Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable Georgian--Dr. Robert A. ``Bobby'' Clay, Jr.--who passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026, at the age of 98. Dr. Clay was a man of extraordinary character whose life of service left an indelible mark on Lee County, Georgia, and on the generations of students, families, and neighbors who were blessed to know him. A funeral service to celebrate his remarkable life will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Leslie City Cemetery in Leslie, Georgia.

Born in 1928 in Lee County, Bobby Clay was the son of Robert A. Clay, Sr. and Eddye Hooks Clay. He was raised during the Great Depression on Clay Spring Farms, a family homestead recognized as a Centennial Farm, having remained in continuous operation by the same family for 121 years. From his earliest days, Bobby Clay learned the virtues that would define his life: hard work, humility, stewardship, and perseverance. The red clay of Lee County ran deep in his veins, and the values instilled on that farm never left him.

Even as a young man, Dr. Clay demonstrated an uncommon sense of responsibility. At just 15 years old, while still a student at Leesburg High School, he served as a school bus driver for the Lee County School System--an early sign of the leadership and commitment to community that would characterize his entire life. He graduated with the Class of 1945, a year that marked both the end of a world war and the beginning of a remarkable personal journey.

Dr. Clay went on to attend North Georgia College before earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia. His hunger for learning did not stop there. With a lifelong dedication to education, he earned both a master's degree and a doctorate in education-- credentials that reflected not only his intellectual achievement but his profound belief that education was the great equalizer and the foundation of a just and flourishing society.

For more than three decades, Dr. Clay devoted himself to the Lee County School System. He served on the Lee County Board of Education and then as superintendent for an extraordinary 32 years. During a time of tremendous challenge and change in American public education, he provided the steady hand of a leader who understood that doing the right thing was more important than doing the easy thing.

Under his leadership, the Lee County School System navigated the complexities of desegregation with integrity and compassion. He opened the schoolhouse doors wider--welcoming students with disabilities into the public school system, expanding educational opportunities for all children regardless of background, and guiding the district through a period of significant growth. The school system he helped shape stands today as one of Georgia's most respected--a living testament to his vision and his values.

But to speak of Dr. Clay only in terms of policy and administration would be to miss something essential about the man. He was, at his core, a farmer who loved the land. He spoke fondly of childhood days spent swimming in Chokee Creek, fishing, and working alongside his family. Clay Spring Farms was not simply a place he lived--it was an expression of who he was. He understood that the health of a community is rooted in the health of its families, its land, and its traditions.

On June 13, 1954, Bobby Clay married the love of his life, Betty Ann Pace Clay. Their partnership spanned 67 years--a union of faith, devotion, and shared purpose that endured until Betty Ann's passing in 2021. Together they built a home known for its warmth, its hospitality, and its deep love of family. They were faithful members of DeSoto Baptist Church, where they served for many years and where their faith was as much a part of daily life as the Georgia soil beneath their feet.

In addition to his work in education, Dr. Clay served his community through longtime membership on the Board of Health, demonstrating that his commitment to public service extended beyond the schoolhouse. He was honored as a member of the Lee County High School Distinguished Alumni Program--a recognition that only scratched the surface of what he meant to the people of that county. His truly lived his life by the words: ``To educate a man is to educate a citizen. To serve your community is to serve your God.''

Dr. Clay was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty Ann; his son, Robert A. Clay, III; grandson Zachary Clay Peak; and son-in-law Sidney Clinton Peak. He is survived by his daughters, Carol Ann Clay Peak of Lee County and Melody Clay Sheffield of Albany; his grandson James Clay Sheffield; his sister Evelyn Clay Hicks of Marietta; and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who carry his memory forward.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representative to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in honoring that life and legacy of Dr. Robert ``Bobby'' Clay, Jr. His is the biography of rural Georgia at its best. He was a man who never forgot where he came from, never stopped working for the people around him, and never wavered in his conviction that every child deserved a good education and every community deserved good leadership. He lived 98 years, and he used every one of them well.

He was an educator, farmer, public servant, husband, father, and devoted son of Lee County, Georgia. May his family find comfort in the knowledge that his work endures, and that the State of Georgia, the Nation, and the world is better because of him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with to honor and celebrate the life of Reverend Felton Lamar, who peacefully transitioned from this life on May 1, 2026. A Homegoing service to celebrate his remarkable and dedicated life will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.

Born the fifth of nine children to the late William ``Bosie'' Lamar and Bertha Lamar, Reverend Lamar's life was rooted in faith, family, and service. At an early age he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and joined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church near Sylvester, Georgia. His faith guided every aspect of his life--his family life, his work, and the decades of ministry that followed.

Reverend Lamar received his early education in the public schools of Worth County and later earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Bible from Bethany Divinity College & Seminary in 1994. In 1962, he was united in holy matrimony to Elizabeth Roberts Lamar. From this loving union, three children were born--Gary, Harold, and Katrina--and they, along with fourteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren, remain living testaments to his devotion as a husband, father, and grandfather.

