[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING LINDA HOWARD JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell the 
story of an unsung hero. Often times the neighbor next door goes 
unnoticed because of their ability to quietly go about life helping 
others without any nudge from the outside to do so, the only nudge they 
get is the one that is in their heart to do what needs to be done. Mr. 
Speaker her name is Linda Howard Johnson and she lives in my district, 
Mississippi Second Congressional District. People in the community calf 
her ``Mama or Grandma.''
  Linda's start in life helped to shape the road she would travel later 
in life. As a young child, she was given away to be raised by a woman 
not related to her, Ms. Clara Tanzy. As a child she was constantly 
changing elementary schools and places to live. Her mother wanted 
change and a better life for them, so she chose Tutwiler, MS. Tutwiler 
was the answer they needed to end their roller coaster ride. Linda said 
it was the first time they were able to call an apartment home, just 
for the two of them. The stability gave her the grounding she needed to 
focus on school, being a child, being a little girl, making friends, 
and all those things important to a child.
  Linda went on to attend Coahoma Junior College in 1978 and 1979, 
where she played basketball. The team won the regional level basketball 
competition among three states, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas 
and advanced to compete at the national level in Kansas City in 1979. 
In fact, she credits basketball for having taught her the importance of 
working together to achieve a common goal. As a mother, Linda instilled 
that same value in her children, Claretta, Lazerick, and Ramona and her 
grandchildren, Tashayla, Raileigh, Savannah, Diamond, and Courtney. All 
three of her children went to college and are successful in their 
careers. Linda's children are constantly trying to encourage their 
mother to move away but she reminds them, ``Tutwiler grounded me and 
contributed to who I am, so this is my home and extended family, so I'm 
here to stay and help someone else.'' I'm pleased that Linda has 
decided to stay in Tutwiler and help someone in need.
  Linda is constantly giving back in many ways. She is a teacher's 
assistant in the local school district and a bus driver for the 
district as well. In addition, Linda serves as a basketball coach for 
both the West Tallahatchie School District and the Tutwiler Community 
Education Center. She say's what she does is not much but it is what 
she loves, ``helping family,'' because Tutwiler is her family.
  Linda has helped raise eight children. She comes to their aide 
because she recognizes those same issues that occurred in her life 
rising in theirs. So, she steps in to try and curtail those 
circumstances or prevent them from occurring in their lives. Linda 
recalls the story of child who came from a family that hadn't had a 
female to graduate from high school in twenty years, well Linda got 
involved in the child's life from birth and nurtured her through high 
school until she graduated, thus breaking the chain. She invited a 17 
year old young man struggling to get out of the 8th grade, who had no 
one to guide him, so she invited him to come live with her only if he 
promised to finish school. The young man got his GED and that was 
better than nothing. In fact, there have been situations in which Linda 
has taken in entire families consisting of the husband, wife, and 
children. She says her house is not the Hilton but it's a home and 
she's willing to share it with those in need at no charge.
  Linda says ``I don't know, to me it seems like I need my community 
and my community needs me and that's why I tell my children I can't 
move away, I'm at home and a mother's place is at home.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an unsung 
hero of the Tutwiler Community for stepping up to the plate and 
influencing many lives, Ms. Linda Howard Johnson.

                          ____________________