House Resolution 189

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE MULTITUDE OF CAREER SUCCESSES OF MS. VIOLA ALLEN.

WHEREAS, Ms. Viola Allen is a remarkably talented and distinguished individual who currently serves as a legal administrative assistant, a role she has fulfilled since March 1, 2002; and

WHEREAS, the daughter of Mary F. Horn and the sister to Cynthia, Annie and Mozell, Ms. Allen graduated from Holy Child Jesus Catholic High School in Canton, Mississippi, in May 1974, and she furthered her studies at Holmes Junior College in Goodman, Mississippi, where she received her certificate in secretarial science in May 1976; and

WHEREAS, as a legal administrative assistant, Ms. Allen performs timekeeping for the lawyers, paralegals and clerical staff in her office, maintains the calendar of events for the office (which included trials, depositions, deadlines, discovery, pretrial, motions and personal dates), indexes pleadings, types depositions, motions, removals, and clerk letters, maintains all files, scans documents to the network and creates and maintains spreadsheets for several different subjects; and

WHEREAS, from December 2008 until 2012, Ms. Allen was an office manager at Blackmon & Blackmon, PLLC, where she built cases by interviewing prospective clients and obtaining case information, collected case evidence and documentation by contacting people involved in the case, input information into file database and case management software, logged incoming mail, forwarded information requirements to an investigator, moved cases forward by verifying outstanding balances for billing and assisted with preparing settlement documentation, and managed the clerical and workflow of a staff of four to ensure productivity; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Allen was a legal secretary for Forman, Perry, Watkins, Krutz & Tardy from February 2001 until September 2001, and as a legal secretary, she worked for two attorneys by typing pleadings, depositions, motions, removals, clerk letters, filing, timekeeping, dictation, expense accounts, emails, conference calls, reservations and community services; and

WHEREAS, from January 1984 to November 2000, Ms. Allen was a senior administrative assistant for Allstate Insurance Company, where she reported directly to the Controller, and through that role, she interacted with executive level management regarding reporting procedures, follow up and tracking and departmental liaison, coordinated activities, including meetings and travel, prepared presentations and provided support to the manager and senior manager; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure with Allstate Insurance Company, Ms. Allen also identified and evaluated issues quickly, followed through to resolution on all routine and most nonroutine issues, possessed an ability to work with multiple tactical and some strategic issues/projects, and she was regarded as the key administrative employee of the department; and

WHEREAS, before she became the senior administrative assistant for Allstate Insurance Company, Ms. Allen was the Administrative Secretary from March 1986 until January 1994, Secretary-C from January 1984 until March 1986 and a typist from

May 1976 until January 1984; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Allen was the executive secretary at Sharon Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church from January 2000 until 2022, and she was responsible for Sunday bulletins, Sunday input of tithes/offering, record keeping of Sunday services, transfers, new members, baptism records, deceased members and certificates, opening and closing the church, ordering office and church supplies, checks and balances, the church calendar, completing all reports for the pastor, serving as trustee secretary, keeping minutes, the gymnasium and church booking; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Ms. Allen was the secretary/district administrative secretary for Southwestern Delta Episcopal, and her responsibilities included creating forms for Canton and Jackson-Panola District, serving as statistician for conference, keeping up with necrology, typing and sending letters, certificates, annual conference programs, Home Mission banquet programs, district conference programs and forms, and district mail outs; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and salute those people whose unparalleled dedication and incomparable service to their careers truly brings about the betterment of the United States of America:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend the multitude of career successes of Ms. Viola Allen and extend most sincere wishes for continued success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ms. Viola Allen and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.