[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 191 (Wednesday, November 12, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING DR. BOBBY G. COOPER

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable educator, musician, and mentor whose influence has shaped 
generations of students and preserved the musical legacy of a historic 
institution, Dr. Bobby G. Cooper.
  Perhaps Dr. Cooper's most enduring contribution is the revival of the 
renowned Utica Jubilee Singers. Originally formed in the early 1900s by 
Dr. William Holtzclaw, founder of Utica Institute, the Jubilee Singers 
carried forward a tradition of spirituals rooted in the heritage of the 
Tuskegee model. Inspired by Holtzclaw's book Black Man's Burden and the 
collected works of J. Roseman Johnson (brother to poet James Weldon 
Johnson). Dr. Cooper reimagined this historic group in 1980. For forty-
five years, he was a pillar of Hinds Community College's Utica Campus, 
demonstrating an unwavering commitment to education, culture, and 
community.
  What began as a small quartet soon grew choir of young men who 
carried the soul of Mississippi's spiritual legacy across the Nation 
and abroad, performing everywhere from community gatherings to 
international stages in Italy. Though their musical range has broadened 
over time, Dr. Cooper ensured their foundation remained the spirituals 
that tell the story of faith, struggle, perseverance.
  Born and raised in Bolton, Mississippi, Dr. Cooper's love of music 
began in childhood. Without a piano of his own, he practiced on a 
wooden apple crate until, by a stroke of generosity, a local family 
gifted him a piano. That simple act helped set the course of a 
lifetime. His journey took him from the Bolton Colored School to 
Tougaloo Prep and Tougaloo College, and later to advanced studies that 
culminated in a doctorate.
  Before joining the Utica faculty in 1972, Dr. Cooper taught at E.T. 
Hawkins High School in Forest, Mississippi, and later held positions in 
Scott County and Colorado, where he pursued his doctoral studies. Over 
the years, he became not only an educator but a cultural bridge, using 
music to teach discipline, unity, and pride.
  Beyond the classroom, Dr. Cooper shaped the lives of young people in 
his hometown of Bolton, offering piano lessons and encouragement during 
a time when there were few Black pianists in the area. His mentorship 
opened doors for countless children who might never have otherwise 
discovered their musical gifts.
  His home walls are filled with plaques and awards, yet his truest 
legacy is found in the lives of those he mentored. Many of his former 
students, including educators and professional musicians, continue to 
honor him by keeping the Jubilee spirit alive.
  Even after 45 years of service, Dr. Cooper continues to share his 
gift of music every Sunday at Asbury Methodist Church in Bolton, where 
he has faithfully played for decades. With humility and grace, he 
reflects on a life of purpose, service, and song, one that has inspired 
students throughout Mississippi and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Bobby 
G. Cooper, an extraordinary Mississippian whose lifelong devotion to 
education and music has preserved an invaluable cultural legacy for 
generations to come.

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