[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E509-E510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING WOMAN OF LIGHT HONOREE INA THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MATT GAETZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2018

  Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and pay tribute to the 
life and accomplishments of Ina Thompson, who is the ninth woman to be 
honored in the Women of Light program sponsored by the DeFuniak Springs 
Woman's Club. Women of Light honors women past and present who have 
made significant contributions to our community or who came from this 
area and made contributions elsewhere.
  Ina Simmons was born October 3, 1902 in Freeport, Florida. Her 
parents were Dr. Daniel Simmons and her mother Mary Ansley Simmons, an 
early education teacher. She had five siblings; Minnie Ruth, Sarah 
Gertrude, Mary Edith, Daniel Curtis and Martha Louise.
  Her family moved to DeFuniak Springs in 1909 where her father opened 
a private practice in addition to caring for lumber and turpentine 
workers as a company doctor. Ina attended schools in Walton County and 
graduated from Walton High School in 1920. She loved sports and was on 
the girls' basketball team. Her favorite subject was history.
  She attended Florida State College for Women and was a forward on the 
basketball team. She also played tennis and held an elected office each 
of the four years she attended the school. Ina graduated in 1924 with 
majors in history and English. She returned in 1948 and received a 
Masters Degree in Education at what was by then Florida State 
University.
  After graduation Miss Simmons returned to DeFuniak Springs and taught 
English and history at Walton High School. In 1928, Miss Simmons 
married Warner Thompson who had graduated from Asbury College in 
Wilmore, Kentucky. The couple moved to Wilmore where Warner finished 
his last two years at Asbury Seminary. Their son, Warner Paul Thompson 
Jr. was born in 1929. Rev. Warner graduated from seminary in 1930 and 
became a Methodist minister.
  The family moved to Gamber, Maryland where Rev. Thompson pastored a 
church. Two years later he was a minister for a church in Baltimore. 
Daughter Gretchen Ann was born there in 1936. Rev. Thompson suffered 
from asthma in an age where there were not the medicines we now have to 
treat it. There were times when he was too ill to give the sermon on a 
Sunday. On those days the church allowed Mrs. Thompson to fill the 
pulpit and deliver the sermon.
  In 1941, after the passing of Rev Thompson, the young widow and her 
two children returned to DeFuniak Springs and her family home.
  Mrs. Thompson worked as a visitor for the Welfare Board. In 1943 she 
was made a Welfare Board supervisor for Walton and Holmes Counties.
  In 1945 the Florida legislature provided funds to create in each 
county a new position, general supervisor of schools. This position was 
appointed by the county superintendent of schools. Mrs. Thompson was 
the first general supervisor of schools in Walton County. She was in 
charge of curriculum development for elementary through high schools. 
She held this position for ten years. In 1955, newly elected Florida 
governor LeRoy Collins wanted a woman to be a member of his ``little 
cabinet'' and be the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles. 
His friend, Tom Bailey, was the state superintendent of schools and Mr. 
Collins asked if he could recommend someone. Mr. Bailey named Ina 
Thompson and she agreed to take the position. She was in charge of 
distributing auto license plates and collecting $27,000,000 in annual 
taxes.
  As president of the fourteen state South Eastern Region of Motor 
Vehicle Administrators, she would travel and host conventions to

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address their mutual problems. She also traveled all over the United 
States and Canada as one of 500 delegates of the American Association 
of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
  Mrs. Thompson was an active member of the First United Methodist 
Church as a Sunday School teacher, director of youth and board member. 
She was a speaker for the United Methodist Women. She was involved in 
the community as a member of the Pilot Club, Woman's Club and Garden 
Club in DeFuniak Springs.
  Mrs. Thompson died November 23, 1993. Her son, Paul, became a lawyer 
and daughter, Gretchen McCall, taught third grade and plays organ at 
the First United Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs. She had five 
grandchildren; Ann Thompson, James McCall, Donna Powell, Beth Hrabal 
and Mary Grace Brooks. She had five great grandchildren; Paul Thompson, 
Hailee, Trevor and Christian Powell and Carolyn Brooks. Mrs. Thompson 
was honored as a Woman of Light on April 20, 2018 at the First United 
Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged 
to recognize and honor Woman of Light Honoree Ina Thompson for her 
countless contributions and accomplishments. She led a remarkable life 
and her legacy lives on through her children and the invaluable impact 
she had on her community.

                          ____________________