Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Central Mississippi Civic Improvement Association, Inc. (CMCIA), d/b/a Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center. It was incorporated in October 1970 as a nonprofit 501c(3) organization to engage in planning and development of comprehensive health services for residents of poor, largely non-white, communities in Jackson, Mississippi and surrounding areas.

Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center (JHCHC) is the largest community health center in Mississippi. Since its inception, JHCHC has grown from a ``one-bus-and-Sunday school-classroom'' operation to become a multi-site, multi-disciplinary provider of health services in Hinds, Warren, and Copiah counties. Jackson-Hinds is one of only two federally qualified health centers (FQHC) in the state operating a clinic for the homeless and the only FQHC operating a HUD housing complex for low-income elderly and disabled residents.

A seventeen-member Board of Directors governs JHCHC. Its members represent civic and religious organizations, homeless persons, homemakers and residents of medically underserved communities that utilize center services and programs. Throughout its thirty-two year history, the Board of Directors, management and staff of JHCHC have delivered services consistent with its mission statement: To provide low cost, quality, family-based health care and social services to people who may not otherwise have access to them.

A $16 million per year operation, JHCHC has an annual economic impact of approximately $32 million on the community. It employs over 180 health professionals throughout its three county service area, purchases goods and services from many local vendors and suppliers and serves as a training site for undergraduate and graduate students in various health care disciplines. Furthermore, JHCHC saves community resources by providing patients with more effective, cost-efficient care and reducing inappropriate use of local emergency rooms.

As the largest provider of primary health care services to the poor, uninsured and underserved population in central Mississippi, the prime objective of JHCHC is to eliminate disparities in health care access for these groups, which often fall between the gaps of private insurance and personal income.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jackson- Hinds Comprehensive Health Center for their dedication to serving.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a challenge-oriented

young man who understands that it takes tenacity and self reliance to reach the highest success, Mr. Chester H. Stanford.

Chester H. Stanford was born November 26, 1995 in Chicago, IL to proud parents Travis and Nora Stanford. He attended St. Elizabeth Catholic School in Chicago, IL for two years in kindergarten and first grade. It is this institution that he credits for giving him an advanced perspective of what knowledge is and what can be done to obtain it.

In September 2003 Chester and his mother relocated to Vicksburg, MS to care for his grandmother. Chester believes the responsibility of caring for his grandmother in the absence of his mother is what taught him to care for others, which in turn made him want to do all he can to help the next person.

Chester is a member of the Vicksburg High School JROTC, which he credits for molding his character. Chester has climbed the ranks in JROTC. Starting his freshman year, he went from being a Cadet Private to Cadet Corporal his sophomore year; he progressed from Cadet Corporal to Cadet Second Lieutenant and gained the position of the Battalion Training Officer.

Currently, during his junior year, he progressed from Cadet Second Lieutenant to Cadet Captain. Through this program he has learned what service truly is. He has participated in and led several community service events at nursing homes, community events, and elementary schools. He has also participated in charity events for the local Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Center through the Culinary Arts Program, through which he, along with 20 other students, prepared thousands of hot meals that were sold to gain money for the organization.

Chester credits his mother for being the backbone of the family and directing his path. His motto is, ``that all things can be done through the love and service of your fellow man.''

Chester is a member of Mt. Carmel M. B. Church where he has served as secretary of the Sunday School Department since 2008 and in 2011 became a Sunday School teacher.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Chester H. Stanford for his hard work, dedication and a strong desire to achieve through adversity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable school, Jackson State University, that is located in Jackson, Mississippi. Jackson State University was founded in 1877, becoming a college in 1899, and is a historically black institution. It was granted university status in 1974. The University now awards Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees. It is a Carnegie Doctoral/ Research-Intensive institution.

Jackson State University is known as ``Mississippi's Urban University.'' It operates the Mississippi Urban Research Center, which ``develops and offers instructional programs, forums, conferences and workshops on urban life.'' Although this is not the mission statement of the University, the University's degree programs are largely in areas which have some bearing on urban life, such as public health, business, education, engineering, and public administration. Some of the liberal arts are represented, but largely the traditional ones such as English, Chemistry, Political Science and Mathematics.

