By John Howell Sr.
Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey read the city’s proclamation honoring the Charles Ray Nix during Tuesday’s meeting of city officials.

He had a hard time.

Language in the document read before the late State Senator’s family at the opening of the Tuesday, Jan. 7 meeting of Batesville’s mayor and aldermen, highlighted Nix’s community service in the Senate and as Executive Director of the South Panola Area Chamber of Commerce and Panola County Development Foundation.

When the mayor got to the paragraph, “Whereas Charles Ray Nix earned the respect, admiration and high regard of all whom he came in contact with,” he paused, briefly and said, “I miss him a lot,” and then paused for more seconds while he regained his composure and finished reading the document.

“Sorry about that,” Autrey quipped at the end. “Him and my pop were pretty good buddies,” he added.

“Perfect,” an alderman said, triggering a round of applause.

Nix represented Panola County in the Mississippi Senate from 1972 to 1988. He died Dec. 21.