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H. R. No. 94 *HR26/R2699* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representative Summers
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 94
A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, 1
ESTEEMED SERVICE, AND REMARKABLE LEGACY OF TRAILBLAZING 2
JOURNALIST, EDUCATOR AND PUBLIC SERVANT, DR. ELAYNE HAYES-ANTHONY, 3
AND EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HER FAMILY, COLLEAGUES, 4
COMMUNITY OF ALUMNI MENTEES AND FRIENDS UPON HER PASSING. 5
WHEREAS, it is written in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "To 6
everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under 7
the Heaven," and as such, the immaculate author and finisher of 8
our souls' destiny summoned the mortal presence of a distinguished 9
Mississippi trailblazer, educator, mentor and pioneering 10
journalist, Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, who departed this earthly 11
life on March 5, 2026, rendering great sorrow and loss to her 12
family, colleagues, students and the many communities whose lives 13
were enriched by her wisdom, leadership and compassionate spirit; 14
and 15
WHEREAS, the City of Jackson and the State of Mississippi 16
lost a revered daughter, visionary communicator and champion of 17
education whose extraordinary life journey helped reshape the 18
fields of journalism, broadcasting, higher education and public 19
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service across more than five decades of dedicated work, and there 20
is now a hush in our hearts as we come together to pay our 21
respects to the memory of one who has been called to join that 22
innumerable heavenly caravan; and 23
WHEREAS, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Hayes-Anthony 24
distinguished herself early as a scholar and leader, graduating 25
from Jackson State University as a scholarship recipient before 26
earning the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Southern Illinois 27
University at Carbondale, an academic achievement that marked the 28
beginning of a career dedicated to teaching, mentorship and 29
professional excellence; and 30
WHEREAS, she made history in Mississippi media as the first 31
African-American woman to serve as an anchor, producer and 32
reporter at WJTV-TV12, the CBS affiliate in Jackson, courageously 33
breaking barriers in broadcast journalism and opening doors of 34
opportunity for generations of aspiring journalists throughout 35
Mississippi and the nation; and 36
WHEREAS, following the completion of her doctoral studies, 37
Dr. Hayes-Anthony returned to her beloved hometown of Jackson to 38
serve as chair of the Department of Mass Communication at Jackson 39
State University, where under her visionary leadership the 40
department achieved national accreditation from the Accrediting 41
Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, while 42
also expanding academic offerings to include public relations and 43
advertising; and 44
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WHEREAS, after a decade of distinguished service in higher 45
education, she accepted appointment as Assistant Superintendent of 46
Public Information and Staff Development for the Jackson Public 47
School District, serving as spokesperson for the district's board 48
of trustees and strengthening communications between educators, 49
families and the community; and 50
WHEREAS, Dr. Hayes-Anthony later served as an educational 51
consultant before joining Belhaven University, where she became 52
the founding chair of the Department of Communication and 53
ultimately served as a tenured full professor and longtime 54
academic leader who inspired and prepared countless students for 55
careers in media, communications and public service; and 56
WHEREAS, throughout her illustrious academic career, she also 57
served as interim president of Jackson State University during a 58
critical period of transition, while simultaneously maintaining 59
her long-standing role as Chair of the Department of Journalism 60
and Media Studies, where she mentored generations of communicators 61
whose voices now shape media and public discourse throughout the 62
state and nation; and 63
WHEREAS, her passion for storytelling and public engagement 64
extended beyond the classroom through broadcast programming, 65
including hosting the television program "F.Y.I. with Elayne 66
Anthony" and later the program "In Depth with Elayne Anthony" on 67
JSU-TV, where she continued to inform, educate and inspire 68
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audiences through thoughtful dialogue and public affairs 69
discussion; and 70
WHEREAS, Dr. Hayes-Anthony's leadership extended across 71
professional and civic organizations, including serving on more 72
than 15 accreditation teams for the Accrediting Council on 73
Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and providing 74
consultation to the Florida and Louisiana Boards of Regents 75
regarding journalism education; and 76
WHEREAS, she was an active member of the Jackson Association 77
of Black Journalists, served on the advisory board for 78
iHeartRadio, participated on the Randolph Hearst national 79
scholarship committee, and served as a member of the Board of 80
Visitors for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at 81
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and 82
WHEREAS, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to public 83
service and community well-being, Dr. Hayes-Anthony served nearly 84
two decades on the Mississippi State Board of Health following her 85
initial appointment by Governor Haley Barbour in 2007, continuing 86
her service through subsequent gubernatorial appointments while 87
contributing her insight and leadership to matters of public 88
health policy; and 89
WHEREAS, among her many historic achievements, she became the 90
first African American to serve on the Board of Directors of the 91
Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and later the first 92
African-American woman, educator and communicator to serve as 93
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President of that statewide organization, further cementing her 94
legacy as a barrier-breaking leader within the communications 95
profession; and 96
WHEREAS, tributes from leaders across Mississippi reflect the 97
profound impact of Dr. Hayes-Anthony's life and work, including 98
recognition of her as a trailblazer, educator and devoted public 99
servant whose influence shaped journalism, higher education and 100
public policy across the state; and 101
WHEREAS, though she has traversed life's river to now stand 102
upon the celestial shores of eternal rest, the indelible imprint 103
of Dr. Hayes-Anthony's courage, intellect and servant leadership 104
will continue to inspire future generations of journalists, 105
educators, public servants and community leaders; and 106
WHEREAS, we encourage her family, colleagues and the 107
countless students she mentored to find comfort in the words 108
recorded in II Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be the God and Father 109
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all 110
comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be 111
able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort 112
with which we ourselves are comforted by God"; and 113
WHEREAS, it is with sincere humility that the Mississippi 114
House of Representatives honors the extraordinary life and 115
enduring legacy of Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, whose commitment to 116
excellence in journalism, education and public service illuminated 117
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ST: Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony; mourn loss and
commemorate life, service and legacy upon her
passing.
the path of opportunity and inspiration for countless individuals 118
throughout the State of Mississippi: 119
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 120
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 121
mourn the loss and commemorate the life, esteemed service and 122
remarkable legacy of Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, and express deepest 123
and most sincere sympathy to her family, colleagues, community of 124
alumni mentees and friends upon her passing. 125
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 126
furnished to the family of Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony and to the 127
members of the Capitol Press Corps. 128