Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mr. George S. Cole.

Mr. George Simeon Cole, the fifth child of nine siblings born to the late Elijah Cole, Sr. and ReeAlma George Cole, is a 1967 graduate of Velma Jackson High School. He was recently inducted into the Alcorn State University Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Cole realized a lifelong dream when he was recruited by the late Coach Theophilus Danzy, and earned a four-year scholarship to Alcorn A & M College.

As a youth, Mr. Cole showed leadership, not only as a young football and baseball scholar, but in family responsibilities. At age 16, he worked as a brick mason helper to build Velma Jackson Elementary School. Mr. Cole served as captain of the Velma Jackson High School football team for three consecutive years, and was elected to serve as president of his senior class.

Mr. Cole earned an undergraduate degree from Alcorn State University, and a master's degree from Mississippi State University. He worked as a teacher-coach, retired as school principal, and presently works as a part-time education consultant. Mr. Cole serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Velma Jackson High School Foundation.

In a family of Alcornites, Mr. Cole is married to Dr. Pallascene Bright Cole, father to two children: Rocky and Gilda and three grandchildren: Jaylan, Christian, and Evan Elijah.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. George S. Cole for his dedication to serving others in Madison County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Pastor Dr. John E. Cameron who was born on June 11, 1932, just outside of Hattiesburg, Mississippi in Petal. His parents were the late Mr. A.C. and Mrs. Courtney Cameron. He is the fourteenth of sixteen children.

Pastor Cameron was educated in the Springfield Vocational High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he graduated in 1951. He later attended Alcorn A and M College in Lorman, Mississippi. He attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi where he received his B.S. degree. Pastor Cameron also attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee where his major was social science (theology).

Pastor Cameron has been serving in a pastoral position for more than forty years. His first position was at First Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi. He is currently pastor at Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi where he has been since 1970. Pastor Cameron has been active in numerous organizations and actively involved in the civil rights movement extending back prior to his involvement with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pastor Cameron worked with Dr. King on voter registration campaigns in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area.

Pastor Cameron has been involved in civic affairs which included his bid for the United States Congress Fifth Congressional District in the State of Mississippi. He was the director of the Hattiesburg Ministers' Project and served as Ambassador to Central America. Presently, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Pearl River Valley Redevelopment Basin in Hinds County.

Pastor Cameron has been cited in Who's Who in Black America, Notable Americans in the Bicentennial Era and Outstanding Community Leader. He has received a proclamation from Mayor Dale Danks, Jr., a proclamation from Judge Alexander in Hinds County and he served as a colonel on Governor Cliff Finch's staff.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pastor John E. Cameron for his dedication to serving others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable public servant, Mother Evelyn Marshall-Mays. Mother Marshall spent her early years in historic Mound Bayou, Mississippi with her parents, the late Alford and Evelyn Harvey Marshall, along with nine siblings. She graduated from Mound Bayou High School in 1951.

Mother Marshall married Eddie Lee Mays in 1952, and they are the proud parents of five children. She worked diligently as a nurse for 25 years. Upon retirement, she operated a daycare center for over eight years.

Mother Marshall is an integral part of Liberal Trinity Church of God in Christ, fulfilling numerous roles: church mother, teacher of the primary Sunday school class for 57 years; mentor for young children and young women through conversation and an exemplary lifestyle, holding true to Psalm 121, encouraging everyone to love others and to follow God's Word and mandates.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mother Evelyn Marshall-Mays for her dedication to serving others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary Black History honoree, Mr. James R. Figgs.

Mr. Figgs is an activist for the Civil Rights Movement of Mississippi and the United States. He has participated in so many activities of discrimination against people of color. Mr. Figgs was involved with the late Medgar Evers of the NAACP Council Member through Voter Registration. Blacks were not able to register, because of their inability to pass a written exam.

He was involved as a youth college student and as an employee of several organizations. Mr. Figgs' mother, Ruth E. Figgs, instilled in him as a little boy to always stand up for his rights. His mother was also a Civil Rights Leader in Marks, MS.

Mr. Figgs has dedicated his entire life to working to make life a better place for the people of color.

Now Mr. Figgs is 71 years old and still fighting for just cause. For the past 45 years, he has been fighting for the rights of people, equal opportunities for jobs without discrimination, housing and protection from police brutality.