Before answering the call to full-time ministry, Reverend Lamar worked faithfully at MacGregor Golf and Firestone Tire & Rubber Company and later served his community as a school bus driver in the Dougherty County School System until his retirement. After relocating to Albany, he united with Antioch Baptist Church, where his faithfulness, spirit of service, and leadership established him as a vital pillar of the congregation. He served in many capacities--Senior Choir President, Church Secretary, Sunday School teacher and was ordained a Deacon in 1971 by the late Reverend R.B. Smith.

Hearing the divine call to preach, Reverend Lamar was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel in 1982 by the late Reverend George Daniels. He pastored with humility, compassion, and steadfast devotion--leading Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Shellman, St. Peter Baptist Church in Pelham, Mt. Early Baptist Church in Albany, and, for thirty years beginning in 1984, First Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, where he was affectionately known as ``the Pastor who cares.'' Even after his retirement, he continued to serve faithfully at Mt. Zion Baptist Church until illness intervened.

Beyond the pulpit, Reverend Lamar's leadership extended throughout the larger religious community. He served as Moderator of the Bethesda No. 1 Association, County Coordinator for the Second District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and was an active member of the Albany Ministers' Conference. His life of service--quiet, persistent, and rooted in love--lifted countless lives.

As Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, ``By perseverance the snail reached the ark.'' That image of steady, humble perseverance captures the essence of Reverend Lamar's ministry: not showy, but faithful to the end. He persevered in love, prayer, and service, and by that perseverance he sheltered and strengthened many.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District as we mourn the passing of a faithful servant whose life exemplified the Gospel he preached. I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our deepest condolences to Reverend Lamar's wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and all who were blessed by his ministry. May his legacy of love, humility, and perseverance continue to inspire and guide us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and pay tribute to Judge Herbert E. Phipps--a distinguished jurist, devoted public servant, proud Morehouse alumnus, as well as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and a dear friend whose life exemplifies courage, service, and fidelity to the rule of law. The Dougherty County Bar Association honored Judge Phipps during their annual Law Day Celebration on May 6, 2026, in Albany, Georgia.

Judge Phipps' journey began in a small rural community in Baker County, Georgia, where family, faith, and hard work shaped his character. From those roots he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morehouse College, a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the Law Review, and a Master of Laws in the Judicial Process from the University of Virginia School of Law.

After law school he returned to Southwest Georgia to join the practice of the legendary civil-rights attorney C.B. King, learning that the practice of law is a moral calling and that courage is an indispensable trait for lawyers and judges. He practiced as a solo practitioner from 1983 to 1995, served eight years as a part-time magistrate and associate judge of the Dougherty County State Court, seven years as judge of the Dougherty County Juvenile Court, and was appointed by Governor Zell Miller to the Dougherty Circuit Superior Court in 1995. In July 1999, Governor Roy Barnes appointed him to the Court of Appeals of Georgia; he was elected statewide to three six-year terms, served as a presiding judge beginning in 2010, and as chief judge from July 2013 through June 2015. Judge Phipps retired from the Court of Appeals in 2016.

Judge Phipps' leadership extends far beyond the bench. He has served as past chairman of the Board of Directors of SB&T Bank of Albany and Americus; on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice; as past president of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta and the Dougherty Circuit Bar Association; and on Georgia's Judicial Nominating Commission, the Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Racial and Ethnic Bias, and the Georgia Indigent Defense Council Advisory Committee. He is a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church (Albany), Sigma Pi Phi (Delta Delta Boule), The Inquiry Club, and the Old War Horse Lawyers Club, and has led numerous civic organizations in Albany, including the Albany Advocacy Resource Center and the Albany Sickle Cell Foundation.

His service has been recognized with many honors: the Randolph Thrower Lifetime Achievement Award, the Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award, the Logan E. Bleckley Distinguished Service Award, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association ``Guardian of Justice Award,'' the Nestor Award from the Georgia Legal History Foundation, the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service, induction into the Society of Benchers of Case Western Reserve School of Law, the Case Western Reserve University School of

Law Centennial Medal, recognition as a Legal Legend by the Georgia Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. His commencement address at Case Western in 2007, ``Lawyers--the Guardians of Truth and Justice,'' remains a testament to his faith in the profession.

Sustained by a devoted family, Judge Phipps is married to Connie Curry Phipps. They are the parents of Herbert E. Phipps, Jr. and India K. Epps (and son-in-law Will J. Epps), and proud grandparents of Zoe Olivia Epps and Evan James Epps.

