[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 91 (Thursday, June 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E867-E868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF JAMES A. BUSSEY, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 2016

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and 
celebrate his 90th birthday, a dear friend of longstanding to my wife, 
Vivian and me, Mr. James A. Bussey, Sr. A 90th birthday celebration was 
held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 5:00 pm at the National Infantry 
Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia. David Viscott once said 
that, ``The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The Work of life 
is to develop it. The Meaning of life is to give your gift away.'' Mr. 
James Bussey has given his life away in service to others and we are 
all better for it.
  James Andrew Bussey was born in Harris County, GA in 1926 and 
attended Spencer High School, where he graduated in 1944. Upon 
graduation, James was accepted into Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, 
where he remained for one year before marrying Ms. Marguerite Lindsey 
in 1947 and moved to Columbus, GA.
  Mr. Bussey is an industrious man who worked two jobs every week to 
support his

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family because he wanted to provide a better life for them. He 
constantly had to fight the scourge of racism and because of this, he 
left Columbus in 1957 to move to Washington, DC where he obtained 
employment at the Washington Hotel. But, the stench of racism was not 
far behind as Mr. Bussey discovered that his weekly paycheck was $20 
less than that of his White counterparts. Left with a heavy heart, 
Bussey immediately returned to Columbus.
  Because of his grit, determination and unwavering faith in God, Mr. 
Bussey found employment as a mail handler with the United States Postal 
Service. He took pride in delivering the mail and especially enjoyed 
the East Highland route, which allowed him to visit his mother and 
grandmother, frequently. Becoming a Mail Handler allowed Mr. Bussey to 
connect with his community on a personal level and he was known to sing 
as he walked with joy along his daily route. In addition, he would 
support and assist community members with literacy troubles, and would 
read and respond to mail whenever asked. Mr. Bussey's dedication to his 
job as a Mail Handler and passion for members of his community granted 
him the recurring opportunity to drive the postal vehicle in the annual 
Christmas parade, in Columbus.
  Mr. Bussey retired from the United States Postal Service in 1976, and 
upon his retirement, returned to college with his undying resilience 
and dedication, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbus 
College in 1988. Mr. Bussey became a proud member of the Alpha Phi 
Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and to this day lives by their mission to 
promote brotherhood and service to all mankind.
  Furthermore, Mr. Bussey is a longtime active member of St. James AME 
Church where he is an officer, a member of the Sons of Allen, and a 
soloist with the choir. He has volunteered with the Columbus 
Ambassadors of the Columbus Visitors Bureau and has appeared on stage 
at the Liberty Theater as an adult performer in musical productions at 
the Three Arts and River Centers.
  Mr. Bussey continues to live a selfless and generous life, serving as 
a proud Christian, husband, father and friend and has been blessed with 
four children, James Jr., Janet, Margaret and Michael. I have known Mr. 
Bussey and the Bussey family for almost 50 years. He is one of the 
finest human beings that I have ever met in my lifetime. None of the 
success that he has obtained in life would have been possible without 
the love and support of his loving wife, Marguerite. He is an example 
of what Jesus meant when he said, ``He that is great among you shall be 
a servant and he that is greatest among you shall be a servant unto 
all.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and my wife, Vivian, 
along with the more than 730,000 constituents of the Second 
Congressional District in extending our best wishes to James A. Bussey, 
Sr. on his 90th birthday. As we celebrate another year of this 
outstanding citizen's life, we would do well to follow the example of 
his legacy of striving to improve the quality of life of others giving 
the gift of his extraordinary life away for the betterment of humanity.

                          ____________________