[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E63]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING MRS. ALMA LEE THOMPSON-LEWIS FOR HER DEDICATION TO SERVICE

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable public servant, Mrs. Alma Lee Thompson-Lewis. She was born 
in the rural town of Flora, Mississippi on September 6, 1930.
  Mrs. Lewis received her early education at Good Hope Church and 
Christ Missionary Industrial Church School in Jackson, Mississippi. She 
earned her high school diploma from Camden Street School in Canton, 
Mississippi and Mrs. Lewis later furthered her studies at Mary Holmes 
College in West Point, Mississippi.
  Born to Mr. Willie Lee Thompson and Mrs. Emma Deloris Cotton-
Thompson, she is the eldest of four children. After the passing of both 
her parents in 1950, Mrs. Lewis, with the help of her grandparents, 
served as caregiver to her three siblings; Mrs. Lucille Thompson-
Jamison, Mr. John Thompson and Mrs. Louise Thompson Eley-Sumler.
  Mrs. Lewis has been a long-time community servant. She's worked many 
years with organizations in and around the Flora, Mississippi area. 
These organizations include the Magnolia Improvement Committee, The 
Ebony Group, Community Pride Groceries, the Madison County Civic 
Organization and the Order of the Eastern Star; an organization of 
which she is a member. She is a faithful and dedicated member of Fearns 
Chapel Free Will Baptist Church where she has served as choir advisor, 
group captain and Sunday school teacher. Over the years, she has also 
been involved with many other community service projects, including 
serving as manager of the Magnolia Heights voting precinct.
  Mrs. Lewis began to serve with the Mississippi Head Start Program as 
a carrier, where she used her family's station wagon to transport 
children to and from the Head Start Center in Flora, Mississippi. She 
was eventually certified to teach for the Head Start Program and 
finally promoted to Center Director, where she eventually retired in 
1991.
  She is the wife of Mr. Dan Lewis and mother to Mrs. Debra Thompson-
Devine, Mr. Levi Lewis, Mr. Calvin Lewis, Mrs. Almarie Lewis-Winters, 
Mr. Sylvester Lewis, Emma Jean Lewis (deceased at six months of age), 
Mr. Howard Earl Lewis and Mrs. Sandra Lewis-Denton.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Alma 
Lee Thompson-Lewis for her life-long dedication to service and 
commitment to education.

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