MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2013

By: Senator(s) Brown, Jackson (32nd), To: Rules Horhn, Blount, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Collins, Dawkins, Doty, Fillingane, Frazier, Gandy, Gollott, Hale, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Hudson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jolly, Jones, Jordan, Kirby, Lee, Longwitz, Massey, McDaniel, Montgomery, Moran, Parker, Parks, Polk, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Smith, Sojourner, Stone, Tindell, Tollison, Ward, Watson, Wiggins, Wilemon

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 503

1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE 2 LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF SENATOR ALICE V. HARDEN AND EXPRESSING 3 THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE ON HER PASSING. 4 WHEREAS, the Legislature and the State of lost a 5 wonderful friend, colleague, advocate for education, community

6 leader and enlightened lawmaker with the death of State Senator 7 Alice V. Harden, Senate District 28, of Jackson, Mississippi, on 8 December 6, 2012. Alice Rae Varnado Harden was the first black 9 woman to serve in the Mississippi State Senate. Senator Harden's 10 body laid in state in the foyer of the Senate Chamber on Thursday, 11 December 13, 2012; and 12 WHEREAS, representing Senate District 28 of Hinds County,

13 Alice was a progressive leader whose relentless efforts have 14 afforded her the opportunity to believe in the State of 15 Mississippi and its people. She laid the groundwork necessary for 16 establishing positive and open relations with educators, parents,

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 13/SS01/R326 PAGE 1 (cc\tb) 17 religious leaders, community leaders, and citizens throughout the 18 state, and the nation; and 19 WHEREAS, Senator Harden has an impressive record of 20 accomplishments that tell the whole story: was a graduate of 21 Jackson State University (B.S., M.S., Ed.) and served 14 years as 22 a classroom teacher and educator. She was consistently involved

23 in community-based groups throughout the state. Senator Harden was 24 a lifetime member of the Jackson State University National Alumni 25 Association as well as a lifetime member of the National 26 Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She 27 also served as President of the Mississippi Federation of 28 Democratic Women, Chair of the Mississippi Legislative Black 29 Caucus, Chair of the Mississippi Advisory Committee to the U.S.

30 Civil Rights Commission, and Chair of the Education Committee of 31 the Southern Legislative Conference. She was a member of the 32 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Beta Delta Omega Chapter), the 33 National Council of Negro Women, the Mary Church Terrell Literacy 34 Club, the Democratic National Committee Women for Mississippi, the

35 Steering Committee of Southern Women in Public Service, the 36 National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Black

37 Caucus of State Legislators. Alice has served and was currently 38 serving as the Commissioner to the Education Commission of the 39 States; and 40 WHEREAS, during her 24-year tenure in the Mississippi Senate, 41 Senator Harden has served as chairperson of the Senate Elections

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R326 PAGE 2 (cc\tb) 42 Committee, the Senate Education Committee, and the Universities 43 and Colleges Committee. She was currently serving on the 44 following committees in the Mississippi State Senate: Chairman, 45 Enrolled Bills Committee; Member, Universities and Colleges 46 Committee; Appropriations Committee; Corrections Committee; 47 Education Committee; Elections Committee; Fees, Salaries and

48 Administration Committee; and the Interstate and Federal 49 Cooperation Committee; and 50 WHEREAS, Senator Harden was responsible for a very important 51 event in Mississippi Senate history, when in the first year of 52 Lieutenant Governor Musgrove's administration she convinced the 53 Senate to install the first female restroom adjacent to the Senate 54 Chamber. Prior to that time female Senators and staff had to walk

55 to the second floor stairwell to use the bathroom; and 56 WHEREAS, Alice was born April 17, 1948, to John and Lula Mae 57 Robinson Varnado in the Rose Hill Community of Magnolia, 58 Mississippi (Pike County). She was the third of nine siblings. 59 At an early age she united with St. James Missionary Baptist

60 Church under the leadership of Reverend O.D. Brown. She was a 61 faithful and committed member of the Sunday School, Baptist

62 Training Union, Sanctuary Choir, Sunshine Band, Red Circle, Young 63 Women's Auxiliary, Junior Matrons, and General Missionary Baptist 64 Convention. She also worked with Vacation Bible School; and 65 WHEREAS, she attended Isable Elementary School and Jim Hill 66 Junior/Senior High School in Jackson, Mississippi. She was a 1970

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R326 PAGE 3 (cc\tb) 67 graduate of Jackson State University earning a Bachelor's Degree 68 in Health and Physical Education and a Master's Degree in Health 69 and Physical Education in 1976. She also completed teacher 70 certification requirements in General Science at Jackson State 71 University and was currently a Doctoral student majoring in 72 Educational Leadership at the University of Southern Mississippi.

