Paying tribute to the memory of pioneering Journalist and JSU Professor Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony of Jackson, Mississippi.

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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Norwood, Frazier, Blount,
Mumford, Simmons (12th), Blackmon, Thomas,
Turner-Ford, Michel, Hickman

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 71

A RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF DR. ELAYNE 1
HAYES-ANTHONY, PIONEERING JOURNALIST AND JSU PROFESSOR AND ACTING 2
PRESIDENT, AND EXTENDING SYMPATHY ON HER PASSING. 3
WHEREAS, Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, barrier-breaking 4
journalist and former JSU acting president, passed away on March 5
5, 2026; and 6
WHEREAS, leaders across Mississippi are paying tribute to Dr. 7
Hayes‑Anthony, a pioneering journalist, educator and longtime 8
public servant whose career reshaped media, higher education and 9
state policy over more than five decades; and 10
WHEREAS, Elayne Hayes‑Anthony, a Jackson native and 11
celebrated communicator, made history at WJTV‑12 as the first 12
African American woman to serve as an anchor, producer and 13
reporter at the station. Her breakthroughs in broadcast 14
journalism opened doors for women and people of color across 15
Mississippi newsrooms; and 16
WHEREAS, her career later expanded into higher education, 17
where she served as Chair of Jackson State University's Department 18
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of Journalism and Media Studies and was appointed acting president 19
in 2023. Throughout her career, Hayes-Anthony held numerous 20
leadership roles in higher education and public service. She had 21
previously chaired the Department of Communications at Belhaven 22
University for 17 years; and 23
WHEREAS, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said in a social 24
media post that Hayes‑Anthony's contributions left a lasting mark. 25
"Dr. Hayes‑Anthony was truly a remarkable person," Reeves said. 26
"She was a trailblazer, a dedicated educator, and a tremendous 27
public servant through and through. She made a lasting difference 28
in the lives of so many, and her legacy will not be forgotten"; 29
and 30
WHEREAS, United States Senator Roger Wicker also honored her 31
leadership and influence. "Mississippi has lost a leader and 32
pioneer, my friend Dr. Elayne Anthony," Wicker said. "Jackson 33
State benefited from her steady hand during a time of transition. 34
She was revered by its students. The Mississippi Association of 35
Broadcasters recognized her leadership by electing her chair. 36
Elayne's legacy of kindness, servant‑leadership, and community 37
service will impact generations to come;" and 38
WHEREAS, Elayne also served almost two decades on the 39
Mississippi State Board of Health, beginning with her 2007 40
appointment by Governor Haley Barbour and continuing through a 41
reappointment by Governor Reeves. Her tenure included work on 42
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public health policy while she simultaneously led careers in 43
broadcasting, education and community leadership; and 44
WHEREAS, "her passing is a loss to public health and higher 45
education leadership," said Dr. Dan Edney, State Health Officer. 46
"Her service has helped make our state a better place." Board of 47
Health Chairman Dr. Lucius Lampton said she led "with intellect, 48
creativity and integrity" and that her presence and friendship 49
will be "deeply missed;" and 50
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters, which 51
she once led as its first African American woman president, 52
remembered her as a force of mentorship and advocacy. "She worked 53
tirelessly to create opportunities for others to succeed," the 54
association said; and 55
WHEREAS, Jackson Mayor John Horhn highlighted her role as a 56
barrier‑breaker in Mississippi media. "As a pioneering journalist 57
and the first African American woman to serve as anchor, producer, 58
and reporter at WJTV‑12, she broke barriers in Mississippi media 59
and opened doors for countless Black journalists," he said. 60
"Jackson is better because she chose to live, work, and lead 61
here;" and 62
WHEREAS, U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson called 63
Hayes‑Anthony a friend and a visionary in a social media post. 64
"The lives she touched, the doors she opened, and the paths she 65
cleared will continue to echo through the generations she 66
inspired," Thompson said; and 67
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ST: Paying tribute to the memory of pioneering
Journalist and JSU Professor Dr. Elayne Hayes-
Anthony of Jackson, Mississippi.
WHEREAS, her leadership also extended to Belhaven University, 68
where she served from 1998 to 2015. Belhaven President Dr. Roger 69
Parrott described her as "a powerhouse in the classroom, a giant 70
in the communications profession, and a faithful servant;" and 71
WHEREAS, Jackson State University, her alma mater, praised 72
her decades of service. "Her leadership in the classroom, within 73
her department and across the institution helped shape generations 74
of communicators and storytellers," said Interim President Dr. 75
Denise Jones Gregory; and 76
WHEREAS, Elayne is survived by her husband, Eddie; son 77
Willard; and grandson, Aiden; and 78
WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this 79
most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi whose enormous civic 80
energy and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on 81
our community and State: 82
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 83
MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. 84
Elayne Hayes-Anthony, pioneering Journalist and JSU Professor and 85
acting President, and extend our heartfelt sympathy on her passing 86
to her family and friends. 87
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to 88
Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony's surviving family, forwarded to the 89
President of JSU and made available to the Capitol Press Corps. 90