[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF SONNY ADKINS, JR.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Norman) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a truly 
great American, Mr. Sonny Adkins, Jr., who passed away on November 26, 
2023.
  Sonny was born in York County, South Carolina, and was the husband of 
the late Billie Jones Adkins, who was truly the love of his life.
  In the early 1960s, Sonny started a business with his first 
sidekicks, as he called them, Billie Adkins and Sam Robinson. The name 
of his company was Adkins Oil Burner Service, later to become Adkins 
Heating & Cooling. Sonny ran his business every day focused on the care 
and love of his customers and built great relationships with all of the 
wonderful customers that he served.
  Sonny ended up raising his own workers, as his children grew up and 
became the Adkins' employees. Sonny said many times, ``I raised my own 
workers the way I wanted them to be.'' Each struggle he faced was a 
lesson to the family on how to live a full life.
  In his recent days, he spent time riding his hay fields on a mule 
planning for the next hay season in his head. His planning included 
detailed instructions for the farmhands, also his family and friends, 
on what was needed to be done, and, more importantly, how to do it 
right, which was Sonny's way.

  Sonny wore many hats. He was a God-loving man, a great teacher to his 
family, the land developer of Carrollton Place, and a farmer. However, 
the most important roles that he filled were being a wonderful son, 
brother, husband, father, uncle, paw paw, and friend.
  At his funeral, there was a poem that was read that I think was so 
fitting for the life of Sonny Adkins. It goes like this:

     Do not stand at my grave and weep.
     I am not there; I do not sleep.
     I am a thousand winds that blow;
     I am the diamond glints on snow.
     I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
     I am the gentle autumn's rain.
     Do not stand at my grave and mourn.
     I am the dew-flecked grass at dawn.
     When tranquil oceans meet the land
     I am the footprints in the sand
     To guide you through the weary day.
     I am still here; I'll always stay.
     When you wake up to morning's hush
     I am the swift uplifting rush
     Of quiet birds in circled flight.
     I am the stars that shine at night.
     Do not stand at my grave and cry.
     I am not there; I did not die.

  Many funerals we go to, the sermon doesn't match the man, but with 
Sonny Adkins, the words definitely matched the man, and what a tribute 
to a life well lived.

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