[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E825-E826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE LATE JOSEPHINE BARNETT LACKEY

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2000

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, my heart is heavy and saddened today at 
the passing of Mrs. Josephine Barnett Lackey, affectionately known as 
``Miss Jo'', who passed away unexpectedly on Sunday May 14, 2000, at 
the St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, TN, after suffering cardiac 
arrest. ``Miss Jo'', a constituent of mine from Forest, Mississippi, 
was the wife of Jimmy Lackey, owner of Lackey Home Center in Forest, 
and one of the more prominent Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders, and 
Exhibitors in our state. Her death was untimely, and has certainly 
shocked and devastated the Forest community.
  ``Miss Jo'' grew up in the Standing Pine community in Leake County, 
and graduated from Walnut Grove High School. She graduated from Delta 
State University with a degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 
1950, and shortly thereafter moved to Forest where she taught in the 
Forest School System. She and Mr. Lackey were married in 1953, and on 
July 12, 2000, they would have celebrated their 47th wedding 
anniversary. For more than 50 years, she was a resident of Forest.
  ``Miss Jo'' delighted in meeting, greeting and helping people. That 
was her hallmark. That is why the Gift and Bridal Registery Shop she 
operated in the Lackey Home Center was such a fascination and delight 
to her. She loved being with people, and offering suggestions that 
would make their life happier and enjoyable. Sid Salter, editor-
publisher of the Scott County Times, summed it up real well when he 
said in his May 17, 2000, editorial, Josephine Lackey, ``there are few 
homes in Forest that don't have a piece of fine crystal or china hand 
chosen by Jo Lackey as a gift. For rich and poor alike, she gave her 
best advice and treated every customer at Lackey Home Center as a 
friend.''
  ``Miss Jo'' was president of the Forest Garden Club, and was a member 
of the Hontokalo Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of 
the American Revolution. She was a member of the Forest Baptist Church 
and was a substitute Sunday School teacher. Her love and faith in God, 
and the Lord Jesus Christ, was most evident in the two scripture 
passages that were used by her Pastor Reverend Gordon Sansing, and her 
former Pastor Sonny Adkins as the text for their remarks at her 
funeral. The passages were: Psalms 71:17-18 ``O God, thou has taught me 
from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now 
that I am old and greyheaded, O God forsake me not, until I have shewed 
thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is 
to come'', and Proverbs 3:5-6 ``Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, 
and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge 
Him, and He will direct thy paths.''
  Again, quoting Sid Salter, ``Josephine Barnett Lackey was--by every 
rational measure of mind, body and spirit--a beautiful, elegant woman. 
Blessed with the beauty nature gave her as a young woman, Josephine 
Lackey merited the still beautiful face of a faithful wife,

[[Page E826]]

devoted mother and grandmother, hard-working business woman and 
dependable friend she had earned at the age of 70 when her great heart 
finally failed her.
  Our community is diminished by her passing and we will--with her 
family--sorely miss her.''
  ``Miss Jo'' had a deep love for her family that included husband, 
Jimmy, son Jim, daughters Julie and Jenny along with their husbands, 
and five grandchildren. Another daughter, Joy, preceded her in death in 
1996.
  Without a doubt, the legacy that ``Miss Jo'' would want us to 
remember her by is the love she had for her Lord, her Family, her 
Church, her Friends, her Country, her State, and by all means her love 
for Forest and Scott County. She was truly a dedicated Christian lady, 
and a great American. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to her family. 
Also, I want to express my appreciation, and that of all citizens of 
the 3rd district for her life of service, and contributions to the 
betterment of our world.

                          ____________________