[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 37 (Monday, February 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE MARY JANE GALER

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 27, 2023

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
celebrate the life of a devoted wife, loving mother, doting 
grandmother, noted historian, professional librarian, distinguished 
author, thoughtful teacher, dedicated public servant and dear friend of 
longstanding, The Honorable Mary Jane Perkins Galer. Sadly, 
Representative Galer transitioned this life on Tuesday, February 7, 
2023. A celebration of her remarkable life was held at 3:00 pm on 
Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at The First Presbyterian Church in 
Columbus, GA attended by a host of friends, family, and admirers.
  The genesis of Mary Jane Galers journey began with her birth in Port 
Arthur, Texas in 1924. Always seeking to quench her thirst for 
knowledge, she attended and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh 
in 1945 with a B.A. in Education. This led to the commencement of her 
professional career as a teacher and librarian. She went on to earn a 
Master's degree in Library Science from the Carnegie Institute of 
Technology in 1947.
  Mary Jane was able to merge her love of travel and serving others 
when she became an Army Special Services Librarian. This responsibility 
involved setting up libraries for soldiers at bases around the world, 
helping these soldiers increase their love of knowledge and learning. 
In 1951, during one of these assignments, she met and married her 
husband of 66 years, the late U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Robert Fulton Galer. 
The Galer Family moved to Columbus, Georgia in 1960, when her husband 
became Fort Benning's Inspector General and Mary Jane assumed the 
position of Post Librarian. In 1967, Mary Jane joined the staff of 
Columbus College, now Columbus State University, as a Librarian and 
Associate Professor.
  Because of her love of public service, in 1976 she interrupted her 
pursuit of an advanced degree in Political Science to run for a seat in 
the Georgia House of Representatives. She and I were both elected 
during that election, and we became not only colleagues but dear 
friends. We frequently traveled to and from Atlanta together and often 
shuttled packages to her daughter Robin, who was a student at Georgia 
Tech. She used her time as a legislator to champion the rights of women 
and children. Her legislative achievements include helping Georgia, 
Alabama, and Florida to agree on a water sharing plan, revising 
guardianship laws for incapacitated adults, removing the collaboration 
requirements in rape cases and strengthening child support laws to 
comply with Federal guidelines. Furthermore. she was a strong advocate 
for the Equal Rights Amendment and equal opportunity for all. She 
served in the Georgia General Assembly through 1988. As a result of her 
stellar public service, she received numerous public awards to include 
Certificate for Outstanding Achievement in Public Service, Soroptimist 
Award and the Maxine Shapiro Goldenstein Freedom Award.
  Mary Jane Galer accomplished much in her life but little of it would 
have been possible without the grace of God and the love and support of 
her husband, the late U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Robert Fulton Galer and her 
three children--Frank Fulton Galer, Robin R. Galer, and Barbara J. 
Neufeld. Her life was certainly made complete with the love of her 
grandchildren Jeni Neufeld and Katie Benner, as well as her three great 
grandchildren.
  George Washington Carver once said that ``How far you go in life 
depends on your being tender with young, compassionate with the aged, 
sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. 
Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Mary 
Jane, throughout her life exemplified these words. She was a lady of 
principle, character, dignity, grace, and grit. Our city, state, 
nation, and the world are better for her 98 years of life. To God be 
the Glory.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 people 
of the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia, in honoring the life and 
legacy of the Honorable Mary Jane Galer and in extending our deepest 
condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones during this time of 
bereavement. Moreover, 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.

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