[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 34 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MELVIN C. JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        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 an 
extraordinary community leader, Mr. Melvin Johnson.
  Mr. Melvin Charles Johnson was born and raised in a small town of 
Tunica, MS. He has been married to Debra L. (Toney) Johnson for 23 
years. He was introduced to politics at the early age of 10. He marched 
in his first Civil Rights March in Tunica, MS in 1963 and became the 
vice president of the SCLC Youth Organization in Tunica.
  Mr. Johnson was very talented in sports. One day at school after a 
football game, Mrs. Velma (Turner) Brown, which was one of his high 
school teachers, told him that if he would put the energy that he 
played in football in politics, that he could help change Tunica 
County. So, he took her advice because she counseled him and was a 
great mentor.
  Later, he went on to organize and establish the first voter league in 
Tunica County. It was called ``United Voters League of Tunica.'' He 
also organized a voter registration booth in downtown Tunica in front 
of one of the night clubs. He collected all the information from each 
individual, filled out their applications and sent them to the circuit 
clerk's office to legally sign the papers in person.
  He was one of the first that was elected State Constable in the 
Northern District of Tunica County. Mrs. Nellie Johnson, Mr. Miller, 
and Mr. Johnson contacted a TV spokesperson to tell them and to show 
them the conditions people were living in. This area was called Sugar 
Ditch, at the time.
  Mr. Johnson also walked with Jessie Jackson when he came to Tunica to 
address poor living conditions in Tunica County. After this was brought 
to the world's attention, several people came to him looking for advice 
and told him about many other concerns that needed addressing in the 
community.
  Mr. Johnson saw in a local newspaper where they had printed an 
article that referred to him as the ``County Community Organizer.'' In 
his lifetime, the only thing he had ever wanted to do was to help 
improve the living conditions in Tunica County, Mississippi. His 
mentors were Mrs. Lucille Hudson, Jessie Brandon Sr., and Mrs. Alice 
Brandon.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Melvin 
Johnson for his dedication in being a respected community leader.

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