Jocelyn "Joce" Pritchett Papers (Z/2388)

Collection Details:

Collection Name and Number: Jocelyn "Joce" Pritchett Papers (Z/2388)
Creator/Collector: Jocelyn Pritchett and others.
Date(s): 2012; 2014-2016; n.d.
Size: 3.5 cubic feet.
Language(s): English.
Processed by: Laura Heller, 2021.
Provenance: Gift from Jocelyn "Joce" Pritchett, on December 13, 2021; Z/U/2021.043.
Repository: Archives & Records Services Division, Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

Rights and Access:

Access restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Publication rights: Copyright assigned to the MDAH. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to Reference Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the MDAH as the owner of the physical items and as the owner of the copyright in items created by the donor. Although the copyright was transferred by the donor, the respective creator may still hold copyright in some items in the collection. For further information, contact Reference Services.

Copyright Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code).

Preferred citation: Jocelyn "Joce" Pritchett Papers (Z/2388), Mississippi Department of Archives & History.

Biography/History:

Jocelyn "Joce" Pepper Pritchett was born in 1967 in Bellefontaine, a community in Webster County, Mississippi, the eldest daughter of John Pritchett, Sr. (1943-2000) and Jacqueline Kay Pepper Pritchett (1947-2015). Her mother was a schoolteacher, and her father was a forestry crew chief for the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Joce had two younger siblings, sister Jean-Anne and brother John, Jr.

Joce graduated from Eupora High School in 1985, and she earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1990. She obtained a Masters in Civil Engineering and a Masters in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1999. Soon after, she returned to Mississippi to begin her engineering career at the Mississippi Department of Transportation as an assistant environmental engineer. Her professional experience also included working for ABMB Engineers, Inc., Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Michael Baker International. In 2009, Joce founded her own firm, Pritchett Engineering and Planning LLC in Flowood, Rankin County, Mississippi.

Joce Pritchett and Carla Webb began dating around 2003. Carla Dawn Webb was born in 1975 in McComb, Pike County, Mississippi. She graduated from North Pike Senior High School, received her bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College, and graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Dentistry in 2001. Soon after, Carla had a residency at the School of Dental Medicine at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts. After returning to Mississippi, Carla formed her own dentistry practice, Webb Endodontics LLC, in Flowood, Rankin County, and operated her business in the lower level of a two-story Victorian-style building owned by the couple. Joce’s engineering firm, Pritchett Engineering and Planning LLC occupied the upper level.

The couple had two children, Grace and Ethan, born in 2008 and 2012 respectively. When same-sex marriage became legal in some states in 2013, and after being prompted by their children to have their parents married, Joce and Carla were legally married in Maine on December 14, 2013. A celebration with family and friends was held soon after in Jackson, Mississippi. However, their marriage was not recognized in Mississippi, where they were required to carry power-of-attorney papers concerning their rights as spouses and as parents. This prompted their involvement as plaintiffs in the Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant I case, as well as membership in the Human Rights Campaign and activism concerning LGBTQ rights in Mississippi. When the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on the Obergefell v. Hodges case on June 26, 2015, Joce and Carla’s Maine marriage license was legal and recognized in all states, including Mississippi. The landmark civil rights case ruling stated that the fundamental right to marry was guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Joce Pritchett qualified and formally announced her candidacy for state auditor on the steps of the Capitol on February 27, 2015, making her the first openly gay statewide candidate to run in Mississippi. She ran as the sole Democrat candidate against incumbent Republican candidate Stacey Pickering, Republican Mary Hawkins Butler, and Reform candidate Lajena Walley. During the Republican primary election on August 4, 2015, Butler lost to Pickering. The general election took place on November 3, 2015, in which Pickering defeated Pritchett by a margin of 207,702 out of a total 708,880 votes.

In July 2016, Joce Pritchett among others gave testimonies in the Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant III case, which sought to strike down the Mississippi House Bill 1523 (HB1523), also called the Religious Liberty Accommodations Act. HB1523 written in response to federal rulings in support of same-sex marriage. The law stated that it "provides protections for persons, religious organizations, and private associations who choose to provide or withhold services discriminatorily in accordance with religious beliefs of moral convictions." The bill passed on March 30, 2016, signed into law by Governor Phil Bryant on April 5, 2016, and after an injunction was placed and later lifted, the law went into effect after June 23, 2017.