Mr. Figgs was a part of several marches and just to name a few, marched to free Nelson Mandela and marched to make sure poor people had an opportunity to register and vote. Mr. Figgs stated that he has been marching and petitioning in Mississippi all of his entire adult life.

He learned from and worked for the late Aaron E. Henry, of the Mississippi NAACP and the late Ben L. Hooks, the National Director of the NAACP for 16 years. Mr. Figgs is still on the battlefield fighting until all of the dreams of the Civil Rights Leaders become a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. James R. Figgs for his dedication, hard work and being a part of history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Civil Rights Organization, St. Gabriel Mercy Center in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.

On November 9, 1948 Father John W. Bowman was appointed head of the project mission in Mound Bayou. In 1949 St. Gabriel Parish began. Five acres of land were given to the Catholic Church and five acres were purchased by Father John.

On September 7, 1954 St. Gabriel Mission School for kindergarten through eighth grade was founded by the Oblate Sisters of Providence of Baltimore, Maryland, who were the first successful Roman Catholic sisterhood in the world established by women of African descent. The sisters had been invited to Mound Bayou by the Society of Divine Word Fathers under Father John Bowman.

The high school was added in 1958 and closed in 1961. The present church was built in 1960 and the convent was built in 1962.

After 30 years the Oblate sisters left and were followed by the Sisters of St. Agnes of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, who stayed five years; following from 1990-2001 by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart from Reading, Pennsylvania, who opened an early childhood school after the grade school closed.

In 1994 the upper grades closed and the Early Childhood School opened for ages two through four year olds. In 1995 Sister Helen Papan, a Certified Parents as Teachers Educator, arrived and started a parenting program.

In 1997, the Gabriel Center was opened by Christian Brother Tom Geraghty and in 1999 three Sisters of Mercy arrived. In 2001 the early childhood school closed and the building became a community center for the citizens of Mound Bayou to continue their legacy of being an asset to an improvised community. The current Executive Director, Sister Donald Mary Lynch, joined St. Gabriel Mercy Center in 2001 and continued to expand on program offerings.

In 2002 the Mound Bayou County Library opened in the center. The library closed in 2010 due to renovations of the center and was relocated and reopened in 2011 to its current location in the Mound Bayou Community Facility Building. Sister Donald Mary Lynch is very involved in the community of Mound Bayou: working with school officials, former and current city officials, partnering with the local AARP chapter, working with the Taborian Project, serving on Congressman Thompson's Military Advisory Board and other civic organizations.

St. Gabriel Mercy Center offers numerous programs and services to the community of Mound Bayou and the surrounding communities such as: the Parent Education and Family Support program, which serves families throughout pregnancy until children reach the age of three; Parent Educators visit the new family in their home each month; Senior Outreach Program; Parents as Teachers; GED Program; St. Gabriel's Closet; Computer and Learning Lab; and Basic Emergency Needs & Jobs Opportunities Programs.

St. Gabriel Mercy Center continues the legacy of being a forerunner as a champion of civil rights, offering opportunities for the less fortunate, when others are afraid to take the lead.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing Civil Rights Organization for their dedication for change and equality.

Mr. Speaker, this month is Black History month and I

rise to honor two members of African American black history. They were two innocent lives cut short, Mr. Clinton Melton and his wife, Mrs. Beulah Melton of Glendora (Tallahatchie County), Mississippi.

Being a part of history does not always require some extraordinary feat but sometimes simply being innocent and unjustly victimized. This is the case, Mr. Speaker with Mr. Melton and his wife, Mrs. Melton. They were two young African Americans living in the small town of Glendora, MS working hard and raising their four children. He was a gas station attendant but her occupation was never mentioned because her murder was covered up and only mentioned as a reckless driving incident and not really spoken of.

Clinton Melton, Murdered: On December 3, 1955, Mr. Melton, a 33 year old gas station attendant of Lee McGarrh Firestone gas station in Glendora, went outside to gas up the car that Elmer Otis Kimball was driving. The car belonged to J.W. Milam, who had been acquitted on September 23, 1955 for the mutilation and murder of Emmett Louis Till.

The story goes that Mr. Kimball asked for $2 worth of gas but because the amount Mr. Melton actually put in the car was not $2 (amount unknown) he was killed. Mr. Kimball had become enraged about the gas, and very loud and publicly vowed to return and kill Mr. Melton--a promise he kept, returning shortly thereafter leaving only to retrieve his shotgun. Mr. Clinton Melton was killed instantly in front of three witnesses (the owner, a friend, and a bystander) leaving behind his young wife and children.