Jackson State was founded in 1877 as Natchez Seminary by the American Baptist Home Society. The State of Mississippi gained control of the college in 1940 in order to train teachers. The University's current name was adopted in 1979.

The University is composed of ten different colleges and divisions: the College of Education and Human Development; the College of Business; the College of Public Service; the College of Science, Engineering, and Technical Arts; the College of Liberal Arts; the College of Lifelong Learning; and the Divisions of Graduate Studies, International Studies, and Undergraduate Studies.

There are seven undergraduate schools within the Colleges. Bachelor's Degrees are awarded in the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Science and Technology and Social Work. Graduate degrees are awarded in Allied Health, Business, Education, eleven Liberal Arts areas (including Public Policy and Administration and Urban and Regional Planning), Science and Technology, and Social Work. The school awards Doctoral Degrees in nine areas. The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree is also awarded. Jackson State houses the College of Business, Education and Human Development, Liberal Arts, Lifelong Learning, Public Service, and Science, Engineering and Technology. Also available are the Divisions of International Studies, Library and Information Resources, and Undergraduate Studies.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Jackson State University for their dedication to serving.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a self motivated leader and innovator of the community, Ms. Candace Windom and Miyori's Massage.

Born and raised in Rolling Fork, Candace graduated from South Delta High School and completed her studies in massage therapy at Antonelli College in July 2012. She earned her license as a state board certified therapist shortly after.

In late January 2013 Candace was hired as the only full-time massage therapist at Harlow's Casino in Greenville, Mississippi. At the age of 26, Candace opened the doors to Miyori's Massage at 133 Walnut Street in July 2013.

Miyori's Massage offers a wide variety of massage techniques. ``This is my hometown,'' Windom said, ``I want to give back to my community and bring something here we've never really had.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Candace Windom for giving back to the community in which she was born and reared.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Entrepreneur, Mr. Cammie Earl Hutcherson.

Cammie Hutcherson is a life-long resident of Jefferson County, Mississippi. He has developed the pride of helping his community in any way that he can. As a young adult, his first business was the H & H Farm, which is located on Fountain Road in Fayette. He basically raised cattle and horses. The farm is still operational at this time.

Later, Mr. Hutcherson went into business as Cammie's Wrecker Service, a venture he has worked diligently in for the past 20 years. This business has grown and is operational with four vehicles. His business is known for offering affordable, reliable and courteous services to residents in Jefferson County and surrounding counties.

In 2007, Mr. Hutcherson opened a mini storage facility which has been an asset to many residents in Jefferson County. The storage has 90 rental units.

Presently, Mr. Hutcherson is working to open a restaurant/grill in Jefferson County. It will be named, ``Mur's Kitchen.'' The name is in memory of his late mother, Mrs. Willie Lee Hutcherson.

Mr. Hutcherson appreciates the success he has received from patrons in Jefferson County and hopes that the relationship will continue.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an aggressive entrepreneur, Mr. Cammie Earl Hutcherson, for his dedication to serving the surrounding area of Jefferson County, Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Entrepreneur, Mr. Clinton D. Williams, who is a resident Cleveland, Mississippi.

Mr. Williams was born November 23, 1972 to Clifton L. Williams, Sr. and Dorothy L. Williams of Shaw, Mississippi. He attended and graduated from McEvans Elementary and Shaw High School. Because of his interest in the arts, Clinton enrolled in the Fine Arts Program at Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, where he majored in Fine Arts with emphasis in Graphic Designs and Print Making. He graduated from in 1997 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree.

Clinton decided to remain in the Mississippi Delta to assist with the family screen printing business. In 1999, Clinton decided to start his own business, Williams Designs with the determination to take the family business along with his own business to the next level, he and his father worked hard to make sure that they provided quality work with reasonable prices with a fast turnaround time. It was of great importance that their customers understood that they were greatly appreciated by the Williams' family.

In 2005 the reigns to the family business were handed over to Clinton. With the responsibility to make sure the family business continued.

With over 25 years of experience, Triple C T-Shirts & Williams Designs are continuing to provide great customer service. Today, Clinton oversees all operations from cleaning up to doing artwork, making deliveries, printing, running errands, picking up lunch for his staff and even offering words of encouragement.

