House Resolution 48

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. VENITI ANNETTE HALL WILLIAMS.

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, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, Mrs. Veniti Annette Hall Williams, to eternal rest, rendering great sorrow and loss to her family, friends and community; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi and the City of Jackson, Mississippi, lost a wonderful friend, loving wife and mother and dedicated community leader with the passing of Mrs. Williams, who was born on September 17, 1958, in Prentiss, Mississippi, to Charles London Hall and Myrtle Lee Collins Hall, and there is now a hush in our hearts as we come together to pay our respects to the memory of one who has been called to join that innumerable heavenly caravan; and

WHEREAS, Veniti Annette Hall Williams was a woman of uncompromised faith and gave her life to God at an early age and became a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and she 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, after graduating from Prentiss High School in 1976, Mrs. Williams earned her bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance in 1981 as well as her master's degree in business administration in 1996 from Jackson State University, and upon her graduation, she became a revered and seasoned accounting professional, serving in various budget and finance positions for entities such as Hinds County and the Jackson Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams truly had a servant's heart, and she was selected by Supervisor Peggy Calhoun to sit on the Hinds

County Human Resource Agency Board of Directors where she served as Secretary and Vice Chair of the Finance and Agency Development Committee, and in 2018, the board honored her with the

Board of Directors Award, and she often also volunteered at Greater Mt. Bethel Church of Christ Holiness USA, where she attended with her husband and children, and at many other community programs with her daughter; and

WHEREAS, in her spare time, Mrs. Williams loved spending time with her extended family at the Collins family reunions or around the fire in Prentiss, listening to music, traveling and

entertaining, cooking delicious meals for her family, friends and guests, reading and working in her yard as she had a remarkable green thumb, and on the weekends, after listening to Soul Train while cleaning the house with her daughter, she would go to the Metrocenter Mall for an afternoon of shopping the best fashion trends; and

WHEREAS, caring, strong-willed, intelligent, beautiful, brave, God-fearing, wise, graceful and sophisticated are just a few of the adjectives that could have described Mrs. Veniti Annette Hall Williams, but above all else, she was a strong, loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, confidante and friend who touched the lives of all those who crossed her sweet and charming path, and her warm hugs, positive energy, contagious laughter and bright smile will be forever cherished by her family, friends and others who knew her and experienced her greatness; and

WHEREAS, though she has traversed life's river to now stand upon the celestial shores in wonderment of Heaven's grandeur in glorious reunion with those who transitioned before her, including

both of her parents; her brother, Larry "Little Man" Hall; her first husband, Marvin Summers; brother-in-law, Herman Lee; her special niece, Marsee Lee; and several aunts and uncles, the memory of Mrs. Williams, a woman held in the highest regard by friends and family as an inspiring and precious gift from God, will continue to refresh the hearts and memories of her beloved survivors: her husband of 36 years, Leonard; children, State Representative Zakiya Summers-Harlee (Andra) and Leonard "Duke" Williams II; grandchildren, Marvin Summers, Mason Summers and Mathis Harlee; step-children, Tamu, Kafi and Derra Williams; sisters, Charlene Hall Fairley (Samuel), Lynda Lee, Joann Theodore (James) and Ruby Jewell Powell (Herman); cousins that she acknowledged as her bonus sisters, Carolyn Price (Charles) and Jessie Formey; aunt, Florene Tansil (Eddie); lifelong sister-friend, Cynthia Gail Berkhalter; 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 in Revelation 21:4, wherein is recorded, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" and renewed in their faith that Mrs. Williams fulfilled the commandment of II Timothy 4:7 by having "fought a good fight, finishing her course and keeping the faith until the hour of her departure was at hand"; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the lives of fine Mississippians, especially those such as Mrs. Veniti Annette Hall Williams, a gracious woman who loved her family, friends and community unconditionally and worshipped the Lord God Almighty with all of her heart and soul, bringing glory and honor to the State of Mississippi:

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 Mrs. Veniti Annette Hall Williams, and express deepest sympathy to her family and friends upon her passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mrs. Veniti Annette Hall Williams and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.