[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE JUDY THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2025

  Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable educator, 
dedicated public servant, and longstanding friend, the Honorable Judy 
Thomas. Sadly, Judy passed from labor to reward on April 19, 2025. A 
funeral service to celebrate her remarkable life will be held on 
Thursday, May 8, 2025, at St. Luke Church in Columbus, Georgia.
  The genesis of Judy Thomas's life began with her birth to the union 
of William H. Lt. (Bill) Williams and Alice Williams. She graduated 
from Jordan Vocational High School in 1964, later earning her 
bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the Women's College of 
Georgia, now Georgia College and State University.
  Judy began her teaching career at Bibb Elementary School in Columbus, 
where she was a fifth and sixth grade teacher. Due to her unwavering 
commitment to education and the future of young people, she was honored 
as Columbus Teacher of the Year in 1973. During that same time, she 
served as President of the Muscogee Association of Educators. On May 9, 
2021, Judy was awarded the Jim Buntin Leadership Award for Excellence 
in Education for the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which 
was a special honor for her as this award was named after her close 
friend and former Muscogee County School Superintendent.
  Judy eventually moved to California to continue her educational 
career, but Columbus was never far from her heart. She returned to her 
beloved Columbus in 2006 and became actively involved in the successful 
Mayoral Campaign of Mayor Jim Wetherington, where she served as Chief 
of Staff from 2006 to 2010. During her time in the Mayor's Office, she 
was instrumental in passing the 2008 SLOST Referendum, which enabled 
the hiring of 100 police officers in Columbus--a measure that continues 
to benefit our community today. Judy left the Mayor's Office in 2010 to 
launch her campaign for the Columbus City Council.
  Elected to the Columbus City Council in 2011, Judy served honorably 
for four terms representing District Nine (At-Large). She diligently 
assumed the role of Budget Chair for several Council cycles, always 
focused on fiscal responsibility while ensuring that the needs of 
Columbus citizens were met. Her fingerprints and legacy will be evident 
in Columbus for many years to come. Her voice and vote were critical in 
efforts to renovate Golden Park, which helped bring the Atlanta Braves 
Double-A team to our city.
  Judy was a truth-teller, always voting her conscience, earning the 
respect and admiration of those she served.
  Throughout her life, Judy exemplified a commitment to service, a 
trait she inherited from her parents, who were both devoted to their 
community--her father as the Columbus District Fire Chief and her 
mother as the first certified medical assistant in the State of 
Georgia. It has been said that ``service is the rent that we pay for 
the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Judy paid her rent and 
paid it well, dedicating her time and resources to numerous community 
organizations, including the National Infantry Museum, the Muscogee 
Educational Excellence Foundation, Open Door Community Center, St. Luke 
Church Administrative Board, Girls in the Game, Chattahoochee Council 
of the Boy Scouts of America, Jordan Vocational High School College and 
Career Academy Advisory Board, RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 
Columbus State University Military Affiliated Student Support Fund, the 
Rotary Club of Columbus, and the Miracle Riders.
  On a personal note, I have had the privilege of knowing Judy for many 
years. I am incredibly grateful for her support and the fidelity of her 
friendship. She never told me what she felt I wanted to hear; instead, 
she always shared what she felt I needed to hear.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives 
to join my wife, Vivian, and me, along with the more than 765,000 
people of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in honoring the life 
and legacy of Councilor Judy Thomas. Moreover, we extend our deepest 
sympathies to Councilor Thomas's family, friends, colleagues, and all 
those who mourn her loss during this difficult time of bereavement. We 
pray that they will find consolation and comfort through abiding faith 
and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks, and months to come.

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