MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Jackson (11th), Barnett, Horhn, Norwood, Thomas, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Frazier, Hickman, Jordan, Simmons (13th), Turner-Ford, Simmons (12th)
A RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE CELEBRATION OF SEVEN DECADES OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SCHOLARSHIP IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA BY ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC., EPSILON XI LAMBDA CHAPTER AND RECOGNIZING BROTHER SAMUEL BLACKBURN'S DEDICATION TO EPSILON XI LAMBDA CHAPTER AS THE CHAPTER'S PRESENT TREASURER AT THE AGE OF 101 YEARS OLD.
WHEREAS, on August 20, 2021, during the 70-year Anniversary Celebration of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter joined with the Divine Nine to acknowledge and elevate the Alpha spirit upholding the Fraternity's aims – Manly Deeds, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind – by continually aiding the downtrodden in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status; and
WHEREAS, at this event, the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter wore Black and Old Gold to exemplify respect of the Chapter's chartering on August 20, 1951, in the historic City of Mound Bayou, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter has created local programs, such as the Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Oratorical Scholarship, the Brother Dr. William Ross Story Scholarship, the Brother Dr. Tyrone Jackson Presidential Scholarship, the Brother LaDarrius Milton 1,906 Book Campaign, and the Premier College Prep Academy. These local programs corroborate Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., National Programs; and
WHEREAS, the Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter has always had a strong connection with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., on a national level as Brother Frederick Miller of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, was the 3rd General President. He served from 1911 to 1912, and it was under his administration that the fraternity became incorporated a second time; and
WHEREAS, the current Executive Officers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter are: Brother Edward H. Hill, President (Bolivar County), Brother Dr. Tracy Mims, Vice President (Tallahatchie County), Brother Willie Gant, Jr., Recording Secretary (Bolivar County), Brother Quintary Peller, Assistant Recording Secretary (Washington County), Brother Samuel Blackburn, Treasurer (Coahoma County), Brother Charles Hardy, Financial Secretary (Washington County), Brother Charles Reid, Historian (Coahoma County), Brother Terrence Liddell, Chaplain (Bolivar County), Brother Travondrian White, Assistant Editor of The Sphinx (Washington County), Brother Richard Rose, Sergeant-at-Arms (Leflore County), Brother Octavus Mackin, Parliamentarian (Washington County), Brother Aaron White, Director of Educational Activities (Washington County), and Brother Derrick Brown, Director of Intake (Washington County); and
WHEREAS, we celebrate Brother Samuel Blackburn who was born on November 19, 1920, in Port Gibson, Mississippi. Brother Samuel Blackburn was the first initiate of Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter on May 12, 1953, and the oldest brother in the Chapter. Brother Blackburn graduated from Alcorn A&M College (now Alcorn State University) located in Lorman, Mississippi. He later served as the Vocational-Technical Program Director at Junior College (now Coahoma Community College). The Coahoma Community College also named the structure housing new Farm Equipment Classes in his honor, and on Founders' Day in 1986, they named in his honor the Blackburn Annex to the Cain Vocational Technical Building; and
WHEREAS, Brother Blackburn married the love of his life, Bertha Maiden Blackburn, in 1924. Brother Blackburn's community and educational involvement includes serving as Vocational Education Shop Teacher in 1948 at Myrtle Hall School and the new W.A. Higgins High School. Brother Blackburn also registered for World War II in 1942 while attending Alcorn A&M College. In addition to his other career accomplishments, Brother Blackburn has several fraternal accomplishments, including the recipient of several Brother of the Year Awards, Oldest Active Chapter Senior Brother Award, 2021 MLK Gala Honoree, and continues to act and serve as Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, three current members of the Mississippi Senate are members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: Senator Juan Barnett, Senator Rod Hickman and Senator Robert L. Jackson; and
WHEREAS, we join the citizens of the Mississippi Delta in recognizing this respected community and charitable service organization:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we commemorate the celebration of seven decades of community service and scholarship in the Mississippi Delta by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Xi Lambda Chapter and recognize Brother Samuel Blackburn's dedication to Epsilon Xi Lamba Chapter as the Chapter's present Treasurer at the age of 101 years old.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Brother Samuel Blackburn, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.