[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN MEMORY OF MS. KIMBERLY ``KIM'' A. PORTER

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2018

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and 
solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a beloved 
entrepreneur and dear friend of longstanding, Kim Porter. Sadly, Kim 
departed to her eternal reward on Thursday, November 15, 2018 . On 
Saturday, November 24, 2018, friends and family gathered to celebrate 
the wonderful life of this exceptional woman at a homegoing service 
held at Cascade Hills Church in Columbus, Georgia.
  Kimberly Antwinette Porter was born on December 15, 1970, in 
Columbus, Georgia to the union of Jake and Sarah Goodwin Porter. From 
the time she was eight years old, she was reared by her mother, as a 
single parent, and her grandmother, Ms. Lila Star, the owner of the 
renowned Royal Cafe in Columbus. As a young teenager, Kim attended the 
Mabie Bailey School of Modeling in Columbus, Georgia, and in 1988, 
graduated from Columbus High School where she was a musician in the 
marching band and Homecoming Queen.
  At the age of 17, Kim won the Fresh Faces Model of the South Pageant 
in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Following her high school graduation, 
she moved to New York to embark on her journey to become a model, where 
she met Marsha Irving who became one of her closest friends. Her 
stunning looks and poised presence made her a contender for several of 
New York's top modeling agencies. Kim ultimately signed with the 
Wilhelmina Agency and garnered worldwide recognition, gracing the 
runways and covers for numerous global brands and premiere fashion 
magazines. She also worked alongside such legendary models as Kimora 
Lee Simmons, Veronica Webb, and Naomi Campbell.
  In addition to her stellar career on the runway, Kim made a name for 
herself in the entertainment industry. She was the visionary behind 
Uptown Records, providing creative optics and a visual narrative that 
propelled the label and connected the culture of the South with New 
York City and the East Coast. As an actress, Kim appeared in numerous 
television series and films including Law & Order, The Brothers, The 
Cosby Show, and Mama, I Want to Sing. With her cherished ``best 
friends'', Eboni Elektra and Nicole Johnson, she co-founded Three Brown 
Girls, an Atlanta based marketing firm that promoted celebrity events 
and emerging artists.
  William Shakespeare wrote, ``All the world's a stage, and all the men 
and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; 
and one man in his time plays many parts. . . .'' Kim elegantly played 
many parts and graciously used her influence to inspire others, leaving 
a lasting impact.
  Maya Angelou once said, ``A great soul serves everyone all the time. 
A great soul never dies.'' Kim was one such great soul, who served 
humanity in a very special way. Each day she graced the people around 
her with an enthusiastic sincerity of presence. Her legacy on this 
earth extends beyond herself to those whom she inspired and supported, 
and for it, she will always be remembered.
  Kimberly is survived by her beautiful children, Quincy, Christian, 
Jessie, and D'Lila; her father, Jake Porter; her grandmother, Ms. Lila 
Star; aunts, uncles, and a host of other family and friends including 
R&B singer, Albert Brown (Al B. Sure!) and music mogul, Sean John Combs 
(P-Diddy), all of whom will miss her deeply.
  On a personal note, I have known and been associated with Kim and her 
extended family for more than 40 years. When she became Homecoming 
Queen at Columbus High School, her mother asked me to escort her during 
the half time activities when her father was unable to attend. Kim was 
a special young woman who had a sweet and gentle spirit and an 
infectious personality that endeared her to many. She gave others 
strength by always seeing and focusing on the positive side of life. I 
can say without reservation that Kim was one of the most sincere and 
warm-hearted people I have known.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the constituents of Georgia's 
Second Congressional District and people all across America and the 
world, in paying tribute to Ms. Kimberly Antwinette Porter for the 
inspiring life that she led. Moreover, we extend our deepest sympathies 
to her family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. We 
pray that we will all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and 
the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

                          ____________________