[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 38 (Thursday, March 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E348]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF MRS. JO AVIS NEAL FREEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
woman of extraordinary class and remarkable grace, Mrs. Jo Avis Neal 
Freeman. Sadly, Mrs. Freeman passed away on March 2, 2012. Her passing 
leaves a tremendous void in the hearts of her family, friends and the 
Albany, Georgia community.
  On Monday, March 12, 2012, a gathering of family members, friends, 
and colleagues will pay their respects to Mrs. Freeman at a memorial 
service that will be held on the campus of Albany State University.
  Mrs. Freeman was born on July 21, 1953 in Washington, D.C. She earned 
a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Hampton University and a Master's 
degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Following her 
graduation, she worked as an administrator, manager and psychotherapist 
in the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area for more than 25 years.
  The community of Albany, Georgia and the Albany State University 
Family gained a gem when she married Albany State University President, 
Dr. Everette J. Freeman in 2006 and moved to Albany. While in Albany, 
she continued her life's work by serving as a Clinical Supervisor for 
the Albany Community Service Board and more recently at Phoebe Putney 
Memorial Hospital.
  During her stint in Albany, Mrs. Freeman became actively involved in 
many local service and civic organizations. Former Congresswoman 
Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay for 
the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Throughout her life, Jo 
paid her rent and she paid it well.
  In her role as Albany State University's First Lady, she was very 
supportive of the student body and always represented the university 
with the highest level of class and grace. The student body truly 
believed that ``she was one of them'' because she connected with them 
in a very personal way.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the things that I will always remember about Jo 
is her welcoming demeanor and charisma. She loved people and she never 
met a stranger. Her favorite song was: ``I Hope You Dance.'' This is 
truly a fitting song that represents the joyful spirit and dedicated 
resilience with which Jo lived her life and how we should all live 
ours.
  George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends 
on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, 
sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong 
because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Jo went 
far in life because she treated people the right way--with dignity, 
honor and respect. We are all blessed to have had her touch our lives 
and the world is better because she passed this way.
  Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with the almost 700,000 
people in the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia, would like to 
extend our deepest sympathies to Dr. Freeman, Jo's daughters, grandsons 
and other family members during this difficult time. May they be 
consoled and comforted by their abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in 
the days, weeks and months ahead.

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