The trial of Elmer Otis Kimball, as in the Emmett Till's murder trial held at the Sumner Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi (Tallahatchie County), resulted in yet another ``not guilty'' verdict.

Beulah Clinton, Murdered: She was a wife and mother of four who didn't deserve being murdered and forgotten about. Therefore Mr. Speaker, I rise today to also make sure her life is not forgotten by telling her story. At that time, the acquittal and humiliation of the Emmett Till murder trial was a fresh wound in Glendora, home of the murdered, and across entire Tallahatchie County. But, as a mother and wife, Mrs. Melton would not let that stop her. In March, 1956 one day, while out driving in an effort to gather information for the upcoming murder trial of her husband, Mrs. Melton was forced off the road into a bayou. In the car she had two of her small children, Debris and Clinton Melton, Jr. Both were rescued by a relative who saw the car while driving by.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the late Mr. Clinton and Mrs. Beulah Melton for Black History Month, whose lives were cut short for no justifiable reason from the Mississippi Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a self motivated and innovative man, Mr. Larry W. White. Mr. White has shown what can be done through tenacity, dedication and a desire to achieve.

Mr. White was born January 26, 1959 in Cannonsburg, MS; he is the second of seven children. His mother Josephine Jackson is his greatest inspiration.

After high school Mr. White proudly served his country from 1977 to 1997 in the U.S. Navy where he retired as an Aviation Electronic Technician. During his career, Mr. White traveled the world: Guam, Italy, France, Germany, Europe, Korea and many other countries, and was stationed in Memphis, Lemoore, Norfolk, Jacksonville and San Diego in the U.S. He received his education, training, numerous awards and certificates while serving in the Navy.

Mr. White serves on the Yazoo City Chamber of Commerce, FCC Community Development Board and member of the American Legion. Larry W. White is Founder, President and CEO of AA Calibration Services, LLC, a fast growing measurement and repair service for test and measurement equipment users, that was founded in 2004 after Larry became unemployed, with the closing of L-3 Communication's calibration lab. Larry purchased L-3 Communication's lab equipment and formed of AA Calibration Services on the Main Street of Yazoo City, MS, he was the sole employee.

Rejected by banks for loans, Larry worked and saved to expand his business in 2010. Today, AA Calibration Services, LLC, located at 111 Roosevelt Hudson Drive in Yazoo City, MS, employs eighteen and has a customer base of about one hundred.

Mr. White is a member of King Solomon M. B. Church. In his free time he enjoys attending family functions, playing dominos, golf, fishing, and watching the Chicago Bears.

Mr. White is married to Dorothy White and to that union they have five children: Jamie, Anthony, Etoya, Yolanda and Ariel.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Larry W. White for his passion and dedication to serving our great Country and desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a pillar of the community, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal. Bethel AME has served as a catalyst for the African American growth in Warren County and the State of Mississippi.

Founded in 1864 by Pastor Page Tyler, a missionary from Indiana, Bethel was the first African Methodist Episcopal church in Mississippi. It is known as The Mother Congregation of African Methodism in the state. Although other black churches have earlier histories, they were organized as Methodist Episcopal and later united under the A.M.E. religion. Bethel, however, was the first congregation organized by the A.M.E. connection in Mississippi and the second in the southern United States.

Bethel has a rich legacy as her members served as pioneers in progressing African-American culture greatly forward in the State of Mississippi. The first African-American Masonic Lodge in Mississippi was organized at Bethel in 1875 by the first Pastor of Bethel, Reverend Dr. T.W. Stringer, a freeman from Canada. Adding to her history, in 1890, Campbell College, the first African-American College in Mississippi was established and operated from an adjoining building to Bethel. The college moved to Jackson, MS in 1897 and was absorbed by Jackson State University.

In 1992 Bethel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States and the City of Vicksburg captures Bethel's historic significance with inclusion of a 19th Century Bethel and Congregation on its Riverfront Murals.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Bethel African Methodist Episcopal for its rich heritage and dedication to serving others and giving back to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary Black History honoree, Mrs. Anita Bledsoe-Covington.

