[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    TRIBUTE TO LAVONNE LITTLE BISHOP

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 16, 1999

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in respect and remembrance of a 
gracious and remarkable lady in my district, Mrs. LaVonne Bishop, 
affectionately known as ``Miss LaVonne'' who passed away on July 10, 
1999, at her home in St. Catherine's Village in Madison, MS. She was 95 
years of age, and the widow of the late Herbert Bishop, a former mayor 
of Forest, and a banking official, who served for many years as the 
President of the Farmers and Merchants Bank in Forest, Mississippi, now 
known as Community Bank.
  Miss LaVonne was born in Magee, MS and moved to Forest, MS at an 
early age. She graduated from Forest High School in 1920, and earned 
her music degree from Belhaven College in the mid-twenties. Upon 
graduation from Belhaven, she returned to Forest and taught music in 
the Forest school system until her marriage to Mr. Bishop.
  For the greater part of her life, Miss LaVonne focused her efforts on 
building a strong church and community relations in Forest and Scott 
County. Very seldom was there a civic or community project developed 
within the city of Forest, or the county of Scott, that she did not 
have some input. Because of her efforts in community development, 
Forest was named a winner in the National Community Achievement Contest 
in 1960, and in 1962, Miss LaVonne was named Mississippi Club Woman of 
the Year. She also served as chairwoman for many Merit Programs 
sponsored by the State Chamber of Commerce. Further, for many years, 
she served as chairperson for the Forest Miss Hospitality committee, 
and actively participated in drives that benefited the Hospital 
Auxiliary, the Cancer Fund, the Heart Fund, and the March of Dimes 
Fund.
  At Forest Baptist Church, she was the church organist for more than 
50 years. On a number of occasions, she served as President of the 
Women's Missionary Union, and was a teacher and pianist in the junior 
department. At St. Catherine Village, she was pianist for the choir and 
the residents of Siena, the nursing division of the Village. Up until 
her death, she and her piano partner, Grant Smith, performed periodic 
concerts in the area surrounding Jackson.
  Miss LaVonne was very devoted to her family. If you wanted to see 
pride and job at its apex, then start a conversation about her 
children, Neill (Mrs. Wade Barton) and Gene and their families, her 
late husband Herbert and his family, her parents the late Mr. and Mrs. 
H. H. Little and her brother Woodrow. Also, very dear to Miss LaVonne 
as her friend, Mrs. Alice Burke and her family, who worked at the 
Bishop household for many years.
   Miss LaVonne's life and legacy can be summed up with one word LOVE; 
Love for God, Love for Family, Love for Friends, Love for Country, Love 
for State, and by all means, Love for Forest and Scott County. She was 
truly a great Christian, and an American, and I extend my heartfelt 
sympathy to her family, while at the same time, expressing my 
appreciation, and that of all citizens of the 3rd district for her life 
of service.

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