This year, the Dougherty County Bar honored Judge Phipps on Law Day-- a fitting tribute from colleagues and neighbors who have witnessed his decades of service. Judge Phipps has long called on lawyers and judges to speak with courage on today's pressing social-justice issues, drawing lessons from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the long struggle for equality. He reminds us that judges do not have the luxury of silence when justice is at stake. Judge Phipps has lived his life by the creed of former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren: ``Where there is injustice, we should correct it; where there is poverty, we should eliminate it; where there is corruption, we should stamp it out; where there is violence, we should punish it; where there is neglect, we should provide care; where there is war, we should restore peace; and wherever corrections are achieved, we should add them permanently to our storehouse of treasures.''

On a personal note, I have had the privilege of knowing Judge Phipps for over five decades. Our relationship began during my formative years as a civil rights lawyer, where I received training as an Earl Warren Fellow with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. I benefited from the mentorship of both Judge Phipps and C.B. King. Through their guidance, I learned the principles of justice, advocacy, and the unwavering commitment required to fight for civil rights, which have profoundly shaped my own career in public service. I am forever grateful for his fidelity and friendship.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd District in honoring the service of Judge Herbert E. Phipps. Judge Phipps' life--from Baker County to Morehouse, from C.B. King's law office to the Court of Appeals--inspires us all. For his wisdom on the bench, his steadfast leadership in the community, the warmth of his friendship, and the dignity with which he has served, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Judge Herbert E. Phipps and recognizing the extraordinary example he has set for future generations. His enduring legacy is one of unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the empowerment of marginalized communities, inspiring generations of legal practitioners and activists to carry on the vital work of civil rights advocacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart and the deepest respect to honor the life and legacy of the Honorable Mary Jo Haywood of Camilla, Georgia--a servant-leader whose faith, courage, and tireless work transformed a community and lifted countless lives. A funeral service to celebrate her remarkable and dedicated life will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Open Door Church of Praise in Camilla, Georgia.

Mayor Mary Jo Haywood's story is the story of this Nation at its best: a life shaped by faith and duty, tested by hardship, and fulfilled through relentless service. Born in 1948, she carried the values of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church into every role she embraced--as a devoted Sunday School teacher, a mentor, a paralegal advocating for the most vulnerable, a civic leader, and a history- making mayor. Her faith was not private sentiment but public action: she taught, organized, wrote, counseled, and stood watch so that others might find justice and dignity.

She was a daughter who bore loss with courage, a single mother who raised a brilliant daughter, Dr. Chanta M. Haywood, and a loving grandmother whose pride in Jordan,

Logan, and Kalen was visible in every warm story she told. She was a guardian to nieces and nephews, a trusted confidante to friends, and a pillar for a community that came to depend upon her steady hand and fearless voice.

Professionally, Mayor Haywood was a relentless advocate for equity. As a senior paralegal and later a self-employed practitioner specializing in Social Security disability cases, she stood with those denied a fair chance. She helped open the first Black law firm in Camilla, forging a path for justice where there had been barriers. In the NAACP, in voter drives, in fundraising for families shattered by tragedy, and in campaigns for fairness in city employment, Mayor Haywood's leadership moved people to action and moved systems toward justice.

In 2007, history was made as she became the first woman and the first African American elected mayor of Camilla. She wore both distinctions not as trophies but as responsibilities--to ensure transparency, accountability, and equal opportunity for every resident. Her term as mayor, and her continued civic engagement afterward, changed the civic fabric of Camilla for the better. In 2024, the city rightfully honored her by dedicating the Honorable Mary Jo Haywood Council Chambers, a testament to a life that taught us how public service should be practiced.

Mayor Haywood's work reached beyond policy: she was a keeper of memory. For years, she maintained a quiet vigil remembering the victims of the 1868 Camilla Massacre, refusing to let their names be lost to time. She championed the legacy of Georgia B. ``Miss Bea'' Williams, ensuring that the midwife who delivered thousands--in an era of segregation and exclusion--received the recognition and dignity she deserved.

Her honors were many, yet she remained the same humble servant who believed that the truest measure of life is how it is devoted to others. From induction into the Southern Rural Black Women's Hall of Fame to recognition as a Woman of Distinction by the Georgia NAACP, she accepted accolades with gratitude and returned them to her community through continued work and mentorship.

Today we mourn a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and stateswoman. We grieve the passing of a woman who taught us that persistence, faith, and love are powerful forces for change. We give thanks for the guidance she offered, the doors she opened, and the lives she touched.

Her extended family, and the people of Camilla who called her mayor and mentor, should know that their loss is felt across Georgia and beyond. We join them in sorrow, and we pledge to carry forward the values she embodied: service without hesitation, courage in the face of injustice, and an unshakable belief in the dignity of every person.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in honoring the life and legacy of Mayor Mary Jo Haywood. Mary Jo Haywood believed, as she lived, that God had a plan. By that grace and by her work, she became what she was called to be--a leader who opened pathways for others to follow. May her memory be a blessing, and may her life continue to inspire us to build communities of fairness, compassion, and opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heart heavy, gratitude, and memory to pay tribute to Mulberry Street United Methodist Church on the occasion of its 200th anniversary. A bicentennial that reads like a hymn of endurance, an extended prayer answered by faithful hands across generations. A worship service to celebrate this remarkable milestone was held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Macon, Georgia.

