The Mississippi Legislature adopted resolution SC 593 on March 5, 2015, mourning the loss of Henry Outlaw, my 2nd cousin, 1x removed. The resolution recognizes the remarkable career of one of Mississippi’s beloved sons who passed away February 21, 2015. An award-winning academic, Dr. Outlaw taught chemistry at Delta State University from 1966 until 2002. His numerous contributions to this school, its students and faculty cannot be summarized easily. In 2014, his “retirement” culminated with his becoming the first recipient of the “Dr. Henry Outlaw Faculty/Staff Service Award”. The award, which was created in his honor by the National Alumni Association, specifically recognizes former Delta State University faculty or staff members like Henry who remain influential upon the school long after retirement.
Regrettably, I never had the opportunity to meet Henry. His Facebook account was still active when I “discovered” him a couple of months ago. It was here that I learned that Henry’s devotion to his school was surpassed only by his devotion to his family. Henry was a proud father and grandfather and husband to Brenda Faye (Bickerstaff) Outlaw for 52 years. The warmth of his personality, his Southern charm, and his general good nature emanate from a gallery of photos “liked” by countless family members and friends.
Henry was passionate about a great many things. The murder of Emmett Till and the ensuing injustice that sparked the Civil Rights Movement was one of those passions. His fascination with this tragedy undoubtedly started many years ago because he was in the right place at the wrong time.
In September of 1955, a young Henry had driven his grandmother to Chicago to visit his father who was working there at the time. Unbeknownst to them, their arrival coincided with the funeral of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old black youth who was brutally killed the week before by two white men in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white female. The open casket images of Mamie Till’s beloved son, tortured and beaten beyond recognition, shocked the nation and the world. The acquittal of the accused by an all-white jury further outraged and embarrassed a nation that was struggling to hang on to its identity as the land of opportunity and freedom for all.
In Henry’s own words, it was his Mississippi license plates that were behind the unwelcoming reception that he and his grandmother received. His presence in Chicago at this volatile time and his memories of the event must surely have influenced his decision to revisit this topic more than five decades later. And he did so in a big way. With the help of a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council, Henry turned his collection of oral histories and artifacts surrounding the case into a traveling exhibition, which has since won national praise.
Fortunately, I found a video of Henry giving a lecture about the Emmett Till case posted on the web. After I downloaded it, I realized the video was also an oral history which is now part of my collection. It captures the essence of the fascinating character, quick wit and bright intelligence of a relative that I never knew but am proud to call my own.
Click here to access the video. I am indebted to Henry’s wife for permitting me to share Henry’s story and photo.
Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 2nd cousin, 1x removed
Common ancestors: Henry’s maternal grandfather was Luther Henry Boren, brother of Lula Betty (Boren) Trantham, my great grandmother
References:
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2015/html/SC/SC0593IN.htm
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2015/pdf/history/SC/SC0593.xml