[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF BARBARA THARPE RAINES

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 1, 2022

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and 
solemn remembrance that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a 
loving wife, dedicated mother, doting grandmother and a woman after 
God's own heart, First Lady Emeritus Barbara Tharpe Raines. Sadly, 
First Lady Raines passed from labor to reward after a long and fruitful 
journey of service to humankind. A service celebrating her remarkable 
life will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022 in Macon, Georgia at 
12:00 p.m. at the Macon Centreplex. She leaves a legacy of service that 
is worthy of emulation.
  Barbara Tharpe Raines was born on January 30, 1951, in Macon, Georgia 
to the late James Bryant and Alma Jones Tharpe. She was the oldest of 
six children.
  First Lady Raines was a lifelong learner and was a proud product of 
the Bibb County School System, graduating from Ballard Hudson High 
School in 1968. The next stop on her educational journey was Fort 
Valley State College (now University), graduating in 1972 with a 
Bachelor's of Science Degree in Education. She also received a Master's 
Degree in Counseling from Georgia College and State University with 
more study at Georgia Southern University .
  Equipped with great educational tools, she embarked on a thirty-year 
education career, serving in multiple roles, including First Grade 
Teacher, Second Grade Teacher and Guidance Counselor. She retired from 
the Bibb County School system with her final duty station at Burghurd 
Elementary School. Never one to rest on her laurels or one to stop 
trying to help those in need, she came out of retirement to do 
independent counseling for the school system, setting up independent 
counseling programs and serving as she did so often in her life as a 
mentor for new counselors. First Lady Raines was also an instructor 
with Hicks and Hicks Associates of Atlanta, Georgia, where she taught 
child development courses.
  Central to her life and character was her commitment to God that she 
formed at an early age. An unbreakable bond was cemented with her 
beloved husband and life partner, the Reverend Curtis Raines as they 
were both founding members of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church. She and 
Rev. Raines were members of the church's Youth Department and played an 
integral role in the Church's spiritual and social development. First 
Lady Raines and Reverend Raines formed a true partnership as she became 
a deaconess and he became a deacon under the leadership of their pastor 
at Mount Vernon, the Reverend Dr. Henry Ficklin.
  Applying the lessons that he learned at Mount Vernon, Reverend Raines 
began his own ministerial journey along with First Lady Raines who 
supported him at every turn, as a sterling example of what a First Lady 
should be. She served as the First Lady of New Pilgrim Baptist Church 
for 34 years and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Bolingbroke for 
31 years. First Lady Raines was involved with many ministries that had 
as their goal the development of the whole person.
  When Reverend Raines became President of the General Missionary 
Convention of Georgia, First Lady Raines was once again a full partner 
with her husband serving in numerous capacities with the Convention.
  George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends 
on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged 
sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and strong, 
because someday in your life you will have been all of these.''
  First Lady Emeritus Barbara Raines used her life's work to help 
people from all walks of life. She was a member of many social and 
civic organizations to include the Macon Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority, Inc., Bibb Retired Education Association and Retired 
Counselors, Mentor at the Macon Youth Development Center, Rainbow Grief 
Counselor, Co-Team Captain of American Cancer Society, Former Member of 
the American Lung Association, and Cancer Relay for Life.
  Because of her remarkable service to others, she has been recognized 
by local, state and national organizations.
  Besides being one of God's Children, her greatest role in life was 
being a dedicated wife, loving mother and grandmother. As outlined 
already, she supported and served as the greatest cheerleader to her 
husband of almost 44 Years, Rev. Curtis Raines in various endeavors. 
Moreover, she always supported her children and grandchildren,
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to have known a woman with the grace, class 
and dignity of First Lady Emeritus Barbara Tharpe Raines. I ask my 
colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the 730,000 people 
of the Second Congressional District in extending our deepest 
condolences to her family, friends and all who mourn her loss. May they 
be comforted by their faith, the grace of God and the Holy Spirit in 
the days, weeks and months ahead.

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