[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 180 (Wednesday, November 1, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE LATE JAMES C. ``SAM/SAMMY'' BRADFORD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 1, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and service of James C. ``Sam/Sammy'' Bradford.
  Sammy was born on July 11, 1942, in Memphis TN. Mr. Bradford started 
trying to make a difference early in the NAACP youth chapter. In March 
of 1961, he became the youngest of the ``Tougaloo Nine'' to desegregate 
the Jackson Municipal Library System. It was during that selfless act 
of service he created the concept ``You can recognize what's the right 
thing to do . . . because the right thing is rarely comfortable, 
convenient or popular''.
  Sammy graduated from Douglass High School and began his freshman year 
in 1960 at the esteemed Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS where he 
studied music. His love for music and beautiful tenor voice is what 
joined him with the love of his life, his wife, Shirley Ann Faulkens.
  In December of 1969, Sammy married Shirley Ann Faulkens. They were 
married for 53 years and 10 months and had two children together, Ako 
and Pili.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the late 
James C. ``Sam/Sammy'' Bradford for his dedication, advocacy, and 
sacrifices to the Civil Rights Movement.

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