[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 34 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING CATHERINE MILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 28, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable Civil Rights Activist, Mrs. Catherine Miller who is a 
resident of Friars Points, Mississippi.
  Mrs. Miller was born in the historical Taborian Hospital in Mound 
Bayou, Mississippi and resided with her parents the late James Lee 
Nolan, Sr. and Juanita Grandberry Johnson and her sixteen siblings in 
Friars Point, Mississippi. At the age of five her family moved to 
Memphis, Tennessee and after three years the family relocated to Friars 
Point to run their farm.
  Mrs. Miller was educated in the Memphis City School District, Friars 
Point Elementary School, and graduated from Coahoma Agricultural High 
School and Coahoma Junior College. She furthered her education at 
Alcorn State College and received a Bachelor of Business Administration 
degree from LeMoyne College in Memphis, Tennessee, and continued her 
studies at Walden University towards a Master Degree in Non-Profit 
Management.
  In the early 1970's Mrs. Miller participated in boycotting stores in 
Friars Point where people were being treated unjustly and got involved 
with activities which highlighted change for equality. She became a 
member of the Young Democratic Organization, and worked and campaigned 
in several Coahoma County Board of Supervisors Elections where her 
interest in politics evolved.
  Mrs. Miller lives by the motto, ``action speaks louder than words''. 
In 1982 she entered the political arena and ran unsuccessfully for the 
position of Town Clerk for the Town of Friars Point, but that did not 
deter her because she was determined to be the town clerk. In October, 
1986 she was elected Friars Point Town Clerk. After being in this 
position for about two years, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen passed an 
ordinance making the Town Clerk's position an appointed position 
instead of an elected position. During this time Mrs. Miller stated 
that she would never run for another elected office because her mother 
was totally against her being involved in politics. She was employed in 
the appointed position as town clerk for over 20 years.
  In February, 2009 Mrs. Miller left the Town of Friars Point Town 
Clerk's position and was hired as the Administrative Assistant to the 
newly elected Coahoma County Sheriff Charles Jones. A lot of things had 
changed in her life, with the passing away of her mother, she decided 
that she would no longer sit back and just talk about how she was not 
pleased with the leadership or the conditions of the town where she 
lives.
  After soul searching and much prayer about the situations Mrs. Miller 
decided to enter the political arena, once again, in March, 2009 to 
seek the position of Mayor and was unsuccessful. Over the next four 
years she continued to show an interest in becoming Mayor of the Town 
of Friars Point, to see, make changes and improvements in the town. In 
March 2013 she threw her bid in to run for the position of Mayor of the 
Town of Friars Point. On June 4, 2013 her dream became a reality. She 
was elected the first African-American woman to become Mayor of the 
Town of Friars Point in over 120 years in history of being incorporated 
as a town.
  Mrs. Miller's former position as the Town Clerk of Friars Point 
afforded her a wealth of knowledge and experience to assist her in the 
position of Mayor. In serving as Mayor she welcomes the challenges with 
the help of her constituents and the Board of Aldermen to move the Town 
of Friars Point forward.
  Mrs. Miller is married to Arthur Lee Miller, Jr and they have five 
children: Danielle, Domonique, Rosalind, Chantauna, Arthur, III; seven 
grandchildren: Cameron, Hollis, Arveon, Lauren, Itlay, Asia, London and 
one grandson, Carson. She is a member of the First Community Church in 
Dubbs, Mississippi under the leadership of Pastor Rodney Hibbler.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an amazing 
Civil Rights Activist, Mrs. Catherine Miller Williams, for her 
dedication to change and equal rights.

                          ____________________