[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 136 (Tuesday, August 16, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING JOSEPHINE PRADIA RHYMES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 16, 2022

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an 
impeccable and an accomplished leader, Josephine Pradia Rhymes. Mrs. 
Rhymes currently is ``officially'' retired from Tri-County Workforce 
alliance after 25 years of dedicated service as of May 31, 2022. She 
has been a champion of education, and a leader of service in the 
Mississippi Delta and our great state.
  Mrs. Rhymes received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern 
University and A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and her Master 
of Education degree from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 
Oxford, Mississippi. She recently completed the requirements for the 
CITI Program at Ole Miss.
  She was married to the late Robert A. Rhymes, Sr. She is the mother 
of one daughter Tarra Katrice Rhymes-Slack; one son Robert A. Rhymes, 
Jr.; a grandmother of one granddaughter, Pradia Nicole Slack; and one 
grandson Tyler Rhymes-Christian Slack.
  Mrs. Rhymes, a Lake Charles, Louisiana native, was Executive Director 
of Tri-County Workforce Alliance ever since its implementation in 1997. 
Tri-County's mission is to promote long-term economic and community 
development by building a healthy and competitive workforce through 
education and job training to a three-county region (Bolivar, Coahoma, 
and Quitman counties) of the Mississippi Delta.
  Mrs. Rhymes taught French, English, German, and Journalism at 
Clarksdale High School, and French, English, Oral Communication, and 
Journalism at Coahoma Community College for eleven (11) years. She 
taught school for 32 years total.
  Mrs. Rhymes has won numerous awards over the years. At Clarksdale 
High she was selected ``Star Teacher'' four (4) times and was selected 
for Who's Who Among American Teachers in 1990. She received the NAACP's 
Education Heritage Award in 1992. Also, the English Honor Society at 
Clarksdale High School was name in her honor in 2014. It is called the 
Josephine Pradia Rhymes English Honor Society. She was inducted into 
Coahoma Community College's Sports Hall of Fame as a Community Leader 
Inductee; featured in a documentary by Blue Magnolia Films and Barefoot 
Workshops (through Nickalus Jones, a senior at Clarksdale High School) 
for her work to improve the lives of youth in Clarksdale; and as a part 
of the project, two life-size pictures are on the doors of the old 
Paramount Theater to help with revitalization of downtown Clarksdale.
  Mrs. Rhymes continues to serve as a dedicated leader in the 
community. She is an advocate for the youth, education, and community 
service. She serves in a plethora of other community organizations in 
various capacities--her work and dedication is unending. Mrs. Rhymes 
has proven herself throughout her career and earned a reputation of 
impeccable character, unquestionable integrity, unparalleled 
professional achievement, and superior leadership.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Josephine Pradia Rhymes for her leadership, service, and dedication.

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