Two centuries ago, in 1826, thirteen earnest Methodists met in a frontier courthouse on the west bank of the Ocmulgee River. They cleared forest and laid beams, and in 1828 built a simple house of worship where, the gospel's promise was first made visible in Macon. From that modest beginning grew a congregation that hosted the first meeting of the Georgia Conference, birthed Sunday Schools that became new churches, and reached into neighborhoods with a compassion that always began at the foot of the altar.

Mulberry's history is punctuated by triumph and trial. In seasons of growth, it raised white columns and expanded its sanctuary; in lean seasons it answered cries for help with Sunday School classrooms, youth centers, dining

halls, and ministries to the hungry. The Great Depression tested the congregation's resolve in ways that measured not balance sheets but character; families who had pledged generously found livelihoods gone, yet members scrimped and sacrificed until the building debt was paid. A devastating fire in April 1965 gutted the sanctuary, but stained-glass windows were preserved and later installed in the rebuilt sanctuary opened in 1968--glass that now shines as a symbol that beauty and faith can survive flame. More recently, during the global pandemic, Mulberry became a lifeline: volunteers fed neighbors when jobs vanished; pastors and members made calls, left meals on porches, and sustained the isolated with prayer and presence.

The Historical Room safeguards treasures--Thomas Darley's ordination certificate signed by Francis Asbury, night caps, a Darley Bible--but the true archive of Mulberry is the ledger of lives: the child fed, the student mentored, the widow comforted, the immigrant welcomed. The Youth Center that once teemed with young people, Macon Outreach's soup kitchen and pantry, global mission partnerships, and the many ministries that compose ``The Mulberry Way'' testify to a congregation that turns calamity into compassion.

We remember the silent sacrifices: the volunteers who mended roofs and hearts, the pastors who shepherded trembling souls, the families whose small gifts kept a mission alive. We honor the courage that rebuilt after storms, repurposed spaces for service, and answered every call with steadfast love.

Today Mulberry's ministries continue under the steady leadership of its pastor, the Reverend Jack Varnell, whose pastoral tenderness and clear vision guide the congregation into this new century of witness. We are also blessed that Bishop Robin Dease served as the guest preacher for this commemorative service--a fitting voice to celebrate a congregation whose reach has spanned local streets and global fields.

Mr. Speaker, in honoring Mulberry Street United Methodist Church on its bicentennial, we honor an ethic: that faith is not merely spoken but lived; that worship must be joined to works of mercy; that a community's true wealth is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable. For 200 years this congregation has lived that ethic faithfully--surviving the Great Depression, rebuilding after fire, weathering wars, and answering when a modern pandemic called forth every compassion.

I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in congratulating Mulberry Street United Methodist Church on this bicentennial milestone. May Mulberry's lights continue to shine, its doors remain open, and its table welcome all who are weary. May God bless Mulberry Street Church, bless Pastor Jack Varnell, bless Bishop Robin Dease as she continues her work and may God bless the city of Macon, Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heart both grateful and heavy to honor Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.--a faithful pastor, distinguished scholar, tireless leader, and a dear, longtime friend--as he retires as Presiding Prelate of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. An event to celebrate his remarkable stewardship and ministry sponsored by the Sixth Episcopal District, West Georgia Region, will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Page-Doleman Complex in Columbus, Georgia.

Born June 21, 1951, in Oakland, Mississippi, Bishop Brown's life has been shaped by faith, learning, and service. Valedictorian of Walker High School, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, and a scholar who earned both the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Theology degrees with honors from the Interdenominational Theological Center in cooperation with Emory and Columbia, he has modeled the union of intellect and piety. As a member of Theta Phi honor society and as an esteemed teacher and lecturer at institutions including Candler, Columbia, and Princeton, Bishop Brown has formed minds even as he formed hearts.

His ministry began at Ole Miss and matured across pastorates in Mississippi and Georgia, Rice Chapel, Murray Memorial, St. James, Butler Street, College Park, and as organizing pastor of Good News Community Church. From 1990 to 2006, he served with distinction as the sixth President and Dean of the Phillips School of Theology at ITC, where he oversaw the formation of more than ninety-five graduates and founded the Annual C.M.E. Pastors' Conference, an enduring gift to clergy development.