Through her testimony, Joce outlined her personal experience having lived in Mississippi, discovering that she was gay, seeking counseling and acceptance, and recognizing that some areas of Mississippi, even in urban communities, the risk of harm to herself, her wife, and their children seemed always present. Earlier in 2016, the Webb Pritchett family had made the difficult decision to move to Florida. The family joined a community that welcomed diversity. As with many couples, differences arose over time and they divorced amicably in 2020; both continue to reside in Florida as of 2021.

Scope and Content:

The majority of the Jocelyn "Joce" Pritchett Papers concerns her activism as a plaintiff in the Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant I case, where Joce and her spouse Carla Webb sought to have their marriage legally recognized. The papers also include her campaign for state auditor, where she made history as the first lesbian to run for a statewide office in Mississippi. Supporting items include correspondence from friends and supporters, photographs, Human Rights Campaign newsletters, and personal papers, as well two artworks by Jackson artist Ellen Langford. Two stickers from activist campaigns in response to legislative measures include the "If You’re Buying, We’re Selling" sticker and the "#Repeal HB1523" sticker.

Series Identification: 

Series 1: Correspondence, 2014-2015.

Correspondence includes photographic holiday cards from friends of the Jocelyn Pritchett and Carla Webb family, including one from Andrea and Rebecca (Bickett) Sanders, another couple who were plaintiffs in the lawsuit to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage in Mississippi. There is a Christmas card featuring a photo of the Webb Pritchett family sent to friends and family in 2014. Of note are some letters from Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality which filed a 2014 federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Mississippi’s ban on same-sex marriage. Another letter of significance is from Beth Shipp, former executive director of LPAC, an organization whose mission includes building political power of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer women. Lastly, there are some encouraging notes from their children, Ethan and Grace, from 2014.

Box 1, Folders 1-9

Series 2: Photographs, 2015.

There are two photobooth collage-style photographs featuring three images in each collage. The first photobooth collage, dated April 26, 2015, features Carla Webb and daughter Grace, friends of the family Krestina Banck and her sister Robin Banck Taylor, and Krestina’s daughter Ella. The second photobooth collage, dated June 26, 2015, features Joce Pritchett, Krestina Banck, Robin Banck Taylor, and an unidentified friend.

Box 1, Folder 10

Series 3: Human Rights Campaign, 2014-2016.

Jocelyn Pritchett and Carla Webb were active members and supporters of the Human Rights Campaign in Mississippi. This series includes a blank membership form, bumper sticker, business card, some correspondence, and newsletters (HRC Equality and HRC Leading Equality). Also included are tickets for the couple attending the 18th Annual HRC National Dinner in Washington, D.C., on October 25, 2014, and a program for the 23rd Annual HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 13, 2015.

Box 1, Folders 11-21

Series 4: Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant I, 2014-2015.

Among the papers in this series is the script for a press conference featuring couple Jocelyn Pritchett and Cara Webb and couple Andrea Sanders and Rebecca Bickett, courtroom name tags for Pritchett and Webb, and supportive messages written by friends on Mississippi-shaped paper. Pritchett and Webb also attended a party hosted by Freedom to Marry in April 2015, and traveled to Washington, D.C. with their children in September 2015, where they also toured the United States Capitol. The New Yorker Magazine, published for the week of January 5, 2015, includes an article about the lawsuit. Additionally, this series includes a copy of the June 23, 2016, transcript of the court proceedings for the Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Volume 1 of 2), which consists of plaintiff testimonies from Douglas Nejaime, Rabbi Jeremy Simons, Reverend Susan Hrostowski, and witness testimonies from Carol Burnett, Brandiilyne Mangum-Dear, Kathy Garner, and Joce Pritchett.

Box 2, Folders 1-7
Box 6, Folder 3

Series 5: Campaign for State Auditor, 2015.