He is married to Shonda C. Williams and they have one daughter, Justice B. Williams.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing entrepreneur, Mr. Clinton Williams, for his dedication to entrepreneurialship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a long standing black farmer, Mr. Herbert Allen, Sr. of ``Allen Farm''. He and his family are residents of Silver City in Humphreys County, MS, where generations of Allen's have been farming since the 1940s which gives them over 70 years.

The story of the Allen family as black farmers includes major setbacks, but they are still in operation today. Grandpa Nathan Allen started with 40 acres of land in an effort to provide a decent living for himself, his wife, and 6 children. After he died, his son Herbert

Allen, Sr. began operating the 40-acre farm and grew it into 323 acres.

Herbert and his wife, Nomie, raised 9 children on that small and hard-to-come-by income because again the challenges of the black families were real. In fact they raised most of the food they used to feed their family.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, the odds have been great and many: Depression, rainy and dry crop years with little to sometimes no government compensation, floods, bad loans, too little loans, and other unfortunate things but again, through it all they survived.

Herbert Allen, Sr. operated the farm for over 50 years until his death in 2006, then Herbert, Jr. and his brother, Freddie, took over the operation. Although the two brothers managed the daily affairs, it was still a family affair involving all the siblings. There are several spinoff businesses that have been developed: Allen Recycling (Canton and Yazoo City, MS) Allen Heating and Air (Gulfport, MS), and Allen Cattle Ranch (Silver City, MS).

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring, Mr. Herbert Allen, Sr., a black farmer from the Mississippi's Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a well respected rural town minority owned business, Jackie's Beauty Boutique.

Jackie Bailey, originally from Edwards, Mississippi, became inspired to enter the profession of barber/stylist through her early interactions with Ms. Doris Green. Ms. Green was a well-known stylist in the Bolton community who performed a number of services, mainly hot comb presses. Ms. Bailey distinctly remembers watching Ms. Green hot comb press a number of young girls hair and noticing the ease and serenity in which Ms. Green styled hair.

Driven by her inspiration, Ms. Bailey enrolled at Utica Junior College in Utica, Mississippi in 1983 in the Barber/Stylist program. After obtaining her degree in 1984, she acquired a job with Apollo Hair Design in 1985, which was located in Jackson, Mississippi. She later resigned in 1986 to take a year hiatus to recover from a car accident. In 1988, an opportunity to co-own her own business presented itself, so she and her cousin, Madge Sherry, opened a beauty salon in Bolton, Mississippi.

Her primary clientele were residents of Bolton and neighboring towns. Men, women, and children were serviced in various manners, such as haircuts, shaves, relaxers, and general hair washing. With the presentation of another business opportunity, Ms. Bailey and her cousin separated business ties, allowing for Ms. Bailey to be one of the longest standing Black-owned salons in town. Her professionalism and expertise in barbering and styling has allowed her business to thrive in this rural area.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Jackie Bailey and Jackie's Beauty Boutique for its remarkable contribution and undying commitment to provide professional barbering and stylist services to the citizens of Bolton and neighboring rural communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a hardworking and self motivated man, Mr. Mack H. Shorter.

Mr. Shorter, a native of Issaquena County, has always called the Delta his home. He has been a farmer since 1976.

Mr. Shorter retired from the U.S. Corps of Engineers as a construction supervisor in 2008 and began farming full time. Farming has been his favorite past time for the last 37 years. During this time he has grown cotton, corn and soybeans. ``I just love to make things grow,'' stated Mr. Shorter. Since retirement he farms about 160 acres of soybeans and raises about 75 to 80 cattle.

Mr. Shorter has six children. He and his wife, Hazel, reside in Fitler, Mississippi in Issaquena County and are active members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Cary, Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Mack H. Shorter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a unique and well established minority owned business, Magnolia Windshield Repair and Replacement.

Magnolia Windshield Repair and Replacement began operation November 1, 2002 in Bolton, Mississippi. There was no office, fax, or landline phone. There was no specific parking lot or driveway to drive a vehicle in for servicing. This dream was birthed with a mobile operation in mind.

Mr. Pelvia Robinson, owner and operator since its establishment, created a business that was completely mobile, allowing for him to complete a windshield repair wherever needed.