Elected the 54th Bishop of the C.M.E. Church in 2006, he shepherded the Fourth Episcopal District and, since 2018, the Sixth Episcopal District, while chairing the Department of Christian Education. His episcopal ministry deepened clergy formation, strengthened congregational life, and extended the church's witness in justice and mercy. A sought-after preacher, professor, and conference delegate-- both national and international--Bishop Brown has represented the C.M.E. Church with dignity, wisdom, and prophetic compassion. He has been a founding member of the Concerned Black Clergy of Atlanta and a steadfast advocate for the homeless and the condemned, living out Scripture's call to care for ``the least of these'' (Matthew 25:40).

Beyond titles and honors, Thomas Brown has been my friend. He has counseled me in difficult hours, rejoiced in triumphs, and exemplified what faithful friendship looks like: honest, humble, and true. I think of Paul's words when I remember him: ``I thank my God every time I remember you'' (Philippians 1:3). Those words capture the gratitude of countless lives he has touched--students, parishioners, colleagues, and communities.

Bishop Brown's wife, Dr. Louise Baker-Brown; children, Charisa and Thomas, Jr.; and the people of the Sixth Episcopal District should all know that their husband, father, pastor, and shepherd has run a remarkable race. I thank them for being with him every step of the way. His life marked by scholarship, pastoral tenderness, courageous civic engagement, and sacrificial service leaves a legacy that will continue to bear fruit for generations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and I, along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in giving thanks for Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.; in celebrating his faithful ministry; and in wishing him a restful and joy-filled retirement. For a life poured out in service, we echo the heavenly commendation: ``Well done, good and faithful servant'' (Matthew 25:21). May God bless him richly in the days ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heart overflowing--full of gratitude, memories, and deep affection--to celebrate the 14th pastoral anniversary of Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, III, a faithful servant of God, a tireless community champion, and a dear friend I have known for many years. An event to celebrate his ministry and stewardship will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at The Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia.

I grew in my faith for over two decades as a member of Fourth Street under the preaching and steady hand of his father, Rev. Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr., and from those sanctuary pews I watched a young Johnny Flakes, III first learn to love the church, the Word, and the people of Fourth Street. To see him now, shepherding the same flock with humility, wisdom, and joy, moves me in ways words hardly capture. He carries forward a legacy of faith that shaped an entire community.

His life is a tapestry woven with deep learning and undying service. From Tuskegee's gridiron to Ole Miss classrooms of theology and Mercer's halls of ministry formation, his scholarship has always been in service to the flock. But it is in the everyday work, counseling a grieving family, visiting the sick, opening the doors of Fourth Street Towers and the daycare he chairs, and standing with those struggling for dignity, where his heart is clearest.

His civic and ministerial affiliations read like a ministry of presence: President of the General Missionary Baptist Congress of Christian Education of Georgia; Faculty Member of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education; President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; Southeast Regional Vice President of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education; Southeast Regional Coordinator for the National Baptist Convention Sunday School Publishing Board; member of the American Baptist College Board of Trustees; Chair of the Boards for Fourth Street Towers and Fourth Street Daycare and Academy; member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and a devoted Rotarian in Columbus. He serves on the John Amos Cancer Center Advisory Board, the Valley Healthcare Board, the Board of Historic Columbus, the Mayor's Advisory Council for Diversity, Prosperity, and Unity, and so many other places where hope is built and lives are lifted.

These affiliations are not mere lines on a resume, they are evidence of a man who shows up. He shows up for education, for housing, for health, for history, for young people, and for justice. He shows up when the community needs a voice, a hand, or a prayer.

His awards--from the Dr. Henry Cook Social Action Award to a Congressional Commendation--honor his work. But the truest measure of his ministry is the lives changed: the child fed, the family housed, the student inspired, the grieving heart held.

His family, including his wife, First Lady Jacquelyn Flakes, and his children, Braya, and Kevin have carried this calling with him, sharing joys and the burdens of ministry. He carries on the legacy of his late father Reverend J.H. Flakes, Jr. and beloved late mother, Robena Flakes. I thank the people of Fourth Street, to the countless boards and associations that have been strengthened by his wisdom, and to Reverend Flakes. I thank them for answering a sacred call with brilliance and for leading with conviction and tenderness, and for making Columbus a place that remembers what it means to love your neighbor.

There is a Scripture that I know has anchored him in storms and celebrations alike: ``And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up'' (Galatians 6:9). Reverend Flakes has not grown weary. He has labored in hope, and the harvest of lives touched testifies to a faithful heart.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian, and me along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in honoring Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes, III on his 14th pastoral anniversary--to give thanks for his steadfast ministry, to celebrate his community leadership, and to express our gratitude for a life that models the Gospel in word and deed. May God continue to bless him, his family, his flock and the Columbus, Georgia community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heart full of reverence and deep personal gratitude to honor Mrs. Shirley Miller Sherrod on the 60th anniversary of her tireless work for civil rights, economic justice, and the dignity of underserved farmers and rural communities. An event to celebrate her advocacy and remarkable life will be held on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Albany, Georgia.

