Bill Text: MS HC110 | 2015 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: O'Keefe Funeral Homes; acknowledge and observe June 5, 2015 as "O'Keefe Funeral Homes Day."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 7-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-04-01 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HC110 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HC110-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Patterson, Bennett, DeLano, Eure, Guice, Zuber
House Concurrent Resolution 110
(As Adopted by House and Senate)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING JUNE 5, 2015, AS "O'KEEFE FUNERAL HOMES DAY" AND ENCOURAGING THE CITIZENS OF MISSISSIPPI TO COMMEMORATE ITS OBSERVANCE ON JUNE 5, 2015.
WHEREAS, in the spring of 1865, Mississippi first benefitted from the funeral services provided by the O'Keefe family when Edward "Ned" O'Keefe's Livery Service on Porter Street in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was asked to provide funeral carriage for the local residents; and
WHEREAS, recognizing the lucrative business opportunity, Ned O'Keefe accepted the responsibility and expanded his livery business to permanently include funeral and mortuary services and funeral planning, thereby establishing the O'Keefe Family Funeral Home, the first funeral service business in Ocean Springs; and
WHEREAS, as word of their impeccable service spread across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the O'Keefe funeral business grew and opened new locations in Biloxi and other coastal towns while maintaining the level of care and attention to detail that is associated with a family-owned business, as the ownership and management of the funeral home was passed down to succeeding generations of O'Keefe family members; and
WHEREAS, today, the O'Keefe family commands one of the leading funeral home businesses in the state and nation, as they successfully operate six locations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Gulfport and Vancleave, and control the state's largest funeral insurance business; and
WHEREAS, through their decades of caring service, the O'Keefe funeral homes have not only meticulously comforted the diverse population that resides on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but the O'Keefe family has also distinguished itself outside of the family business with their devoted community involvement, honest political leadership and numerous philanthropic deeds; and
WHEREAS, in addition to their dedicated community service, when relations between the United States and the hostile Axis powers diminished, causing Lady Liberty to engage the fanatical regime in World War II, one of their own, Jeremiah "Jerry" O'Keefe, courageously joined the ranks of an elect fraternity of soldiers to patriotically defend the American freedoms, and after his service as the Marine fighter pilot "Ace" was complete, he became a state legislator and eventually the mayor of Biloxi; and
WHEREAS, as avid supporters of the delightful towns on the sparkling Mississippi Coast and the wonderfully fortunate citizens who call them home, the O'Keefe family has very generously donated themselves to helping needy children, disabled citizens and underprivileged neighbors as well as promoting business and economic development across their beloved Coast, and to encourage and financially assist local artists, they established a trust that has benefitted several prominent museums, including the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum in Biloxi and the Walter Anderson Museum in Ocean Springs; and
WHEREAS, since Ned O'Keefe provided remarkable funeral services along the shores of Mississippi in 1865, six generations of O'Keefe family members have continued to bestow that legacy of professionalism, high integrity and excellent service upon the citizens and coastal communities, and on June 5, 2015, O'Keefe funeral homes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast will celebrate its 150th anniversary, making the family business one of the oldest recurring businesses in Mississippi and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the people of Mississippi recognize and commend the outstanding service of O'Keefe funeral homes and the O'Keefe family's exceptional community involvement during the past 150 years and firmly believe that it is fitting and proper to commemorate that unparalleled dedication to Mississippi and observe June 5, 2015, as "O'Keefe Funeral Homes Day":
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING
THEREIN, That we do hereby acknowledge and observe June 5, 2015, as "O'Keefe Funeral Homes Day" and encourage the citizens of Mississippi to commemorate its observance on June 5, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the owner of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home, Inc., Jeffrey H. O'Keefe, Sr., the Governor of Mississippi, the Secretary of State of Mississippi and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
