Mavis Staples to get honorary degree from Delta State

SHARE Mavis Staples to get honorary degree from Delta State
mavis_staples_e1525481185632.jpg

Mavis Staples, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy lifetime achievement award winner, will receive an honorary degree Saturday from Delta State University. | Getty file photo

CLEVELAND, Miss. (AP) — Delta State University will honor soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples with an honorary degree Saturday.

Staples is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy lifetime achievement award winner.

The university will present diplomas to 350 graduates in morning and afternoon ceremonies on its Cleveland campus.

Addressing graduates will be Glen Jones, president of Henderson State University in Arkansas. In 2012, Jones became the first African-American to lead a historically white public college in Arkansas.

Staples was born in Chicago, but Delta State notes her early career was shaped by her father, who led the family Staple Singers. Her father was raised in Sunflower County and learned guitar from Mississippi bluesman Charley Patton. The Staple Singers were frequent performers for Civil Rights causes.

The Latest
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.