The materials in this series consist of campaign publicity items such as rack cards, business cards, bumper stickers, and notecards for Jocelyn "Joce" Pritchett’s bid for Mississippi’s State Auditor, a title which would have also included the first lesbian elected to the office of state auditor in the state. Additional papers are items from other candidates’ campaigns, flyers for a speaking engagement in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and robocall scripts.

Box 2, Folders 8-15

Series 6: "If You’re Buying, We’re Selling" Campaign, circa 2014.

The "If You’re Buying, We’re Selling" campaign began in April 2014 as a response to the Mississippi Religious Freedom Restoration Act, known as Senate Bill 2681. The bill states that government should not substantially burden religious exercise without compelling justification, protecting religious persons from legal repercussions if they verbally condemn the lifestyle or actions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons. The bill passed the both Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate on April 1, 2014, signed by Governor Phil Bryant on April 3, 2014, and went into effect on July 1, 2014. The stickers state "We don’t discriminate, If You’re Buying, We’re Selling." Business owners posted these stickers on storefronts, front doors, websites, and cars to alert clientele that all paying customers are welcome to shop at their business regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Box 2, Folder 16

Series 7: "Repeal HB1523" Campaign, circa 2016.

Mississippi House Bill 1523 (HB1523), also called the Religious Liberty Accommodations Act, was written in response to federal rulings in support of same-sex marriage. The law states that it "provides protections for persons, religious organizations, and private associations who choose to provide or withhold services discriminatorily in accordance with religious beliefs of moral convictions." The bill was passed on March 30, 2016, and signed into law by Governor Phil Bryant on April 5, 2016, and after an injunction was placed and later lifted, the law went into effect after June 23, 2017. Local response from organizations like the Human Rights Campaign included protests, marches, letters to legislators, newspaper articles, and bumper stickers like the one included here, featuring a hashtag message, "#Repeal HB1523."

Box 2, Folder 17

Series 8: Newspapers, 2012; 2014-2016.

This series consists of copies of newspapers that feature articles about the right to marry and LGBTQ rights movement. Newspapers include Mississippi publications such as the Jackson Free Press from Hinds County and The Clarion-Ledger, and national publications such as The New York Times and USA Today. Also included are issues from the New Orleans Advocate, Washington Blade (Washington, D.C.), and Konk Life Key News from Florida.

Box 3, Folders 1-11
Box 4, Folders 1-11

Series 9: Family Personal Papers, 2015-2016; n.d.

This series of personal family papers include the Webb Pritchett family visiting Provincetown, Massachusetts for family week in 2015 hosted by the Family Equality Council, Tampa Bay city passbooks for two adults and two children. There is a program and ticket for Fun Home, a Broadway musical based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel, at Circle in the Square Theatre, New York City, on May 29, 2015. The program is signed by actors Michael Cerveris, Beth Malone, Sydney Lucas, Oscar Williams, and Emily Skeggs. There is also a program for the marriage of family friends Melyssa Root Bratton and Christina Leigh Carroll, at Trinity Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 16, 2016. Additionally, there is a paper dated May 13, 2016, with a marginal note stating, "Our Last Chapel at St. Andrews Episcopal School," a brochure from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Raymond, Mississippi, and a certified 2016 Presidential Commemorative Print of Dan Kessler’s painting "Spring at the White House."

Box 2, Folders 18-25

Series 10: Artwork, circa 2015.

Two works of art are included in this series. The artwork features Joce Pritchett while campaigning for State Auditor in 2015 at Jack’s Construction Site – also known as JC’s by the bar’s patrons – which was owned by Jack Myers and catered to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clientele as well as their straight allies. The artwork is by Jackson artist Ellen Langford. The artwork was a gift from Carla Webb to Joce Pritchett.

Box 5

Series 11: Harbuck Marriage Ceremony, 2015-2016.

Joce Pritchett applied to the Universal Life Church Ministries and received credentials of ministry on September 2, 2015, granting her all rights and privileges to perform all duties of the ministry. Joce officiated the marriage of Brittany Rowell and Jessica Harbuck, in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi, on Saturday, January 16, 2016. This series consists of Joce’s certificates of credentials as a member and as a wedding officiant of the Universal Life Church, as well as a script for the marriage ceremony.