Raised in Grenada County, MS, Mrs. Anita Bledsoe-Covington is known within the community for her entrepreneurship and an active member of the community. Born 9th out of 11 children of the late Icy Bell and Willie Sykes, the family had made strides of their own. Her mother, Ms. Icy Bell, was the head cook of a prestigious and all white restaurant, Monte Cristo, of Grenada, MS from 1963 until the year she passed 1973. Ms. Juanita Sykes, Mrs. Bledsoe-Covington's twin sister, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he made his way through the south in 1967. And for her courage and civil defiance, she was arrested and jailed for this act.

With her three children, Mrs. Bledsoe-Covington moved to Yalobusha County in 1973. This move would be the first of many for Mrs. Anita Bledsoe-Covington. In 1978, she became the first black female delegate for the Mississippi Democratic Convention in Jackson, MS, as a representative for Yalobusha County.

During 1982 Mrs. Bledsoe-Covington opened Nita's Beauty Salon making her a staple in serving her community as a business woman. The salon earned Mrs. Anita numerous accolades as a beautician and entrepreneur. By 1986, she was the first black chairman of the Title I program for the Coffeeville School District as an active parent. As the 90's rolled in, Mrs. Anita was elected the first female Trustee of Coffeeville School Board District from 1991 through 1998. She also was hired as the first black female city clerk for the town of Oakland, MS in 1991.

During this time, the beginning of her career as a teacher with the Institution of Community Service head start program. Although she had already started her career as an early childhood school teacher, Mrs Bledsoe-Covington graduated from Coahoma Community College with an associate in early childhood education in 2003.

By 2005, in the same field, she earned her B.S. from Mississippi Valley State University. Coming full circle, 2010, Can's Chapel CME Church honored Mrs. Bledsoe-Covington as an unsung hero for Succeeding against the Odds during their Black History program. In 2012, she has obtained the Dean and President Certificate from the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.

Now married at the age of 60 and with 10 grandchildren and 1 great- grandchild later, when asked if it was her agenda to create Black History, her response was, ``I've always accepted challenge and I guess maybe I did! I wanted to see if I could make a difference.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Anita Bledsoe-Covington for her quest in being a part of making history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable Civil Rights Activist, Mrs. Catherine Miller who is a resident of Friars Points, Mississippi.

Mrs. Miller was born in the historical Taborian Hospital in Mound Bayou, Mississippi and resided with her parents the late James Lee Nolan, Sr. and Juanita Grandberry Johnson and her sixteen siblings in Friars Point, Mississippi. At the age of five her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee and after three years the family relocated to Friars Point to run their farm.

Mrs. Miller was educated in the Memphis City School District, Friars Point Elementary School, and graduated from Coahoma Agricultural High School and Coahoma Junior College. She furthered her education at Alcorn State College and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from LeMoyne College in Memphis, Tennessee, and continued her studies at Walden University towards a Master Degree in Non-Profit Management.

In the early 1970's Mrs. Miller participated in boycotting stores in Friars Point where people were being treated unjustly and got involved with activities which highlighted change for equality. She became a member of the Young Democratic Organization, and worked and campaigned in several Coahoma County Board of Supervisors Elections where her interest in politics evolved.

Mrs. Miller lives by the motto, ``action speaks louder than words''. In 1982 she entered the political arena and ran unsuccessfully for the position of Town Clerk for the Town of Friars Point, but that did not deter her because she was determined to be the town clerk. In October, 1986 she was elected Friars Point Town Clerk. After being in this position for about two years, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen passed an ordinance making the Town Clerk's position an appointed position instead of an elected position. During this time Mrs. Miller stated that she would never run for another elected office because her mother was totally against her being involved in politics. She was employed in the appointed position as town clerk for over 20 years.

In February, 2009 Mrs. Miller left the Town of Friars Point Town Clerk's position and was hired as the Administrative Assistant to the newly elected Coahoma County Sheriff Charles Jones. A lot of things had changed in her life, with the passing away of her mother, she decided that she would no longer sit back and just talk about how she was not pleased with the leadership or the conditions of the town where she lives.

After soul searching and much prayer about the situations Mrs. Miller decided to enter the political arena, once again, in March, 2009 to seek the position of Mayor and was unsuccessful. Over the next four years she continued to show an interest in becoming Mayor of the Town of Friars Point, to see, make changes and improvements in the town. In March 2013 she threw her bid in to run for the position of Mayor of the Town of Friars Point. On June 4, 2013 her dream became a reality. She was elected the first African-American woman to become Mayor of the Town of Friars Point in over 120 years in history of being incorporated as a town.