A daughter of the Jim Crow South, Shirley Sherrod's life is testimony--written in endurance, courage, and relentless love. Born and raised in rural Georgia, she watched injustice with her own eyes as a young woman: at 17 she witnessed an all-white grand jury refuse to indict the man who took her father's life. From that wound came a vow-- to spend her life defending the rights of her people. That vow was kept, not with fire or fanfare, but with steady, sacrificial labor that changed lives and moved a Nation.

Her commitment was strengthened by education and faith. Mrs. Sherrod studied at Fort Valley State University and Albany State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree; she holds a master's degree from Antioch University and is a 1993 Kellogg Fellow. Those classrooms sharpened her mind and equipped her to lead with both wisdom and humility.

Following the example of her parents, including her mother, Mrs. Grace Miller, Shirley set out to make a difference. Together with her late husband, the Rev. Charles Sherrod, she helped found the Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education and co-found New Communities, Inc., the Nation's first community land trust. For decades they sought to secure land, bread, and dignity for Black families who had been denied both. They fed the hungry, taught the hopeful, defended the dispossessed, and refused to surrender a dream of justice even when drought, discrimination, and punitive government practices deprived them of the land they had nurtured.

When Shirley was appointed Georgia Director of Rural Development at USDA, she carried with her a lifetime of moral authority. When she was wrongfully forced from that office amid deceit and malicious editing, she bore the blow with quiet strength that only deepened my admiration. She returned to the trenches she had always known--the fields, the co- ops, the kitchen tables of small farmers--refusing bitterness and choosing again to build.

For sixty years Shirley has been a voice for those whose voices are too often crowded out: Black farmers fighting to hold their land; children denied equal education; families seeking access to markets and capital. She has organized, taught, advocated, and led institutions-- The Sherrod Institute, New Communities at Cypress Pond (Resora), The Southwest Georgia Project--that remain beacons of hope and practical help for a new generation.

On a personal note, Shirley and Charles were more than colleagues in the struggle--they were friends and moral companions. They both stood with me in places of decision and pressure; they supported me and, with humility, held me accountable when justice demanded it. Shirley's friendship has been a sustaining gift--her counsel frank, her faith unshakable, her love a steadying hand through seasons of trial.

There are moments in life that narrow everything to one clear truth. For Shirley, those moments have been countless acts of service: cajoling a reluctant lender to hear a farmer's story, sitting late with a grieving family, coaxing young leaders to raise their eyes to both truth and possibility. Her life makes real the Scripture that comforts and convicts us: ``Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves'' (Proverbs 31:8). She has spoken--and acted--without ceasing.

Mary McLeod Bethune once urged us to ``Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.'' Shirley Sherrod has lived that charge--investing in people, cultivating promise, and revealing the brilliance in communities too often overlooked.

Mr. Speaker, we gather not merely to laud achievements, though they are many, but to give thanks for a life poured out in pursuit of justice and mercy. We honor Shirley Sherrod for sixty years of faith made visible, for the countless lives she has steadied and lifted, and for the example she sets for all who would work for a fairer America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife, Vivian and me in celebrating Mrs. Shirley Miller Sherrod--a reformer, a teacher, a friend, and a true steward of hope-- and to pledge anew our support for the work she leads so faithfully. May God bless her, keep her, and multiply the harvest of her labors for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, today, our country lost a dedicated public servant, as well as our State and the people of the 13th District of Georgia. We lost our friend and colleague, Congressman David Scott of Georgia.

David and I served side by side for decades, first in the Georgia General Assembly, later the House of Representatives here. We shared a friendship that was rooted in faith, family, and a deep commitment to the people we represent.

I have known David and his family for many years. My wife, Vivian, and I join countless Georgians in mourning his loss and in holding his loved ones close.

As leader of the House Committee on Agriculture, David's voice was steady and compassionate. It was particularly poignant when in 2020, David became the first African-American chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, a historic moment that reflected his years of principled leadership. He used that platform to fight for 1890 land-grant institutions and disadvantaged farmers who too often have been left behind, working tirelessly to secure resources for the agricultural producers, rural communities, and nutrition programs that sustain our State and our Nation.

David's devotion to the larger agricultural community, from small family farms across Georgia to cooperative extensions and HBCU researchers, was personal and persistent. He understood that the health of our farms, the dignity of our workers, and the nourishment of our people are bound together. He labored each day to translate that understanding into results.

To Alfredia, his children, grandchildren, and all who loved him, words cannot fully express our sorrow. We will honor David's memory by continuing the work that he loved--by standing with our farmers, defending nutrition programs, and fighting for opportunity for all.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), my friend and colleague, for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to please rise for a moment of silence in memory of our colleague, Congressman David Scott of Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 5 o'clock and 19 minutes p.m.), under its previous order and pursuant to H. Res. 1206, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9 a.m. as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Honorable David Scott of Georgia.