Mr. Robinson realized there was no adequate space within the city limits of Bolton, nor any of the other rural surrounding areas, without having to drive at least 20 miles to Jackson for windshield repair. Because Mr. Robinson was born and raised in Bolton, he felt that this type of business would not only benefit the people of the town and the surrounding rural areas, but it also presented a unique business opportunity for himself as an up and coming entrepreneur.

Since its inception, Magnolia Windshield Repair and Replacement has grown from just having private customers to servicing commercial customers, while also acquiring several major contracts. Magnolia Windshield employs one other person to assist in its day to day operation. Even after being in business for nearly 11 years, Magnolia Windshield is still mobile, but its official address and location is 207 Bolton-Brownsville Road, Bolton, Mississippi, at which often times cars are repaired for those customers wanting to bring their vehicles in for immediate repair.

In addition to a location, it also has an office, a fax, and a landline telephone. Mr. Robinson accredits his success as being owner of Magnolia Windshield Replacement and Repair first to God, second to his parents, Henry and Ruth Robinson, and thirdly a strong family support.

Mr. Pelvia Robinson was born January 11, 1964. He is the last child of 9 siblings. His formal education included elementary education in Bolton, MS and secondary and college education at Hinds Agricultural High School and Hinds Community College, respectively. He is the father of Pelvius Robinson, and grandfather of Pelvius Robinson, Jr. He is married to Paulette Robinson.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Pelvia Robinson and Magnolia Windshield Repair and Replacement for his dedication and service as a minority business owner to the citizens of Bolton and surrounding rural communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man whose life's work is centered around cultivating and harvesting the land, Mr. Milton Lewis.

Mr. Lewis is considered a masterful farmer by many in the small rural town of Bolton, MS. Dating back to as early as the 1960s, Mr. Lewis farmed approximately 10-15 acres of land alongside his mother, Mrs. Ruthie Bell Lewis, as sharecroppers.

Mr. Lewis cultivated a number of crops, such as potatoes, peanuts, sugar cane, and cotton. To fulfill his families sharecropping responsibilities, Mr. Lewis relinquished a portion of his family's harvest to the Gaddis & McLauren Seed and Feed Store, which is located in Bolton, MS.

Ultimately, Mr. Lewis diligently farmed his land for approximately 30 years. Today, Mr. Lewis continues to farm a small portion of land near his home, primarily for his enjoyment and close family members.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Milton Lewis for his impeccable cultivator talent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a long standing black farmer, Mr. Primus Wheeler. He and his family are residents of Tallahatchie County where generations of Wheeler's have been farming since 1936.

The story of the Wheeler family farming does not start with Primus, it started with his Father, Jim Wheeler. Jim started out farming a 40 acre unit rented from the Buford Plantation then later, rented 300 more acres until one day he was financially sound enough to purchase more than 1000 acres of his own. In order to secure his investment, Jim Wheeler invested his life lessons in his sons by teaching them the farming business, what it means to be a black farmer, the importance of having your own money, and family sticking together and staying together.

Primus began learning the family farming business as a farm hand, day supervisor, and even bookkeeper until 1948. These skills he held on to, seeing how his father was able to provide a sustainable and prideful life for the family.

In 1948 when he decided to marry, Georgia, his current wife of 65 years, he knew he too had to provide for his family. So, Primus along- side his wife, Georgia, began farming their first 40 acres of rented land. They grew

cotton, corn, soybeans, livestock, and vegetables. His livestock consisted of 30 to 40 cows and 50-100 hogs. In 1957 they purchased their first piece of land and moved away from the family owned land and farm, ``Wheeler Farm.''

Primus along-side his wife grew their farm to 100 acres, which is still located in the Sharkey Road community between Glendora and Tippo, MS. He remembers his first crop in 1957 as his worst but just as he was taught and had seen by working with his father on the family farm, ``you take the good with the bad and learn from it but keep going to break through. You just have to make more good crops than bad crops in order to survive.''

He was dealing with bad weather and insects. Over time Primus got better being on his own even increasing the farm from the initial 100 acres to 238 acres at one point then up to 800 acres by renting from local retired farmers. He was able to supplement his income by harvesting cotton and soybeans for other farmers.

Primus Wheeler, like so many black farmers had challenges that would test the soul and belief of any man.

