[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 3, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LEOLA HARRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2026

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable servant, Leola Harris.
  Leola Harris, a native of Natchez, Mississippi, is a graduate of 
Sadie V. Thompson High School and attended Natchez Junior College. She 
earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of 
Science in Special Education, along with 30 additional graduate hours, 
from Alcorn State University.
  Mrs. Harris dedicated fifty-one years to serving as an Exceptional 
Education teacher. Throughout her distinguished career, she has been a 
steadfast advocate for youth and an active supporter of organizations 
committed to strengthening the community. She is the founder of the 
MLK, Jr. Youth Program, an initiative designed to provide young people 
with opportunities to showcase their talents, and the Isaiah HarrIs 
Memorial Scholarship Program, which assists students in pursuing higher 
education. As a respected community spokesperson, she remains committed 
to inspiring hope and empowering the next generation. She affirms, 
``Our children are the mothers and fathers of our tomorrows, and their 
future is in our hands.''
  Her longstanding commitment to service began during the Civil Rights 
Movement of the 1960s in Mississippi, where she participated in voter 
registration drives, boycotts, marches, and other efforts promoting 
equality and progress. She takes pride in the role those efforts played 
in expanding employment opportunities in Natchez.
  Guided by the words of Cornel West--
  ``You can't lead the people if you don't love the people,'' and ``You 
can't save the people if you don't serve the people''--
  Mrs. Harris continues to exemplify principled leadership and 
dedicated service.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Leola 
Harris for her actions and achievements in the Natchez, Mississippi 
community.

                          ____________________