnson and Hana Wall; and a host of other relatives and dear friends; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Frye will forever be loved, cherished and missed by all who knew him, and since it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:8, that to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," his family and friends can find peace and comfort during this difficult time; and WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the lives of outstanding Mississippians, especially those such as Dr. Frye, who certainly inspired everyone he met and whose life's light illuminated the path of hope for all he encountered along his earthly sojourn:

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 Dr. Harry C. Frye, Jr., and express sincere and deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Dr. Harry C. Frye, Jr., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.