Box 6, Folders 1-2

Series 12: Posters, 2015-2016.

There are three posters included in this series. One is a poster referring to "The People’s Brief" that the Human Rights Campaign delivered to the United States Supreme Court on March 6, 2015 is signed by Carla Webb and Jocelyn Pritchett as plaintiffs, and Hubert Tate, Rob Hill, and Harry Hawkins as representatives of HRC. The second poster, also from the Human Rights Campaign, refers to the Mississippi House Bill 1523, stating "No Hate In My State" on one side and "#Repeal HB1523" on the reverse side. Lastly, the third poster is from Campaign for Southern Equality, depicting a map of Mississippi with the words "Love Will Win."

Box 7, Folders 1-3

Box List:

Box 1

Series 1: Correspondence, 2014-2015.  
Folder 1: Christmas card from the Webb Pritchett family, December 2014.
Folder 2: Card and letter, Thomas Gallagher to Jocelyn Pritchett, April 25, 2014.
Folder 3: Good luck card, Mary Tom Vance to Jocelyn Pritchett, May 23, 2014.
Folder 4: Photographic Christmas card, Jena, Jenn, and Anna Pierce, December 2014.
Folder 5: Photographic Christmas card, Andrea and Rebecca Sanders, December 2014.
Folder 6: Cards of thanks, circa 2015.
Folder 7: Letter, Beth Shipp, Director of LPAC, to Jocelyn Pritchett, September 17, 2015.
Folder 8: Letters, Campaign for Southern Equality (Jasmine Beach-Ferrara) to Jocelyn Pritchett, Carla Webb, Ethan and Grace, January 26, 2015.
Folder 9: Notes from children, circa 2014.

Series 2: Photographs, 2015.  
Folder 10: Photobooth photo collages, April 26, 2015; June 26, 2015.

Series 3: Human Rights Campaign, 2014-2016.  
Folder 11: Membership form, bumper sticker, and business card, circa 2014-2015.
Folder 12: Correspondence, HRC to Jocelyn Pritchett and Carla Webb, circa 2014-2015.
Folder 13: Tickets, 18th Annual HRC National Dinner, Washington, D.C., October 25, 2014.
Folder 14: Program, 23rd Annual HRC Louisiana Gala Dinner, New Orleans, LA, June 13, 2015.
Folder 15: Book, HRC 2014, "Equality, Everywhere for Everyone."
Folder 16: Newsletter, HRC Equality, Spring 2014 (2 copies).
Folder 17: Newsletter, HRC Equality, Late Fall/Early Winter 2014 (3 copies).
Folder 18: Newsletter, HRC Equality, Spring 2016.
Folder 19: Newsletter, HRC Leading Quality, Summer 2014.
Folder 20: Newsletter, HRC Leading Quality, Spring 2015 (2 copies).
Folder 21: Newsletter, HRC Leading Quality, Late Fall/Early Winter 2015 (5 copies).

Box 2

Series 4: Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant I, 2014-2015.  
Folder 1: Press conference, Order and scripts of speakers, November 2014.
Folder 2: Name tags for Jocelyn Pritchett and Carla Webb, Courtroom, November 2014.
Folder 3: Love Will Win, Supportive messages, circa 2014-2015.
Folder 4: Freedom to Marry, Washington, D.C., April 27-28, 2015.
Folder 5: Travel itineraries, Washington, D.C., September 17-21, 2015.
Folder 6: Brochures, United States Capitol, circa 2015.
Folder 7: The New Yorker Magazine, January 5, 2015 (2 copies).

Series 5: Campaign for State Auditor, 2015.  
Folder 8: Campaign rack card, "Joce Pritchett, State Auditor", 2015.
Folder 9: Business cards, "Joce Pritchett, State Auditor", 2015.
Folder 10: Bumper Stickers, "Joce, State Auditor", 2015.
Folder 11: Notecards, "Joce Pritchett, State Auditor", 2015.
Folder 12: Political campaign materials, circa 2015.
Folder 13: Flyers, "Joce Pritchett", Sage Inn and Lounge, Provincetown, MA, July 30, 2015.
Folder 14: Calendar and notes, circa October 2015.
Folder 15: Get out the vote robocall scripts, "Joce Pritchett, State Auditor", November 2, 2015.

