[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MRS. FLORINE LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable Unsung Hero, Mrs. Florine Lewis.
  For some retired educators, retirement means a time to relax and take 
it easy. Not for longtime Holmes County, Mississippi resident, Mrs. 
Florine Lewis. She served the Second Congressional District as an 
outstanding educator for 37 years. Now retired for 15 years, she is 
still going like the ``Energizer Bunny.''
  Mrs. Lewis continues to actively serve her community. She volunteers 
at the UMC Hospital of Holmes County; is active in the Holmes County 
Teachers Association, the Mississippi Valley State University Holmes 
County Alumni Chapter, and in her church, Asia Missionary Baptist 
Church of Lexington. She annually serves as a Spelling Bee judge for 
the Community Students Learning Center's Spelling Bee contest in which 
she has received several awards. ``I am just always willing to serve 
where I can and when I can,'' she said.
  In addition to her busy community service, Mrs. Lewis is also the 
principal caregiver for her elderly mother, who lives miles away in 
Greenville, Miss.
  The Itta Bena, Mississippi native began her teaching career at 
Montgomery Elementary School in Mount Bayou, Mississippi and later 
relocated to Holmes County where she has taught at the former Tchula 
Attendance Center (TAC) and the Holmes County Vocational Center. She is 
the widow of the late Robert Earl Lewis, who was also a principal and 
teacher in Holmes County. The two of them have six children who are 
adults in various professions such as teaching, librarian, business and 
engineering. During her own teaching career, Mrs. Lewis was recognized 
as a STAR teacher.
  Former students and community members alike say that whenever they 
see Mrs. Lewis, she always greeted them as ``Florine Lewis.'' She just 
keeps on going and going and going . . .  doing what she can to help 
others, never looking for anything in return. She is truly an unsung 
hero.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Florine Lewis for her dedication in serving the community.

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