[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 55 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. MAYRENE BATES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 27, 2023

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
lasting contributions of Mrs. Mayrene Bates, longtime Solano County 
educator and trustee with the Solano Board of Education. Passing away 
at 88, Mrs. Bates leaves behind an indelible legacy of over fifty years 
of service to Solano County.
  Born in 1934, in a small Tennessee town at the time of racial 
segregation, Mrs. Bates attended grade school in a one-room 
schoolhouse. Later, she was forced to travel 32 miles to attend high 
school, as the segregation laws of the time prohibited her from 
attending the nearby school. Despite these unjust and adverse 
beginnings, Mrs. Bates developed a love for learning and eventually 
earned a scholarship to the Atlanta University Library School, where 
she obtained a master's degree in Library Science.
  In 1955, Mrs. Bates married James Bates and his service in the Air 
Force brought them all over the world, ultimately leading them to 
establish a permanent home in Fairfield. In 1970, Mayrene began working 
as the librarian at Fairview Elementary School and Grange Intermediate 
School. She later served as the vice-principal for Crystal Elementary 
School and Fairfield High School and eventually, as the principal of 
Crystal Middle School and K.I. Jones Elementary School. In her 
multitude of roles, Mrs. Bates never failed to prioritize the youth of 
Solano County and ensure all students in her community had the 
resources necessary to achieve their full potential.
  Following her extensive career with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified 
School District, Mrs. Bates served as Director, and later as Assistant 
Superintendent, of the Solano County Office of Education. In 1997, her 
altruistic passion for supporting the students of Solano County led her 
to run for the Solano Board of Education, where she served until 2018. 
Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated steadfast dedication to the 
young people of her community and consistently advocated for programs 
to ensure all students have equal access to education.
  Mrs. Bates' commitment to her community was expressed both through 
her decades of public service to Solano County and her vital work as 
President of the Fairfield-Cordelia Rotary Club and columnist for the 
Daily Republic. Her willingness to lend an ear and a helping hand to 
anyone in need earned her the widespread respect and gratitude of her 
community.
  Mrs. Bates will be remembered not only for her decades of service to 
Solano County, but also for her genuine spirit of kindness and 
compassion. She impacted the lives of countless students and educators 
in her community and her steadfast leadership, constant smile, and 
patient mentorship undeniably enhanced the lives of her fellow Solano 
County residents.
  Mrs. Bates' enduring spirit will live on in her husband, son, two 
grandchildren, and the community she dedicated her life to serving. I 
would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mrs. Bates' loved ones. I 
know that they, along with the people of Solano County, join me in 
celebrating her life and legacy.

                          ____________________