Series 6: "If You’re Buying, We’re Selling" Campaign, circa 2014.  
Folder 16: Stickers, “We don’t discriminate / If You’re Buying, We’re Selling”, circa 2014 (14 copies).

Series 7: "Repeal HB1523" Campaign, circa 2016.  
Folder 17: Sticker, “#Repeal HB1523” from the Human Rights Campaign, circa 2016.

Series 9: Family Personal Papers, 2015-2016; n.d.  
Folder 18: Program, Family Week in Provincetown, MA, 2015 (Family Equality Council).
Folder 19: Tampa Bay City Pass book, March 14, 2016.
Folder 20: Program, Marriage of Melyssa Root Bratton and Christina Leigh Carroll, Trinity Church, New Orleans, LA, April 16, 2016.
Folder 21: “Our Last Chapel at St. Andrews Episcopal School,” May 13, 2016.
Folder 22: Brochure, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Raymond, MS, n.d.
Folder 23: Program and Ticket, Fun Home (Broadway Musical), May 29, 2015.
Folder 24: Print, 2016 Presidential Commemorative Print, Dan Kessler’s painting “Spring at the White House.”
Folder 25: Ephemera, n.d.

Box 3

Series 8: Newspapers, 2012; 2014-2016.  
Folder 1: Jackson Free Press, April 30, 2014 – May 6, 2014.
Folder 2: Jackson Free Press, August 27, 2014 – September 2, 2014.
Folder 3: Jackson Free Press, June 24-30, 2015.
Folder 4: Jackson Free Press, July 8-14, 2015 (3 copies).
Folder 5: Jackson Free Press, December 30, 2015 – January 5, 2016.
Folder 6: New Orleans Advocate, January 10, 2015.
Folder 7: Konk Life, Key News (partial issue), June 11-17, 2015.
Folder 8: Washington Blade, July 18, 2014.
Folder 9: The New York Times, April 28, 2014.
Folder 10: USA Today, January 5, 2015.
Folder 11: US Today, June 25, 2015.

Box 4

Folder 1: The Clarion-Ledger (partial issue), February 19, 2012.
Folder 2: The Clarion-Ledger (partial issue), April 3, 2014.
Folder 3: The Clarion-Ledger, April 27, 2014.
Folder 4: The Clarion-Ledger, October 21, 2014.
Folder 5: The Clarion-Ledger, November 13, 2014 (2 copies).
Folder 6: The Clarion-Ledger, November 17, 2014 (2 copies).
Folder 7: The Clarion-Ledger, January 5, 2015 (2 copies).
Folder 8: The Clarion-Ledger, January 10, 2015 (2 copies).
Folder 9: The Clarion-Ledger, June 27, 2015 (2 copies).
Folder 10: The Clarion-Ledger, July 24, 2015.
Folder 11: The Clarion-Ledger, April 19, 2016.

Box 5

Series 10: Artwork, circa 2015.  
Folder 1: Artwork, "Joce Pritchett, Campaigning, JC’s", by Ellen Langford, circa 2015.
Folder 2: Artwork, "Joce Pritchett Stumping at JC’s", by Ellen Langford, circa 2015.

Box 6

Series 11: Harbuck Marriage Ceremony, 2015-2016.  
Folder 1: Credentials of ministry, Jocelyn Pepper Pritchett, September 2, 2015.
Folder 2: Script, Marriage Ceremony of Brittany and Jessica Harbuck, January 16, 2016.

Series 4: Campaign for Southern Equality v. Bryant I, 2014-2015.  
Folder 3: Transcript, Motion for Preliminary Injunction, June 23, 2016.

Box 7

Series 12: Posters, 2015-2016. 
Folder 1: Poster, "The People’s Brief", Human Rights Campaign, 2015.
Folder 2: Poster, "No Hate in My State" and "#Repeal HB1523", Human Rights Campaign,
Folder 3: Poster, "Love Will Win", Campaign for Southern Equality,