[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 175 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1593-E1594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MOTHER IRENE L. GARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2016

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable person, Mrs. Irene L. Gary.
  Mrs. Irene L. Gary affectionately known as ``Julie'' was born on 
September 5, 1930 in Goodman, Mississippi to the late Ozzie Lloyd and 
Essie Long. She received her general education from the Georgeville 
Community. She served as a cook for Holmes Community College which she 
loved doing for many years. Throughout her career she served in the 
capacity for other businesses until retirement.
  Irene's spiritual life began when she joined Georgeville United 
Methodist Church in Goodman, Mississippi. She relocated to Lexington, 
Mississippi where she began to worship at St. John C.M.E. Church under 
the pastorage of the late Rev. Larry Blackmon. Later in life she joined 
the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorage of Rev. 
Edward Charles Pitchford where she served faithfully until her health 
began to decline. Because of her spirit of serving others, she was 
chosen by her pastor to be a part of the Mother's Board. She loved her 
church, her pastor and his family. Irene was a unique individual; you 
had to

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know her to understand her and to understand her was to love her.
  Irene departed her natural life on August 1, 2016. Her parents, Ozzie 
Lloyd and Essie Long, her loving sister, Eva Smart, and her niece, 
Carolyn Smart, all preceded her in death. Fond memories of her will 
forever remain with her children: Virginia Brown and George Gary; a 
grandson whom she reared as her own, Donald Gary, all of Lexington, MS; 
two very dedicated friends Gloria Remus and Ruthie Marshall of 
Lexington, MS; five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; three 
great-great grandchildren; a God granddaughter, Sade Melton; nieces, 
nephews, cousins, and neighbors whom she loved; family and friends.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Irene 
L. Gary, for her dedication to the community.

                          ____________________