House Resolution 17

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE LIFE OF MRS. MARY LEE PEARSON-FINCH AND CONGRATULATING HER UPON THE OCCASION OF CELEBRATING HER 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, on Tuesday, February 7, 1922, Warren G. Harding, who was in the second year of his term as President of the United States, had recently introduced the first radio in the White House; Pope Pius XI (Achille Ratti) had recently ascended to the papacy the 259th pope; Lee M. Russell was in the second full year of his term as Governor of the State of Mississippi; electricity remained decades away from rural Mississippi; mechanized farming was only a fledgling vision in a field of dreams; and the first publication of Reader's Digest was issued two days prior; and

WHEREAS, however, on this date of February 7, 1922, a marvel by the name of Mrs. Mary Lee Pearson-Finch was born to her late parents Mr. Johnny and Mrs. Lola Jordan, in Jones County, Mississippi, a precious gift of life and love, and in commemoration of such a news-worthy celebration as the most auspicious occasion of the 100th anniversary of her birth, will be honored on Sunday, February 6, 2022, with her family and friends in acknowledgment of her motherhood, service and longevity of life that has blessed the lives of an entire community beyond the doors of her own home, and which serves as a benefactor of knowledge, creativity and life experiences shared with all; and

WHEREAS, from her humble beginnings, Mrs. Pearson-Finch was raised on a system of integrity premised on the tenets of love, kindness and compassion imparted by her parents, who instilled a central moral compass that echoed the heart of the Good Samaritan and core ethical values encompassed in the importance of work, family, community and the love of God, and confessed a hope in Christ under the Methodist faith, uniting with the Sunlight Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, initially educated at home before enrolling in Friendship School in the Hoy Community at five years of age, where she would eventually be named Valedictorian of her 8th Grade Class and high honors recipient, Mrs. Pearson-Finch transferred from Friendship School to Oak Park High School in Laurel after completing 11th grade, only to be returned to 9th Grade at her new school, requiring her to complete three additional years of school before graduating from Oak Park School in 1945; and

WHEREAS, despite the setback to the original timeline for academic completion, Mrs. Pearson-Finch capitalized on the additional years of schooling to excel in academics, as a star basketball player, and to sing in the choir alongside, Miss Leontyne Price, who would become a world-renown operatic singer; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Pearson-Finch's fate would lend itself to the building upon the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of her life by the Great Deity when he allowed her heart to be pierced by the love, chivalry and affection of Mr. Elijah Pearson, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony in 1945, building a lifetime of memories endeared with the blessing of nine children, until Mr. Elijah surrendered his life's sword to the sands of time, to make his heavenly transition; and

WHEREAS, after Mr. Elijah's passing, Mrs. Pearson who was one to work diligently to provide for the daily living and educational needs of her children, through gainful employment with the Mayhall Canning Plant, Jones County Community Hospital (now South Central Regional Medical Center), Hilburn Poultry (now Wayne Poultry) and Masonite Hospital before concluding her working career after returning for a 15-year stint with Jones County Community Hospital in 1986, and through her diligence and perseverance towards her family all of her children established their own places in the world; and

WHEREAS, in his divine providential plan for our lives, God deemed it fitting to mend the broken and lonely heart of Mrs. Mary Lee and restore it to a wholesome vessel, when destiny orchestrated that Mr. Alonzo Finch would discover in her his good kindred match, and made her his wife in 1990, sharing in life's momentous occasions until the earthly presence of Mr. Finch was summoned to life in eternal paradise in 2003; and

WHEREAS, a life long native of Jones County, and a God-fearing Christian before all other roles she assumes, Mrs. Pearson-Finch possesses an ambitious spirit likened to that of King David, as a woman after God's own heart, committed to her faith and her family; and

WHEREAS, in the initial lighter years of her retirement, Mrs. Pearson-Finch established a reputable specialty baking enterprise, "Triple M Catering," with her daughters Martha Nell and Mary, before entering retirement a second time and to enjoy her leisure time fishing, quilting and watching TV game shows; and

WHEREAS, the matriarch of her family dynasty, Mrs. Pearson-Finch, who continues to be an active member of the Providence Baptist Church, with whom she has been a faithful member since 1946, serving on the Mother Board, Sunday School teacher, Women's Missionary Society, President, member of the senior choir and combined choir, Director of the Baptist Training Union which is the most essential part of church training and education and Director of the Kitchen Ministry which was a critical part of providing comfort and strength to grieving families and enjoyment for the many church sponsored activities, remains the nucleus and central foundation of a family that retains an unbreakable bond of love, honor, devotion, commitment and encouragement, sharing her storied outlook on life, while crediting the gift of her longevity to a life well lived by maintaining a strong faith in God; and

WHEREAS, as one of the newest Mississippians to join the Centenarian Club by virtue of achieving the God-gifted age of 100, Mrs. Pearson-Finch has witnessed the United States' transformative changes from an agrarian society to an advanced technological industrial giant, and on her watch she has seen 18 different United States Presidents, 25 Magnolia State Governors and African-American State Representative Omeria Scott, daughter of her lifelong friend; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriately befitting to commend the life of such a remarkable individual as Mrs. Pearson-Finch, who still exudes the gentle strength that has sustained her throughout this journey, and whose life is a testament to God's promise of longevity to those who diligently seek Him and obey His will:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life and longevity of Mrs. Mary Lee Pearson-Finch, congratulate her on this most auspicious occasion of celebrating her 100th birthday on February 7, 2022, and express sincere wishes for many more years of continued health, love, joy and happiness.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Mary Lee Pearson-Finch and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.