[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 60 (Thursday, April 3, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING GERALDINE F. THOMPSON'S SERVICE TO THE GREAT STATE OF 
                                FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2025

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Geraldine F. Thompson was born in New Orleans, 
Louisiana, and grew up in the South Dade town of Perrine, Florida, 
where members of her family worked in agriculture and construction. She 
was married to the Honorable Emerson R. Thompson, Jr. She was the 
mother of three children--Laurise, Emerson III, and Elizabeth--and the 
proud grandmother of six granddaughters and one great-grandson. She 
enjoyed reading, writing, volunteering, and traveling.
  She attended Miami Dade Community College. After receiving a 
scholarship to the University of Miami, she received an undergraduate 
degree in 1970 and a Master of Science from Florida State University in 
1973. Geraldine F. Thompson served for six years as an Orange County 
Public Schools teacher. She later served for 24 years as an 
administrator at Valencia Community College, where she established the 
College Reach Out Program, which enabled thousands of low-income and 
disadvantaged students to fulfill their dream of going to college.
  Senator Thompson developed a reputation as a respected local 
historian for compiling the history of African Americans in Central 
Florida and authoring the book ``Black America: Orlando, Florida.'' She 
developed a passion for the history of African Americans in Central 
Florida. She wrote a play based on her book called ``A Vote a Voice.''
  Her passion led her to preserve one of Orlando's unique landmarks, 
the Wells'Built Hotel. During the days of segregation, it provided 
lodging to some of America's most prominent citizens, including Justice 
Thurgood Marshall, Ray Charles, and performers on the chitlin circuit. 
Today, that landmark is known as the Wells'Built Museum of African 
American History and Culture.
  She served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2012 
and 2018 to 2022. She was elected to the Florida Senate in 2012 and 
served until 2016, and she was serving as the senator of Senate 
District 15 in Orlando at the time of her death. Significant 
legislation that she initiated and passed included bills to exonerate 
the Groveland Four, provide compensation to James Joseph Richardson, 
who was wrongfully incarcerated for 22 years, outlaw discrimination 
against pregnant women in the workplace, and a Specialty License Plate 
to benefit organizations that comprise the Divine Nine with 85 percent 
of the proceeds from the sale of the plate benefitting the 
organizations to support scholarships.
  Career highlights, honors, and awards include: Having roads 
designated for Bob Billingslea, July Perry, Edna Hargrett, and Bessie 
Coleman; Resolution for George Starke and exoneration of the Groveland 
Four; Recipient of the 2022-2023 Humanitarian Award from the Orlando 
International Film Festival; 2021 Civil Rights Hall of Fame from City 
of Orlando 2022; Outstanding Public Official Award from Healthy Start 
Coalition of Orange County; 2019 MLK Humanitarian Award from Central 
Florida Steppers; 2022 Warrior for Democracy Award from The League of 
Women's Voters: 2022 Mountain Top Trailblazer Award from Cultured 
Pearls of Alpha Kappa Alpha; 2018 Drum Major Social Justice Award from 
Alpha Pi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; 2016 Legislative Advocacy Award from 
Democratic Women's Club of Florida Inc.; 2013 Mary Hatwood Human and 
Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association; 2012 Martin 
Luther King Jr. Achievement Award from Inter-Civic Council of the 
Southern Christian Leadership Council; 1996 Commitment to Excellence 
Award from Mid-Florida Chapter of NFBPA; 1992 Summit Award from the 
Women's Source Center; and Life Time Achievement Award from the 
Metropolitan Orlando Urban League.

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