Over the years he dealt with challenges like bad seasons in terms of weather, insects, and certainly government financing for black farmers. For example, he said, more times than not, that he had to lean on hope and prayer that FSA would approve his applications for financing, which often times came in late July or early August. These were emotional and unpredictable times; especially seeing the other farmers planting while he was faces the pitfall of FSA. You see, he relied on this money to purchase seeds and fertilizers. But nevertheless, he withstood them all relying on his father's teachings.

So, through it all, Primus and his wife was able to educate 9 children on their small delta farm and unlike him, not one of his children had to skip or quit school to stay home and help work the farm. Primus retired and turned the farm over to his son, Michael, who ran it until the late 1990s. Afterwards, Primus, Jr. gained control of the farm and still runs it today. However, in all cases, Primus himself is still involved in the decision making of the farm advising and mentoring his son and future generations. Hat's off to Mr. Primus Wheeler for hanging in there and maintaining his farm.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring, Mr. Primus Wheeler, a black farmer from the Mississippi Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a budding Minority Business in the Mississippi Delta, The Smokehouse Grill in Marks, MS.

On January 19, 1971, L.C. and Velma Pride welcomed a bouncing baby boy they named Paul Andrew. Paul was the youngest of the eight Pride children. Paul attended Quitman County School District where he received his high school diploma in 1989.

Paul furthered his education at Northwest Community College in 1990 majoring in Computer Programming. He became employed at Sunflower Grocery Store in Senatobia, MS for his first job. He worked there for two years where he learned to become an independent man he is today. He later moved on to a better opportunity at Mood Automotive for eight years where he gained a lot of friends, experience, and skills to be an example for others to follow.

Paul purchased his first home in Marks, MS at the age of 21. It was a huge accomplishment that he was extremely proud of. He later began driving trucks for Ozark Motor Lines where he worked two years. During this time, his daughter, the most beautiful girl, was born on April 14, 2002 and he named her, Japarian Marie Pride. Japarian is now an intelligent, outgoing 11 years old who attends South Panola Schools.

Driving through Marks, MS in March of 2002, Paul had a taste for barbeque rib tips, but there was no ``Rib Shack'' in Marks. Paul came up with the idea to open a rib shack. ``I asked God to show me the way,'' stated Paul and two months later, the doors of Paul Pride's Smokehouse were opened. Smokehouse, as it is commonly called, has been selling rib tips, chopped barbeque, ribs, wings, and fish ever since.

Smokehouse is located at 1075 Martin Luther King Dr. in Marks, MS. Paul stated, ``We have a great location here and we are located in an industrial area on Main St. Since opening, Smokehouse has saturated Quitman, Panola, Coahoma, and Tallahatchie counties.'' Being from Marks, Paul is no stranger to the area. His father was a part of the Marks Police Department for 40 years. Paul's roots run

deep in the city of Marks. Eleven years later, he is still on the grill and Smokehouse is still going strong.

Paul is now engaged to Stacy Frost who helps him run Smokehouse. Paul is destined to continue running his business and serving great food to those who eat at and support The Smokehouse Grill. Paul has a bright future that is continuing to blossom on a path to greatness.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing The Smokehouse Grill for serving our great community.

Mr. Speaker, this month is August and all this month I rise to honor black farmers. So today, I rise to honor the late Mr. William Byrd of Sunflower County, MS, five miles east of Shaw on Highway 442. He earned the name of Kingfish not because people thought he was a joke but because he became a well-known, respected and honest black business man with money--time frame 1920s to his death.

Mr. Byrd did not get a chance to go to school and get a full first through twelfth grade education, no, in fact, he acquired his education by the means of hands-on hard work, life experiences, and the ``Blue Back Webster.'' Like many laboring migrant black families he moved with his father, mother, and siblings around until finally settling in the Mississippi Delta. The many moves with his family was because his dad, Mr. Shep Byrd, was strong willed on not settling his life as a sharecropper but, rather self-employed and own land.

So, this transmission of self-employment was passed on to Mr. William Byrd, who in turn passed it on to his children, Lonnie ``LC'' Byrd, Melvin ``Jimbo'' Whiting, Velma ``Red'' Whiting, Thelma ``Black'' Whiting, and Thomas ``TL'' W. Byrd. His son, Thomas recalls his dad, often saying, ``I'll even buy swamp land and make something out of it, if I just get the chance to buy it.''