Thereupon (at 5 o'clock and 19 minutes p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heart bowed in sorrow and yet uplifted by gratitude to honor the life of Mayor William Barry Whitley--a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, gifted craftsman, faithful public servant, and a man whose quiet goodness left an imprint on Butler, Taylor County, and all who knew him. Sadly, Mayor Whitley passed away on April 18, 2026. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held today, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Butler, Georgia.

Mayor Whitley lived loudly in the small, sacred ways that truly matter. In a humble workshop where the scent of oak and polish mingled with patient hands, he restored more than furniture--he restored memories. As the proprietor of Whitley Furniture Clinic from 1995 until his final days, Mayor Whitley gave back to countless families the heirlooms of lives lived: a table that held generations of meals, a chair that rocked a newborn to sleep, a dresser that carried a lifetime of stories. His skill was not only craftsmanship but care.

Mayor Whitley's life of service reached far beyond the workbench. He served his hometown with steady devotion--on city council, the development authority, the board of health, municipal associations, and as mayor. In every role he carried the same easy smile, the same unhurried kindness, the same instinct to put others first. Leadership for him was not a platform for praise but a quiet obligation to make his city and community better. He made decisions not for recognition but because people mattered.

Mayor Whitley's journey was also one of education and service. A graduate of Georgia Southwestern in Americus with a degree in business, he later earned his degree in mortuary science from Gupton-Jones College--a life that combined practical skill, compassion, and the solemn dignity of caring for families at their most fragile moments. In both professions he restored beauty and honored persons with tenderness and respect.

There is a line from President John F. Kennedy that seems to sit gently beside Mayor Whitley's life: ``Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.'' Barry's efforts were constant; his courage was quiet; his purpose--to serve, to give, to love--was clear as day. He showed up for his family and for his community with direction rooted in faith and humility. He loved his family fiercely-- Cindi, his children, and his grandchildren were his greatest joy and the center of his life.

We grieve the empty chair at the workbench, the silence in the arena, the mornings without his smile. Yet we give thanks for the mercy that he left this life surrounded by family, moments after laughter and love, and for the legacy of care he planted in his city and in hearts. In Philippians we are reminded to press on toward the goal--and Mayor Whitley ran that race with joy; eyes fixed on a truer horizon (Philippians 3:12-14).

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and I in offering our deepest condolences to the Whitley family, to the people of Butler and Taylor County, and to everyone who was blessed by Mayor Whitley's gentle service. May we honor him by living with the same generous hands, steady courage, and loving purpose that marked his days. May his memory be a comfort and his example a guiding light.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man whose life was a testament to courage, faith, and selfless service: Reverend Johnnie Johnson, Jr. An event to celebrate his courage and remarkable life is being held today, Monday, April 20, 2026, at Crew Quarters in Albany, Georgia.

Born May 28, 1940, in Albany, Georgia, the eldest of nine children, Johnnie Johnson learned early the value of work, family, and faith. He joined Bethel A.M.E. Church as a boy, married the love of his life, Thelma Champion, in 1958, and raised five children. Yet it was his willingness to stand, even when standing cost him everything, which marks his life as extraordinary.

In 1972, Reverend Johnson became the primary plaintiff in a class action suit against the City of Albany and its officials to challenge entrenched, unjust employment practices that denied Black men and women the dignity of equal work and fair wages. He did not bring that fight for glory or gain. He brought it because he believed--with every fiber of his being--that every person deserves to be judged by their ability, not the color of their skin; that fairness is the birthright of a free people.

He led a courageous walkout of some 260 Black city employees, demanding what was rightfully theirs. The court found in favor of the plaintiffs, and the decision opened doors that had long been locked. But the victory was bitter-sweet. Reverend Johnson paid a steep personal price. He was not rehired by the city. He faced economic hardship, rumors meant to shame him, and the pain of displacement that comes when a community you love turns its back on you for doing right.

For a time, he sought work and refuge in Charleston, South Carolina, where he found only temporary solace and short-term employment. Yet the news of his stand in Albany followed him, and the pull of home--and the cause he served--drew him back. Reverend Johnson mustered the courage to return to Albany despite the risks to his reputation and employability, choosing fidelity to his family and community over the easier path of exile.

His return marked a new chapter of resilience. He became a barber and earned master barber certification. He transformed a barber's chair into a sanctuary of counsel, dignity, and hope. Countless customers were touched by him, and many young barbers learned their trade and their character under his tutelage.

Answering a divine call in 1996, he was licensed to preach on June 10, 1996, blending his roles as barber, reverend, and civil rights champion without a trace of bitterness. As the late Congressman John Lewis counseled those who move the Nation forward, ``Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.'' Reverend Johnson's life embodied that counsel--he made the necessary trouble to open doors for others, and he bore the consequences with dignity.