73 After completing her bachelor's degree, Alice entered into the 74 education workforce. Her passion for education led her to various 75 educational institutions. She taught at Callaway High School, 76 Forest Hill High School, and Brinkley Junior High School; and 77 WHEREAS, on November 22, 1976, Alice was united in Holy 78 Matrimony to Dennis L. Harden; and 79 WHEREAS, in 1984, Alice Harden was elected President of the

80 Mississippi Association of Educators. MAE is the state's largest 81 teacher organization. It was during her tenure as President that 82 the state's first teachers' strike was held in an effort to 83 improve teacher salaries and working conditions. She served three 84 consecutive years as President of MAE before being elected to the

85 Senate in 1988; and 86 WHEREAS, Alice Harden was the first black Senator to serve as

87 Chair of the Senate Education Committee and led passage of teacher 88 education reform legislation, child care reform legislation and 89 the first school district conservatorship program. During her 90 service on Appropriations Conference Committees, Senator Harden

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R326 PAGE 4 (cc\tb) 91 was instrumental in securing funding for the Transition Dormitory 92 at Jackson State University; and 93 WHEREAS, former Governor William Winter stated, "Her interest 94 was in improving the quality of life in the neighborhood in 95 Jackson where she lived, so that children who came out of those 96 neighborhoods would be better prepared to learn." Lieutenant

97 Governor stated, "As a former teacher, Senator Harden 98 brought her passion for improving Mississippi's schools and 99 universities to the State Senate." Governor stated, 100 "Senator Alice Harden was a pioneer for civil rights and a staunch 101 supporter of public education." Former Lieutenant Governor Amy 102 Tuck stated, "Senator Harden was not only a colleague in the State 103 Senate, but also a close friend." "She always looked out for the

104 best interest of her constituents," Representative Alice Clarke 105 stated. "When we needed a voice in the Senate, or in the 106 community, we knew Alice would be there"; and 107 WHEREAS, Alice lived an adventurous, dedicated, committed, 108 and service-oriented life. She loved to cook, travel, run other

109 people's business and tell them what to do. If she saw a good 110 fight, she got in it. She built her life on sowing and not

111 reaping. Her heartfelt labor was always for the benefit of the 112 people of her Senatorial District, City of Jackson, the State of 113 Mississippi, and throughout the United States. Volumes could be 114 written about the number of people Alice counseled, inspired, 115 encouraged, mentored, and helped along the way in their lives.

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R326 PAGE 5 (cc\tb) 116 She will be remembered as a statesperson, friend, servant, lover 117 of family, community, and her God; and 118 WHEREAS, Alice leaves to cherish her memory and carry on her 119 legacy, her husband: Dennis L. Harden of Jackson Mississippi; one 120 son: Sachem of Jackson, Mississippi; two brothers: Attorney 121 Jerry Wayne Varnado (Marilyn) of Oakland, California; John O.

122 Varnado, Jr. (Carolyn) of Jackson, Mississippi; six sisters, 123 Mildred V. Robinson (Willie) of Nashville, Tennessee; Wilma V. 124 Butler of Jackson Mississippi; Dr. Phillis W. Varnado of 125 Jacksonville, Florida; Shirley Varnado of Jackson, Mississippi; 126 Sharon V. Porter (Andrew) of Conyers, Georgia; and Jacqueline V. 127 Jackson (Wilton) of Jackson, Mississippi; mother-in-law: Mrs. 128 Pearl Beatrice Harden, Jackson, Mississippi; two brothers-in-law,

129 Rodney Harden of California; Carl Harden (Catherine) of Jackson, 130 Mississippi; two sisters-in-law: Peggy Harden-Wilson and Debra 131 Sue Williams (Oatis) of Jackson, Mississippi; three aunts: Mary 132 Varnado Stewart (Floyd) of Broadview, Illinois; Macille Rayborn 133 Varnado and Estee Downs of Magnolia, Mississippi; one uncle:

134 Walter C. Robinson (Margaret) of Fort Worth, Texas; a special 135 niece: Tamarra Grace Butler of Jackson, Mississippi; a special

136 caregiver: Isis Young of Jackson, Mississippi and numerous 137 nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends; and 138 WHEREAS, Alice Harden was a tenacious advocate for 139 individuals who had very little power. Her public service was 140 exemplified by fairness and sound judgment, and she set the

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R326 PAGE 6 (cc\tb) 141 highest standard as leader in the Mississippi Senate and as a true 142 friend: 143 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 144 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 145 we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the life and legacy of 146 public service of Senator Alice V. Harden of Jackson, Mississippi,

147 and express to her husband Dennis L. Harden, son Sachem and 148 surviving family the sympathy of the Legislature on her passing 149 and our thanks for sharing Alice with us and with the State of 150 Mississippi. 151 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 152 the surviving family of Senator Alice V. Harden, forwarded to the 153 Executive Director of Mississippi Association of Educators and

154 made available to the Capitol Press Corps.

S. C. R. No. 503 *SS01/R326* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R326 ST: Mourn the loss and commend the life and PAGE 7 (cc\tb) public service of Senator Alice Harden.