Senate Resolution No. 268 BY: Senator PARKER CONGRATULATING Josephine Emily Samms upon the occasion of celebrating her 106th Birthday WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commemorate and recognize certain milestones celebrated by citizens of this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Senior citizens bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the increasingly active roles they play in today's society; their past contributions and future participation are a vital part of, and valuable asset to, the fabric of community life and activity; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Josephine Emily Samms upon the occasion of her 106th Birthday to be celebrated on Monday, January 23, 2023; and WHEREAS, Josephine Emily Samms was born to Marie Baxter Jureidini and Najeeb "Phillip Michael" Jureidini on January 23, 1917, in Jamaica; she has two older brothers, Ameen and Sahid, and five younger siblings, Winifred, Mavis, Haloon, Charles and Horace; and WHEREAS, Josephine met and married her beloved husband, Lloyd W. Samms, and together they raised their loving daughter, Colleen, with their shared values of hard-work, commitment and family; and WHEREAS, Josephine Emily Samms' devotion to caring for others began at an early age and she has carried it with her throughout her entire life; she realized her dreams of becoming a nurse when she was admitted into the Nursing School at Kingston Public Hospital; and WHEREAS, In the late 1950s, as a result of her English-based training, Josephine Emily Samms was recruited by the United States to be a Registered Nurse and migrated to New York; after 25 years of exemplary service, she was honored by the New York State Nurses Association; and WHEREAS, With a passion to care for others, Josephine Emily Samms has truly inspired and enhanced the lives of her family and friends; she has remained faithful to her family in both the United States and Jamaica, assisting several nieces to become nurses and providing support to her siblings during their retirement; through the years, she has also given generously to several local charity organizations; and WHEREAS, Today, Josephine Emily Samms is the proud and loving grandmother to two grandchildren, Nichola and Richard, one great-granddaughter, Christina, and two great-great granddaughters, Khloe and Chelsea; and WHEREAS, Josephine Emily Samms remains a vibrant individual; she begins each morning with prayer, reads the Daily News, and completes the Jumble; she loves to garden and has been a member of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden since the 1960s; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, an avid world traveler, Josephine Emily Samms enjoyed many tours and cruises with her husband, and continues to travel locally and internationally with her daughter and granddaughter; and WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recognize those who have reached such a remarkable age and who have witnessed and celebrated the innovations, cultural developments and awesome achievements of this country during the last century, while themselves contributing to the growth and excellence of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate Josephine Emily Samms upon the occasion of celebrating her 106th Birthday; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Josephine Emily Samms.