[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 110 (Monday, July 29, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S6009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       REMEMBERING GEORGE PERKINS

 Mr.VITTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the memory of 
George Perkins, a beloved community leader from Hammond, LA, who passed 
away suddenly in April of this year. George was born in 1942 and would 
have turned 71 on August 17.
  George was born in Walker, LA, and relocated to Hammond in 1979. He 
immediately became a community leader in the Hammond area. He joined 
Greenfield Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, 
Sunday school teacher, and member of the male chorus. He cochaired the 
board of deacons and was in charge of the church's video recording.
  George was an insurance sales representative and later a cable TV 
franchise owner by trade, but he was best known as one of the 
originators of the Tangipahoa Black Festival that began in 1984. In 
1987, the name was changed to the Tangipahoa Parish Black Heritage 
Festival. With the new name, George and other leaders of the 
organization decided they needed a permanent facility and they 
contacted the parish school system to purchase a boarded-up school on 
7.3 acres of land that was left over from integration. Over the years 
they have renovated the facility, which has become the Tangipahoa 
Parish African American Heritage Museum and Veterans Archive. George 
could be found there on most days working in whatever capacity in which 
he was needed--from acting as tour guide to researching records to 
taking on kitchen duty.
  He also served his community in other ways. He was a member of the 
advisory board for North Oaks Hospital and served as the first Black 
councilman for District 3 in the city of Hammond. He later served as an 
assistant to State Representative Henry ``Tank'' Powell and was a 
founding member of the 2nd Saturday breakfast group--a group which 
invites members of the community to gather monthly regardless of racial 
and social divides to discuss issues of concern to the community. He 
was a member of the Masonic Order Prince Hall affiliation, the past 
worshipful master of Oak Grove Lodge #117 in Hammond and a grand 
officer of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Lodge for the State of 
Louisiana.
  George Perkins was a man of many talents and music was his passion. 
He wrote and produced many songs including ``Cryin' in the Streets''--
his No. 1 hit. It sold over 1 million copies and provided him the 
opportunity to perform at the Apollo Theater.
  George will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 42 years, Eloise, 3 
daughters, 3 sons, 19 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, 6 sisters, 2 
brothers, and an entire community. I am pleased to join them in 
honoring George Perkins, a man who provided a great example of 
leadership through his service to others and his community.

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