Mrs. Miller's former position as the Town Clerk of Friars Point afforded her a wealth of knowledge and experience to assist her in the position of Mayor. In serving as Mayor she welcomes the challenges with the help of her constituents and the Board of Aldermen to move the Town of Friars Point forward.

Mrs. Miller is married to Arthur Lee Miller, Jr and they have five children: Danielle, Domonique, Rosalind, Chantauna, Arthur, III; seven grandchildren: Cameron, Hollis, Arveon, Lauren, Itlay, Asia, London and one grandson, Carson. She is a member of the First Community Church in Dubbs, Mississippi under the leadership of Pastor Rodney Hibbler.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing Civil Rights Activist, Mrs. Catherine Miller Williams, for her dedication to change and equal rights.

Mr. Speaker, this is Black History Month and I rise to honor Mr. Eddwin Alexander Smith who was born on May 27, 1974 to Dr.'s Jimmy Lee and Jo Ann Smith. He has one sister, Ms. Geraline Smith.

Mr. Eddwin Smith graduated from Port Gibson High in 1992. He matriculated through Alcorn State University receiving a B.S. degree in Elementary Education in 1996 and a Masters in Administration and Supervision in 1998.

All through Eddwin's family life, he has been heavily engaged in civil rights and politics in his community. He learned early on of the importance of people and community. As he grew and matured, this allowed him to witness his family for over two generations, come to understand why it takes a village to make change with effective leadership.

Eddwin has been in Education for 16 years in various capacities as: Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. He has been employed in the: Claiborne County Public Schools, Memphis City Public Schools, Jackson Public Schools, Noxubee Public Schools and Wilkerson County Public Schools. He has demonstrated a real passion for students which he believes, ``A well equipped Male/Female will make any community a better place.'' When he visits the different communities, where he once was employed, he can now begin to see the fruits of his labor. Some of the students are beginning to graduate from college and start their careers.

After a number of years serving in education, there came a greater calling, in terms of him wanting to become more engaged in his community, therefore, he ran for Supervisor. Eddwin ran for this office in 2011, won the election and began working in this office in January, 2012. During his first year in office, he focused on the needs of the people. In his second year, he was elected President of the Board of Supervisors by his peers. His continued goals are to improve community and economic development through effective leadership and his success has been seen in the Community of Claiborne County.

Eddwin is a devoted father of one daughter, Embree Gwendolyn Smith, who is following in the leadership of her father. He is also a dedicated member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Gibson, Mississippi. He states that, ``He accepts that God wants him to be a change agent for the betterment of all its citizens in Claiborne County, Port Gibson, Mississippi.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Eddwin Alexander Smith, a sincere and dedicated man with a mission for change, during this Black History Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable rural town sanctuary, Mount Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church.

``If you desire to eat for a year, plant rice. If you desire to be remembered ten years later, plant a tree. If you desire to save future generations, educate a child. But, if your desire is to preserve mankind, plant rice, a tree, educate a child, and build a church.''

It was with this philosophy, spurred by the divine inspiration of God, that the Mount Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church was organized. The year was 1864. Worship services began under a brush harbor on a two acre plot of land given to the church by Mr. Bolton and was originally known as Bolton Baptist Church. The first pastor was Rev. Bob Sanders.

During this time, there were many ladies who were strong believers in God, so they joined the church to help manage its affairs. By now, the Sunday school was beginning to play an important role in the church and Mr. John Williams was elected the first Sunday School Superintendent. The church was making progress and everyone turned to it as the last phase of life and hope.

In 1918, at the tender age of 54 years, Bolton Baptist Church was destroyed by fire, but with Mrs. Elizabeth Brown and other determined people, a portion of the building that the congregation now worships in was rebuilt and named after her. This changed the name from Bolton Baptist Church to Mt. Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church. Since the year 1864, the church has been a symbol of strength.

In 1954, when the State Highway Department began construction on New Highway 80, Mt. Elizabeth was moved from its original site to about one-fourth mile south of Highway 80. In 1964, the State Highway Department began construction on Interstate 20. At the age of 100 years, the church was moved a second time from one mile north of the town of Bolton to one mile south of Bolton, where it stands today.

