[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 97 (Friday, June 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE CITY OF LEXINGTON, MISSISSIPPI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge 
the historically rich city of Lexington, Mississippi.
  Lexington is a city in Holmes County, Mississippi. The population was 
2,025 as of the 2000 census. It was named in honor of Lexington, 
Massachusetts. Like much of the state, Holmes County suffered during 
and after the Civil War.
  The City of Lexington is served by the Holmes County School District. 
It is also served by a private school called Central Holmes Christian 
School (formerly Central Holmes Academy).
  The City of Lexington also has some rich African-American History. It 
is the root for the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) (formerly called 
the Church of God when it got its Lexington beginning) by founder 
Bishop Charles Harrison Mason.
  The City of Lexington can also boast as having the first black-
elected school superintendent in the State of Mississippi--Elder 
William Dean, who is now pastor of the St. Paul Church of God in Christ 
here in Lexington. The church is situated next to the beautiful campus 
of Saints College (now closed to students) but is used for multiple 
purposes, especially its church-like edifice commonly known as ``Holy 
Hill.''
  Saints College was founded by an African-American, Dr. Arenia Mallory 
as Saints Industrial and Literary School.
  The historically black school was renamed and is currently called 
Saints Academy. Dr. Mallory served as president of the school from 1926 
until her death in 1983. It is run under the Church of God in Christ. 
Dr. Mallory was an active member of the COGIC church and participated 
in the Women's Department and was the leader in the national church. 
She also served as the Vice President of the National Council of Negro 
Women from 1953-1957.
  Lexington is also the home of the Dr. Arenia C. Mallory Community 
Health Center, Inc. (Mallory CHC) founded by Dr. Martha Davis (now 
deceased). Its mission is to provide high quality, customer oriented 
and cost effective healthcare services in a safe and accessible 
environment to all persons of Holmes, Carroll, Madison, Leflore 
counties and surrounding communities. Its motto is ``Enter a Patient, 
Leave a Friend.'' (See more about the clinic at http://
www.mallorychc.org/)
  The City of Lexington is also the home of the Community Students 
Learning Center (CSLC) founded by longtime African-American natives 
Leslie and Beulah Greer: ``Our Mission for the Community Students 
Learning Center is to promote community and educational change, by 
providing state-of-the-art leadership development and personal 
improvement opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors.'' Its motto 
is ``In Relentless Pursuit of Education and Knowledge. (See more about 
CSLC at: http://www.communitystudentlearning.org/)
  The City of Lexington was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement 
in Holmes County, Mississippi. Brave men and women, black and white, 
protested, challenged and worked hard to bring about racial harmony. 
While some success in that regard was made, the city and County both 
still could currently use more racial reconciliation, according to some 
of the residents.
  In addition to numerous historical firsts, today, the City of 
Lexington also boasts first ever Black Mayor of Lexington, 
Mississippi--the Honorable Mayor Clint Cobbins, who is currently 
leading his community toward progress.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the City 
of Lexington as a resilient, historically rich rural town that has 
maintained its community ties inside and outside its city limits by 
staying true to its roots in agriculture and local owned businesses.

                          ____________________