Little by little Mr. William Byrd would work and save his money never forgetting his dream to buy land. He even found a piece of land he wanted to buy and yes, it was under water and thought to be useless. A useless piece of land back then was called ``deadening'' land because it was swap area and not considered fertile for anything. He would often go there and gaze and dream, and cut down trees wisely clearing the land but telling all those who asked him, ``What are you doing. . .?'' he would say, ``I'm cutting wood for burning.''

Many times, the white men would threaten his life and run him home but he kept going back into the ``deadening'' until eventually he had saved enough money to buy the first of approximately 700 acres of land he would own over the course of his entire life.

The journey of this Black Farmer is that by 1940 he was well established with 20 houses or more on his land for all his workers,

both black and white, although once word got out that white folks were willing to work for him the other whites would run them off.

You see, Mr. Byrd believed in treating people the way he wanted to be treated, regardless of color. By 1955, he had earned enough money and respect as a black business man that he was able to purchase at least ten homes and two restaurants in Shaw, often paying cash each time he made a purchase. By this time, ``money was no problem'' as his son remembered his Dad saying. In fact, the first house he purchased was a big beautiful brick house which was the home of Mr. Thomas McEvans.

Mr. McEvans was another rich man in Shaw; he owned a clothing store, tailoring shop, and he took the lead in building the 1st colored school in Shaw, and a member of the Board of Trustees among other influences he held in Shaw. In 1959, part of his dream to build a community for blacks began to materialize. Mr. Byrd purchased a building ten miles west of Shaw on Highway 448 and had it moved to its current location of Hwy 442, five miles east of Shaw. That building became a focal point of Byrd's community. He remolded the building turning it into ``Byrd Grocery,'' and later he added on to the building a restaurant and gas station, changing the name to ``Byrd Grocery and Service Station.'' Byrd's community also had two baseball fields.

When Black farmers were losing their farms in the 1960s for various reasons, Mr. Byrd was never affected or worried because he knew he had planned wisely. Long before automation really took over, he was already using tractors to do the work on the farm, getting away from the mule. But when automation fully came into use, his son, Thomas recalls the day his Dad went to the John Deere place and purchased a brand new top of the line, ``John Deere'' cotton picker. And because he was able to pay $25,000 cash for the John Deere, the white salesman surely sold it to him because of the money but after that he refused to have anything else to do with him because it was unheard of and certainly shocking that Mr. Byrd, a black man, was in possession of that amount of cash and no one really knew. You see, his success rested in his belief to ``never spend more than you make, keep folks out of your business, and don't be extravagant because a fool and his money will soon part,'' said, his son, Thomas Lee.

In 1975, Mr. Byrd due to health problems turned the family farm over to his oldest son, Lonnie ``LC'' Byrd, who died December 17, 1999. Mr. William ``Kingfish'' Byrd died in July 1980 and is buried in the Strangers Home Cemetery in Shaw, MS beside his wife, Daisy Byrd, who died in August 1981. Thomas Lee recalls his father's last words to him, ``Son, I told LC and I'm telling you never sell the farm. I built this for all my children.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring, Mr. William ``Kingfish'' Byrd, a black farmer from the Mississippi Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable person, Mrs. Joe Ann Mister-Thomas, who is a native of Grenada, Mississippi. She currently resides in Jackson, Mississippi.

Mrs. Thomas helps maintain her family farms in both Grenada and Calhoun Counties. Her farms specialize in cattle and vegetable

crops. Farming has been her passion for the past thirteen and a half years. Mrs. Thomas specializes in the production of greens, peas, peppers and tomatoes. She enjoys increased crop production and quality with the use of high tunnels in her operation.

Mrs. Thomas is a child advocate and works with several youth organizations including Grenada County 4-H as Volunteer Leader, Hinds County 4-H Leader and Girls Making a Change (GMAC). These organizations are focusing on healthy families.

Mrs. Thomas is community driven and has been instrumental in feeding the homeless in her area from her garden production. The youth actively assist with this community service project, teaching them sustainability and how to help and care for others. Mrs. Thomas serves as NWIAA Mississippi Hills Region Chairwoman. Her chapter includes Grenada and Calhoun Counties.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Joe Ann Mister-Thomas, for her dedication to serving others.