Down through the years, the church was blessed with leaders, men who walked and talked with God and have kept the church moving for the past 150 years. Some of those who delivered their sermons from the pulpit were Rev. Bob Sanders, Rev. J. C. Lambert, Rev. Richard Patton, Rev. Jack Anthony, Rev. Cassidy Buckley, Rev. John C. Hunter and Rev. Wilbert Owens. Some moved on while others passed on.

In 1984, God saw that the congregation was struggling to stay together without a shepherd to lead them. God answered their call and sent to them a humble and loving Christian man, Rev. Bernard McKinley, Sr. A number of deacons and mothers were instrumental in assisting the aforementioned leadership carry on the church business, ultimately helping the congregation to grow were Deacons: Deacons Dave McCray, Edmond Jefferson, Elict Watts, John Williams, Busher Mitchell, Jim Gooden, Robert Miles, Sr., Isiac George, Marshall Richmond, J. W. Wilburn, Dave Wilkins, Van Green, Sr., Jack Bennett, David Keys, Frank Johnson, L. C. Barber, William Johnson, Thirley Lewis, Sr., Ronald Mack, J. C. Malone and Clyde Montgomery, Sr.; Mothers: Magaree Garner, Callie Green, Katie Jordan, Louise Keys, Lucille Keys, Ruth Bell Lewis, Bernice Miles, Mary Porter, Frankie Reese, Ocey Richmond, Lillian Rollins, Minerva Rollins, Lee Ann Ross, and Frances Wilson; Sunday School Superintendents: Rev. William Levi, L. J. Myles, Jesse Burns, Jr., Johnie M. Thompson, Thirly Lewis, Jr., Kenneth R. Lewis, Deloice Lewis, Susie J. Carter, and Jimmie Lewis, Sr.; Sister Rosie Patterson served as Church Clerk/Sunday School teacher; and Brother James Malone served as musician for many decades. Under the leadership of Rev. John C. Hunter, an outdoor baptismal pool was built. In 1977 under the leadership of Rev. Wilbert Owens, indoor bathrooms, three classrooms, a pastor's study and kitchenette were added.

During the span of 30 years, the church has undergone many changes, both in physical and spiritual growth, including the purchase of an additional acre of land for a cemetery plot. In 2005, the church underwent a major renovation project, which included the addition of an indoor baptismal pool, fellowship hall (with kitchen, restrooms, and classrooms), a foyer with additional restrooms and storage spaces, and pavement of the previous dirt and gravel parking lot.

Presently, the leadership of the church encompasses Pastor Bernard McKinley, Sr.; Deacons: Steve Adams, Tywon Alexander, Sr., Jesse Burns, Jr., Michael Green, Albert Lewis, Sr., Kenneth Ray Lewis, Terrence Sanders, and Bernard McKinley, Jr.; Deaconesses/Mothers: Linda Adams, Earnestine Alexander, Ola Cotton, Flora Green, Fannie Lewis, and Alberta Williams; Trustees Susie Carter, Edward Cotten, Wayne Gaddis, Vera Gaddis, Bobby Kirksey, and Mollie Bell McCray; Church Secretary, Sister Carolyn G. Price; and Sunday School Superintendent, Sister Johnie M. Thompson.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mount Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church for serving as a pillar of steadfast dedication, providing an ever growing spiritual place of worship within the Bolton community for 150 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable historical church, New Green Grove Church of Faith of Greenwood, Mississippi and the great leadership it is under.

Green Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Greenwood, Mississippi was founded in 1909. It was founded by a dedicated group of people who wanted a place to worship. Services were held each fourth Sunday. In 1965, Green Grove M.B. Church was destroyed by fire and was completely rebuilt 1\1/2\ years later.

Since the church's inception, it has served under nine pastors and several outstanding officers. Reverend Milton L. Young, the eighth pastor, served for a period of fifty-four years. Reverend Young was a wonderful pastor. Under his leadership many souls were brought to Christ.

In 1995, Pastor Young's health began to fail. He suffered a stroke causing paralysis to his left leg. Reverend Milton Glass presided briefly in his absence and in July of 1995, Pastor Glass was elected ``shepherd over the flock'' with 25 active members.

The Church's name was changed in 1995 to New Green Grove M.B. Church. Today, it is called New Green Grove Church of Faith. From October, 1995 to August, 1996, New Green Grove began holding its services at Jones Chapel #1 because of costly water problems in its building. Easter Sunday of 2001, New Green Grove Church of Faith celebrated the dedication of its current sanctuary. On February 10, 2008, the church held its Mortgage Burning Service to celebrate the completion of their mortgage.

