[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ELLIE J. DAHMER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and legacy of an extraordinary Mississippian, a dedicated 
educator, civil rights advocate, and public servant--Mrs. Ellie J. 
Dahmer, who is celebrating her 100th birthday.
  Mrs. Dahmer is the widow of the late Vernon F. Dahmer, Sr., a civil 
rights icon who gave his life in the pursuit of voting rights for 
African Americans. Together, they formed a powerful partnership that 
challenged the injustices of the Jim Crow South. When their home was 
firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1966, Mrs. Dahmer's courage and quick 
thinking saved her family. In the years that followed, she not only 
rebuilt her life, but continued the work she and her husband began--
ensuring that all Mississippians had access to the ballot box.
  After her husband's murder, Mrs. Dahmer worked tirelessly to support 
her family, maintain their farm, and provide for the community. She 
went on to serve with distinction as the District 2 Election 
Commissioner in Forrest County for 12 years. Her quiet strength and 
tireless advocacy played a critical role in the fight for justice, 
culminating decades later in the long-overdue conviction of her 
husband's killer.
  Mr. Speaker, On behalf of Mississippi's Second Congressional District 
and a grateful Nation, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. 
Ellie J. Dahmer for a century of unwavering commitment to justice, 
education, and democracy. Mrs. Ellie J. Dahmer is a living symbol of 
strength, sacrifice, and service. Her 100th birthday is not just a 
celebration of longevity--it is a celebration of a life that has left a 
permanent mark on the conscience of this country.

                          ____________________