[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING COACH LAMAR KIRKLEY'S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Carter) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Coach 
Lamar Kirkley's 50-year anniversary with the Savannah Country Day 
School.
  Mr. Kirkley has spent the past five decades coaching and teaching 
students at Savannah Country Day. He had led the boys' basketball team 
as well as the boys' and girls' cross-country and tennis team.
  Mr. Kirkley has earned a spot in the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall 
of Fame and received the Teacher of the Year award in 2020 from the 
Exchange Club of Savannah. He also won the Savannah Morning News Coach 
of the Year award several times and across many different sports.
  Mr. Kirkley was previously a stellar basketball player during his 
years at Armstrong State University. He has expressed that teaching and 
coaching go hand in hand, and he has excelled at both.
  Mr. Kirkley has an excellent ability to relate to students, 
colleagues, players, and parents, and continues to excel in his career.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Kirkley on 50 impactful years at 
Savannah Country Day, and I thank him for what he has done for our 
three sons.


                   Mourning the Loss of Vincent Fort

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss 
of Vincent Fort, who sadly passed away in December from cancer at the 
age of 68.
  Mr. Fort was a former Democratic leader in the Georgia State Senate 
and a candidate for Atlanta mayor and Congress, who advocated for 
causes he believed in for many decades.
  After his 1996 election to the 39th District in the State senate, Mr. 
Fort went on to be re-elected 10 times. Mr. Fort earned his 
undergraduate degree in history at Central Connecticut State College in 
1978 and moved to Atlanta to study African-American history shortly 
thereafter. There he wrote his thesis on the sit-in movement at the 
Atlanta University Center, where he later taught history.
  Mr. Fort had several remarkable legislative achievements, including 
laws that took effect in 2002 targeting abusive lending practices.
  Mr. Fort will forever be remembered as a remarkable man who was 
committed to leadership, justice, and service throughout his life.
  Madam Speaker, I can attest to this as I had the honor of serving 
with Vincent Fort in the Georgia State Senate.


      Congratulating United Way's Woman of the Year Stacy Jennings

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Stacy Jennings on being named United Way's 2025 Woman of the Year.
  Ms. Jennings has been a longtime volunteer and the heart of community 
service in Savannah. She has spent 33 years with the United Way of the 
Coastal Empire, where she has served on the board, several committees, 
and helped fundraise.
  Ms. Jennings is also the executive director of communications for the 
Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education. She has proven herself to 
be a dedicated leader and impactful server of the community by 
supporting families and students across the community within the school 
system.
  Ms. Jennings' honorable achievement as United Way's Woman of the Year 
will be celebrated in March at the Women Who Rule event, hosted at the 
Savannah Convention Center.
  She currently serves on the marketing committee and has not stopped 
her efforts to join new committees since she started at the United Way 
of the Coastal Empire.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Ms. Jennings on this incredible 
accomplishment and thank her for her dedicated service to the city of 
Savannah.


      Mourning the Loss of Sheriff Charles Wilbert ``Chunk'' Jones

  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss 
of former McIntosh County Sheriff, Charles Wilbert ``Chunk'' Jones.
  Mr. Jones lived an honorable life, serving in the U.S. Army's D 
Company. He also served in Vietnam back in 1968.
  Mr. Jones' career in law enforcement began in 1971 with the Brunswick 
Police Department and he later joined the city of Darien Police 
Department. After joining the city of Darien, Mr. Jones was promoted to 
the chief of police.
  After his time at the Darien Police Department, Mr. Jones joined the 
Georgia State Patrol where he graduated as a State trooper. He also 
returned to his hometown and accepted the captain position with the 
city of Darien. He then won his first sheriff's election to serve 
the community from 1993 to 1998.

  Mr. Jones was also a commercial shrimp fisherman and captain of his 
shrimp boat, Lady Vanessa, which was named after his daughter.
  Mr. Jones married his high school sweetheart, the late Brenda Marie 
Jones, with whom he shared three children: Christopher, Vanessa, and 
Felica.
  Madam Speaker, today we honor his life and hold his family in our 
thoughts and prayers.

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