[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 166 (Tuesday, October 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2278-E2279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO REVEREND RANDOLPH THOMPSON ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 80TH 
                          BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2007

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, it is with great admiration and 
respect that I take this time to recognize a dear family friend and one 
of this Nation's most distinguished citizens, Reverend Randolph 
Thompson. On October 28, 2007, the Thompson Family will gather at 
Sammy's Shrimp Box Restaurant in the Bronx, New York for a very fitting 
occasion--to celebrate Reverend Thompson's 80th Birthday.
  Madam, Speaker, I am honored to rise today to share with my 
colleagues in the United States House of Representatives the 
accomplishments of this remarkable man. Reverend Thompson was born in 
Cat Island, Bahamas on October 28, 1927. He received his early 
education in the Bahamas. In 1948 Reverend Thompson was licensed to 
preach at Bethel Baptist Church in Nassau, Bahamas. He was ordained in 
1953 at Oak City Baptist Church in Method, North Carolina. In 1954 
Reverend Thompson received his B.A. Degree from Shaw University in 
Raleigh, North Carolina, and in 1957 he received his M.Div Degree from 
Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York.
  As Reverend Thompson traveled about from state to state he remained 
true to his commitment to be active, productive and dedicated to every 
facet of his community. He served as Interim Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist 
Church in St. Paul, Minnesota; Pastor of Victory Baptist Church in the 
Bronx, New York for 27 years; Director of Baptist Education Center in 
New York; President of the Nassau Bahamas Association; Chairman of the 
Committee of the United Missionary Baptist Association in New York; 
Assistant Dean of Empire State Congress of Christian Education in New 
York; Instructor of Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention in New York; 
Pastor of Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church in Wilson, North 
Carolina; President of NAACP in Wilson, North Carolina; Vice Chairman 
of the Housing Committee for the Baptist World Alliance in Miami 
Florida; Parliamentarian for the Interdenominational Ministerial 
Alliance of Greater Miami; Dean of J.T. Brown Seminar School for 
Ministers and Missionary Workers in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He also 
served as Extension School Instructor at Florida Memorial College in 
Miami, Florida and Bible Expositor with the Baptist Council of Greater 
Miami.
  Madam Speaker, I first met Reverend Thompson during my teen years 
when he accepted the call to become Pastor of my home church in Wilson, 
North Carolina, Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church. 
Reverend Thompson brought a new vision and perspective to our Church 
and made a tremendous difference in our community. My father was the 
Chairman of our Deacon Board and the two men shared a strong bond of 
love and friendship. When my father many years later became sick while 
visiting New York City, it was Reverend and Mrs. Thompson who were 
there during this time of need.

[[Page E2279]]

  Reverend Thompson has received countless awards for exemplary service 
to his community. As a testament, the Victory Baptist Church in the 
Bronx, New York presented Reverend Thompson with a plaque in 
recognition of 50 years of outstanding service in the ordained ministry 
and 27 years of service as pastor. He was also presented with a plaque 
from the Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas for 
outstanding service to the community in the tri-state areas of New 
York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
  Madam Speaker, for 51 years Reverend Thompson has been married to the 
former Bernice Coleman of New York City. Mrs. Thompson is a retired New 
York City Counselor. Reverend and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of five 
children: Evania Thompson, Esquire is a Law Librarian who currently 
teaches at the College of the Bahamas; she and her spouse, Robert 
Frazier have one son, Khalil Frazier; Danita Thompson, MBA, is a High 
School Math Teacher in the Bronx, New York and is a graduate of Hampton 
and Atlanta Universities; Danita is the Co-founder and CEO of Onyx 
Vizion Production Company; Randolph C. Thompson, Esquire, is a Private 
Attorney at Law in Washington, DC and New York and is a graduate of 
Hampton University and Catholic University Law School; Stephen Thompson 
who is a recent M.A. recipient in the Faculty of Social Sciences is a 
graduate of Connecticut's Wesleyan College, Hebrew University and is 
also an aspiring writer; and Ranice Adegbile, a Graduate of Brown and 
New York Universities is a homemaker; she and her spouse, Oluwole 
Adegbile have two children, Ayoka and Ayomiku.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Reverend Randolph 
Thompson.

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