Mississippi lawmakers are remembering longtime state Rep. Charles Young as a gentle soul and a dedicated public servant.

During a memorial service Thursday at the Capitol, friends and House colleagues paid tribute to the 77-year-old Democrat from Meridian, who died April 29.

Young and Democratic Rep. J.P. Compretta of Bay St. Louis were House freshmen together in 1980. Compretta says he learned many valuable lessons from Young over the years, including how to play poker during after-hours gatherings at a hotel near the Capitol.

Young’s desk on the front row of the House chamber is adorned with a floral arrangement and a large black bow.

The resolution is House Concurrent Resolution 110.