GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2007

RATIFIED BILL

RESOLUTION 2007-57

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1566

A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of senator jeanne hopkins lucas.

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas was born on December 25, 1935, in the City of Durham, to Robert Hopkins and Bertha Holman Hopkins; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas was a graduate of Hillside High School and North Carolina Central University, where she earned a BA in Foreign Languages in 1957 and an MA in School Administration in 1977; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas served as an educator for the Durham Public Schools for 20 years, teaching French and Spanish at Hillside High School from 1957 to 1975, and was honored with the Durham City Teacher of the Year Award in 1974; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas served her profession as President of the North Carolina Association of Classroom Teachers from 1975 to 1976, representing more than 50,000 educators from across the State; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas worked in various administrative positions for the Durham Public Schools from 1977 until her retirement in 1993, serving as Director of Staff Development from 1977 to 1991, Director of Personnel/Staff Development from 1991 to 1992, and Director of School and Community Relations from 1992 to 1993; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas began an active role in politics in 1972, serving as Vice-Chair and later as Chair of Precinct 29, Secretary and Chair of the Durham County John F. Kennedy Young Democratic Club, Secretary and Chair of the Durham County Democratic Executive Committee, and Chair of the Second Congressional District Democratic Executive Committee; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas was appointed to the North Carolina State Senate to fill an unexpired term in 1993, becoming the first African-American female to serve in the Senate; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, affectionately called "Queen Jeanne" by some of her fellow Senators, was reelected to the Senate for six terms, where she served with honor and distinction from 1995 to 2007; and

Whereas, during her tenure in the General Assembly, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas took a special interest in such issues as education, children, senior citizens, the mentally and physically challenged, and health insurance for low-income citizens; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas served in various leadership positions in the Senate, including Majority Whip and Senior Chair of the Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee, Cochair of the Education/Higher Education Committee, and Vice-Chair of Agriculture/Environment/Natural Resources Committee; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas made contributions as a member of other committees, including Judiciary I, Mental Health and Youth Services, Pensions & Retirement and Aging, the Select Committee on Insurance and Civil Justice Reform, Select Committee on the Lottery Bill, Domestic Violence Commission, and the State Health Coordinating Council; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas was a devoted and lifelong servant of her community, serving as a member of several civic and fraternal organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Links, Summit House, The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, and a life member of the Durham NAACP; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas was dedicated in her service to Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Durham, serving as a member of the Trustee Board and secretary of that Board, chair of the Budget Committee, member of the Mass Choir and the Gospel Chorus, and a Sunday schoolteacher for teenagers; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas received numerous honors and awards for her good deeds, including the YWCA Woman Achievement Silver Medallion, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Club Award, 1998 Eighth Annual Elna B. Spaulding Founder's Award, Citizen of the Year Award, Excellence Award-Central Carolina Consortium, Hillside High School Alumni Award, the Federal Bureau of Prisons Seymour Johnson Affirmative Action Honor, and the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People Founders Honor Award; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas died on March 9, 2007, and will be remembered as an icon, mentor, leader, visionary, educator, trailblazer, legend, charmer, comedienne, politician, and Christian. She looked for the best in others, and she brought out the best in others. She will also be remembered for her intelligence, compassion, confidence, and integrity. She was a pioneer for the needy and the poor and a friend to all; and

Whereas, Jeanne Hopkins Lucas is survived by her husband, William Lucas, and two sisters, Bertha Hopkins Breese and Bernadette Hopkins David-Yerumo; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Jeanne Hopkins Lucas for her dedication and lifelong career of public service and for her many contributions to her community and the State of North Carolina.

SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Jeanne Hopkins Lucas for the loss of a beloved family member.

SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit certified copies of this resolution to the members of the family of Jeanne Hopkins Lucas mentioned in this resolution.

SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 18^th day of July, 2007.

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                                                                         Marc Basnight

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

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                                                                         Joe Hackney

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives