MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2013 By: Senator(S) Stone SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 592 a CONCURRENT RESO

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2013

By: Senator(s) Stone To: Rules

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 592

1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE 2 ACTING CAREER OF CASSANDRA "CASSI" DAVIS FROM HOLLY SPRINGS, 3 MISSISSIPPI. 4 WHEREAS, Cassandra "Cassi" Davis (born July 31, 1966) is an 5 American actress and best known for her role as Ella Payne on 6 "Tyler Perry's House of Payne." House of Payne aired more

7 episodes (a total of 254) than any other television series (of any 8 genre) with a predominantly African-American cast, surpassing "The 9 Jeffersons" (253 episodes), "Family Matters" (215 episodes) and 10 "The Cosby Show" (202 episodes). Davis has done extensive work 11 with Director and Writer Tyler Perry and has played many roles in 12 his various productions; and 13 WHEREAS, born in the booming metropolis of Holly Springs,

14 Mississippi, Davis' acting career began in 1988 with her role in 15 the Spike Lee film, School Daze. Her early theatre production 16 credits include appearances in He say...She say...But what does 17 God say, Love on Layaway, Silent Bomb, Black Olive and Big Otis 18 Blues Revue. Moreover, her television production credits include

S. C. R. No. 592 *SS01/R1077* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 13/SS01/R1077 PAGE 1 (tb\tb) 19 appearances on "Living Single," "Married with Children," "Kenan & 20 Kel," "The Parkers," "Chicago Hope" and "The PJ's." She 21 established her acting career by appearing in Tyler Perry 22 productions such as Madea's Family Reunion, Madea Goes to Jail, 23 Daddy's Little Girls, Women Thou Art Loosed, A Madea's Christmas 24 and "Tyler Perry's House of Payne." Her starring role debut was

25 in a Tyler Perry Production play, Aunt Bam's Place; and 26 WHEREAS, Cassandra attended Spelman College in Atlanta, 27 Georgia, and majored in music (vocal performance). She left the 28 college in 1991 one credit hour short of graduating to pursue an 29 acting opportunity, and then returned to Spelman College in 2008 30 to complete her degree, graduating in December of that same year; 31 and

32 WHEREAS, she accredits her devout, born-again Christian faith 33 as the main reason behind her professional success and so often 34 exclaims...God Did It!!!; and 35 WHEREAS, Cassi is the daughter of the late John and Catherine 36 Davis of Holly Springs, Mississippi. She has two brothers: Jon

37 (Vivian) Davis and Tracy (Kimberly) Davis; one sister: Casshaunda 38 D. (Devin) Riddle; two nephews (Jon and Khari); five nieces

39 (Janay, Antonise, Kailah, Vivia, and CaiDyn); one great-niece 40 (Jhaniyah); and one great-nephew (Jordyn). Cassandra is a 1984 41 graduate of Holly Springs High School where she reigned as Miss 42 Holly Springs High School (1983-1984); and

S. C. R. No. 592 *SS01/R1077* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R1077 PAGE 2 (tb\tb) 43 WHEREAS, in 2003, Davis was awarded Best Actress by the NAACP 44 Theatre Award Committee. She was also presented with the City of 45 Holly Springs Proclamation in 2012 by Mayor Andre' DeBerry. For a 46 second time in 2013, Davis was the recipient of the Most 47 Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series by the NAACP Image Award 48 Committee for her role as Ella Payne on Tyler Perry's, "House of

49 Payne"; and 50 WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the acting 51 legacy of this great Mississippi artist who has brought honor to 52 her profession, her community and to the State of Mississippi: 53 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 54 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 55 we do hereby recognize and pay tribute to the acting career of

56 Cassandra "Cassi" Davis from Holly Springs, Mississippi, and 57 extend our best wishes for continued professional success. 58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 59 Cassi Davis, forwarded to the Mississippi Arts Commission and made 60 available to the Capitol Press Corps.

S. C. R. No. 592 *SS01/R1077* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 13/SS01/R1077 ST: Recognize acting career of Cassandra PAGE 3 (tb\tb) "Cassi" Davis from Holly Springs, Mississippi.