MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2013 2nd Extraordinary Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Bain, Carpenter

House Resolution 1

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MR. HERMAN GRAY AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPON HIS PASSING.

     WHEREAS, "To everything there is a season, and time to every purpose under the heaven," and as such, the grand architect of the universe, the immaculate author and finisher of our soul's destiny, has summoned the mortal presence of dearly beloved, the Mr. Herman Gray, to eternal rest, as he has made life's final transition from earthly travailing to heavenly reward, rendering great sorrow and loss to his family, colleagues and friends; and

     WHEREAS, the Corinth Community lost a wonderful friend, advocate, community leader and pillar on Friday, June 14, 2013, with the untimely demise of Mr. Gray, who was born on July 29, 1932, near Jacinto, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gray left a mark of genuine caring for his community and others as demonstrated by his impressionably great influence on his church, the Kiwanis Club and every endeavor and undertaking with which he was involved; and

     WHEREAS, characterized as an honest, thoughtful and a prince of a man, Mr. Gray's list of accomplishments span the scope of time as a young Alcorn County adolescent until his passing with four score years; and

     WHEREAS, as fate would lend itself to the building upon the blueprint divinely designed for the pattern of his life by the God-head of the great deity, Mr. Gray's chivalry and affection pierced the heart of the former Janet Davis, and the duo became bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh after exchanging the nuptials of holy matrimony, and moved to Corinth in 1958 to establish his family and career when he founded the accounting firm of Chism, Jones and Gray; and

     WHEREAS, a master gardener who used his skills to teach urban children how to garden, Mr. Gray went on to organize the Northeast Mississippi Chapter of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, and as a long-time member of the Yocona Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, he helped create the Yocona Area Foundation, for which he later received the Silver Beaver award in 2000 and was named a lifetime sustaining member in 2012; and

     WHEREAS, the past president of the Corinth Kiwanis Club who orchestrated the organization of the Corinthian Garden at the Lighthouse Foundation, Herman was a driving force behind the garden at the Lighthouse and his presence will be truly missed, as he has been a member of the club since December 29, 1958; and

     WHEREAS, ever the community-minded gentleman and champion of service, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was the catalyst for planned efforts to build a facility for the organization, in addition to maintaining active memberships with the United Way of Corinth, Alcorn County Board of Directors, the First United Methodist Church, he was named the Junior Auxiliary's Citizen of the Year in 2000; and

     WHEREAS, in his transfiguration from mortality to immortality, he now awaits in holy anticipation the wondrous event of the bridegroom's return, as it is written in the Book of Revelation 21:1-2 -- "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I, John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."; and

     WHEREAS, though he has traversed the rivers 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, the legacy of Mr. Gray's memory will continue to refresh the hearts and fond memories of his beloved survivors:  wife of 55 years, Janet Davis Gray; children, Linda (Richard) Wofford, Mary Ellen (Mark) Donaldson and David (Ana Maria) Gray; eight grandchildren, Scott, Kate and Julie Wofford, Rachel, Claire and Mary Grace Donaldson, and Jackson and Caroline Gray; and a host of other relatives, colleagues and friends; and

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to acknowledge the selfless humanitarianism of an individual of his esteemed caliber whose public service was exemplified by fairness, sound judgment and friendship of Herman Gray:

     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 service of Mr. Herman Gray, to whose family we express our sincere and deepest sympathy and to whom we convey our grateful appreciation for sharing him with the entire Alcorn County community.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Mr. Gray and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.