[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 118 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E654-E655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING HONORABLE CHARLES HOBBY STRIPLING, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2023

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of a 
dedicated husband, loving father, humble public servant, and friend of 
longstanding, the Honorable Charles Hobby Stripling, Sr. Sadly, Hobby 
transitioned this life on July 3, 2023. A homegoing service celebrating 
the life of this remarkable man was held at 10:00 a.m. on July 7, 2023, 
at the Vienna United Methodist Church in Vienna, Georgia.
  Charles Hobby Stripling was born on August 30, 1932, in Turner 
County, Georgia to the union of Maggie Thelma Hobby Stripling and Jodie 
Lee Stripling. Hobby graduated from Cordele High School in 1948 at the 
age of 16 and married his sweetheart, Joanne Duncan. They were married 
for 58 years until her passing in 2006 and were the parents of 2 sons, 
Charles Hobby Stripling, Jr. and Robby Stripling. Hobby was blessed to 
find love for a second time and in 2011 he married Ann Gambrell. They 
shared 12 wonderful years together and created a blended family to 
include Tonya Gambrell Thompson, Torri Gambrell Zeigler and Greg 
Gambrell. Together the Stripling and Gambrell children, grandchildren, 
great-grandchildren and other kin merged into a loving family unit 
which Hobby cherished with great pride.
  During his life, Hobby held various jobs until he returned to Vienna, 
Georgia in 1962 to open the Vienna Red & White Super Market with James 
and Elsi Pass. He later opened Zippy Food Store, the first convenience 
store in Vienna, Georgia, which he operated for many years. This gave 
him the opportunity to interact with his neighbors, empathize with 
their challenges and spark a career of public service to ensure 
positive change for his neighbors, friends and family.
  It has been said that ``Service is the rent we pay for the space we 
occupy on this earth.'' Hobby paid his rent and paid it well. He served 
as Mayor of Vienna, Georgia for 24 years; President of the Georgia 
Municipal Association; and campaign manager for former Atlanta Georgia 
Mayor, Congressman and UN Ambassador, Andrew Young in his run for 
Georgia Governor. He was pivotal in my successful 1992 congressional 
campaign and in 1993, when the time came for me to hire a District 
Director, Hobby was a perfect fit. His leadership, compassion, 
patience, fidelity, advice, and friendship were the manifestations of 
love in action. He served the people of the 2nd Congressional District 
and me well for 10 years, then went on to serve as the District 
Director for Congressman Jim Marshall for 7 years and in 2008 was 
appointed by President Barack Obama to be Georgia State Director of the 
Farm Service Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  Hobby Stripling accomplished much in his life, but none of it would 
have been possible without the grace of God, the love and support of 
his beloved wives, Joanne and Ann, his blended extended family and the 
many souls that inspired and motivated him to serve. He touched 
countless lives in a positive way and because he did, the world is a 
better place.

[[Page E655]]

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the 765,000 people of the 2nd 
Congressional District in honoring the life and service of the 
Honorable Charles Hobby Stripling, Sr. and in extending our deepest 
condolences to his family, friends and all those who mourn his loss. 
May we all be consoled and comforted by an abiding faith and the Holy 
Spirit in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

                          ____________________