On January 11, 2000, Albany lost a beloved son, but his legacy lives on through those that he touched by his one act of courage.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian and I, along with the 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in honoring the life of Reverend Johnnie Johnson, Jr. His life reminds us that the work of justice is often carried forward by ordinary people who do extraordinary things. He taught us that sacrifice for the common good is never in vain and that dignity can never be taken from a man who refuses to let hatred define him.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Reverend Johnson's memory--a memory that calls us to rededicate ourselves to the ideals he lived: courage in the face of intimidation, compassion in the face of suffering, and an unfailing belief in the worth of every human being. May God bless his legacy and may we all strive to walk in his footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 2555.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today, with a heart overflowing with gratitude, reverence, and admiration, to recognize a man whose life has been a living sermon, Apostle Felix Revills, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his ascension to the leadership of Evangelical Faith Vision Ministries, Incorporated. An event to celebrate this singular event will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Evangelical Faith Vision Ministries in Albany, Georgia.

There are leaders whose names are known; and then there are leaders whose lives are felt. Apostle Revills is the latter. For two decades, he has not only shepherded a congregation, he has tended the hearts of a people, mended broken spirits, and lit lamps in dark places. He leads a network of more than twenty churches across our Nation, and into the streets and homes of Port-au-Prince and the Dominican Republic, his ministry has reached far beyond brick and mortar. It has gone where the pain is raw, where hope is fragile, and where the promise of new beginnings is most desperately needed.

Born into a legacy of faith nurtured by Chief Apostle Dr. Isaiah and Dr. Ullainee S. Revills, Apostle Felix inherited more than a name, he inherited a charge to care. But he did not rest on inheritance alone. He answered his country's call in the United States Marine Corps, learned the discipline of service, and then translated that discipline into spiritual warfare against despair and injustice. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Albany State University, not merely to add letters after his name, but to steward resources wisely and create sustainable change for those he serves. I think of the faces who have walked through EFVM's doors and found God's Amazing Grace. They are the living, breathing proof that Apostle Revills' calling is not theoretical, it is incarnational.

Apostle Felix leads with a rare combination of fierce conviction and tender humility. He preaches with passion, yes, but he also sits at hospital bedsides, shows up at kitchen tables, and listens in the silent hours when prayer is the only currency left. He founded the New Visions Community Development Corporation and the Young Lions Mentoring Program because he knows that salvation is both spiritual and practical. He built institutions that teach, feed, mentor, and uplift, because faith without works is dead, and he will not allow emptiness to stand long where he can build.

He stands with his beloved First Lady Andrea Revills in a partnership forged in Christ and deep affection. Their marriage, a true covenant of friendship and sacrifice, has nurtured four remarkable children and welcomed the joy of a grandson. Their home has been a refuge for families, for weary ministers, and for young people seeking counsel. In their love you see the Gospel lived in the ordinary moments, in prayers before meals, in the laughter that follows mistakes, and in quiet steadiness when storms come.

Apostle Revills' voice reaches beyond pulpit and pew through EFVM's broadcast, ``The Latter Rain,'' and through his written word in ``Close the Door on Your Way Out.'' Yet even as his influence grows, he models a humility that insists the glory belongs to God alone. He carries honors without pride, responsibilities without show, and every success as an opportunity to lift someone else. There is a tenderness about his leadership that moves people to tears because it taps into something ancient and timeless: the longing to be seen, to be known, to be loved.

We thank him for his patriotism--for the years he served our Nation in uniform--and for bringing that same disciplined love into the civic life of Albany and beyond. We celebrate his membership in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, his partnership with community initiatives, and his hands- on leadership in building institutions that endure. We honor his commitment to international outreach, where the love of Christ has crossed oceans to meet crying children and weary families.

Twenty years is more than a milestone--it is a mosaic of lives transformed. Every program launched, every sermon preached, every hand held in the night, every meal served, every life redirected toward hope is a tessera in that mosaic. Behind each one is a story of pain met with compassion, of isolation met with welcome, of despair met with faith-driven action.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join my wife Vivian, and I along with the more than 765,000 people of Georgia's 2nd Congressional District in honoring Apostle Felix Revills. We pledge to support the work of ministers like Apostle Felix Revills who bind community wounds with the salve of gospel love. We pray for continued health and wisdom for him and First Lady Andrea Revills. We pray for their children and their grandchild. We pray that Evangelical Faith Vision Ministries will continue to be a lighthouse for those tossed upon the seas of life.

May God grant Apostle Revills many more years of fruitful labor. May his hands never tire, his voice never falter, and his heart never lose its compassion. And may the thousands who have found refuge under his care continue to rise and carry forward the healing he has sown.

I honor Apostle Revills on this blessed 20th anniversary--a shepherd, a patriot, a husband, a father, and a servant whose life has summoned tears of grief and joy, for in both he has shown us the face of God's steadfast love.