Under Bishop Glass' leadership, many services have been added to spiritually feed the members of the church. Worship is every Sunday with the exception of the fifth Sunday. Sunday School, Bible study and Intercessory Prayer Service are included in their weekly worship schedule.

Over the years, the pastor and members of New Green Grove Church of Faith have added spiritual growth programs to help the church become more knowledgeable of the Gospel. Some of these programs are: New Membership Orientation, Men of Standard Men's Ministry, Saturday Early Morning Prayer Service and an active Missionary Society.

The Congregational Health Ministry is an ongoing ministry to help the members take care of themselves physically, while maturing spiritually. Also established is the church website which is www.newgreengrovechurchoffaith.org. In 2010 the Audio/Visual Ministry was instituted which included the CD/DVD tape ministry.

On May 19, 2002 the sister church, The Living Word Church, a division of Catch the Vision Ministries was established in Lake City, Florida under the leadership of Pastors Vernon and Mitzi Singleton with Bishop Milton Glass as the overseer.

With the need to transport their members to and from services the church purchased a church bus in 2002. The bus served its purpose, however; in 2009, it was sold and replaced with a second van and a 25 passenger bus. The transportation ministry is always ready to assist the members who don't have a ride to church.

With the increase of its membership over the years, New Green Grove had to physically expand. One area of expansion is the purchase of twenty acres of land in 2003 located across the street from the church. In 2009, part of that land was converted into a parking lot to assist with the overflow of parking. Future plans and the vision of Bishop Glass is to use the remainder of the land to build a Spiritual Life Center to further support the outreach ministry in the community.

Currently, they are adding 4,500 sq. ft. for additional classrooms and fellowship hall space. Today, they have over 700 members with an average attendance of 400 each Sunday.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing New Green Grove Church of Faith for its contribution to the black community and black churches.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Robert Jamison.

Robert Jamison was born in Quitman County in 1954. He was a student in the Quitman County School System. In 1968, he was among the first blacks to integrate schools in Quitman County, Mississippi.

Mr. Jamison also marched with Dr. Martin L. King. He helped with changing from the ``Old Stacked Voter System to the Ward Voting System'', in order for blacks to have equal representation when voting. He worked as a Social Service Director at Quitman County Development Organization. He also served on numerous boards such as: North MS Legal service, Housing Authority's, Deporres Health Center and Selective Service System.

Mr. Jamison is a Quitman County Veteran Service Officer and is the founder of a non-profit organization, North Delta Youth Development Center.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Robert Jamison for his dedication in being a part of the history making in Quitman County, Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary community leader, Mr. Melvin Johnson.

Mr. Melvin Charles Johnson was born and raised in a small town of Tunica, MS. He has been married to Debra L. (Toney) Johnson for 23 years. He was introduced to politics at the early age of 10. He marched in his first Civil Rights March in Tunica, MS in 1963 and became the vice president of the SCLC Youth Organization in Tunica.

Mr. Johnson was very talented in sports. One day at school after a football game, Mrs. Velma (Turner) Brown, which was one of his high school teachers, told him that if he would put the energy that he played in football in politics, that he could help change Tunica County. So, he took her advice because she counseled him and was a great mentor.

Later, he went on to organize and establish the first voter league in Tunica County. It was called ``United Voters League of Tunica.'' He also organized a voter registration booth in downtown Tunica in front of one of the night clubs. He collected all the information from each individual, filled out their applications and sent them to the circuit clerk's office to legally sign the papers in person.

He was one of the first that was elected State Constable in the Northern District of Tunica County. Mrs. Nellie Johnson, Mr. Miller, and Mr. Johnson contacted a TV spokesperson to tell them and to show them the conditions people were living in. This area was called Sugar Ditch, at the time.

Mr. Johnson also walked with Jessie Jackson when he came to Tunica to address poor living conditions in Tunica County. After this was brought to the world's attention, several people came to him looking for advice and told him about many other concerns that needed addressing in the community.

Mr. Johnson saw in a local newspaper where they had printed an article that referred to him as the ``County Community Organizer.'' In his lifetime, the only thing he had ever wanted to do was to help improve the living conditions in Tunica County, Mississippi. His mentors were Mrs. Lucille Hudson, Jessie Brandon Sr., and Mrs. Alice Brandon.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Melvin Johnson for his dedication in being a respected community leader.