[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14149]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JERLEAN BARRON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENDRICK B. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2003

  Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mrs. 
Jerlean Barron, who will be retiring from the Dade County Public 
Schools at the end of this school year. Mrs. Barron is the very 
definition of a strong person. She dedicated her life to serving her 
family and her community, and she did both with distinction.
  Mrs. Barron was born and raised in Baxley, Georgia and is a product 
of the Appling County Public School System. She attended Appling 
Elementary and Secondary Schools.
  Mrs. Barron is a role model who demonstrated daily how to overcome 
obstacles. After raising six of her biological children, she took on 
the responsibility of raising four of her grandchildren. Mrs. Barron 
was always there to support her grandchildren morally, emotionally, 
spiritually, and even financially in their pursuits.
  Mrs. Barron has had to deal with hard decisions in her life. Her 
husband and daughter became terribly ill, and she was responsible for 
their care. During this difficult time, and despite the tremendous 
effort it took, she nonetheless continued to give great help and 
service to the Phyllis R. Miller Elementary School.
  Mrs. Barron's dedication, loyalty, compassion, and involvement will 
be greatly missed. She showed students and faculty alike, by her 
example, how to make lemonade from the lemons life gives them, and in 
doing so she contributed greatly to the Miami-Dade community.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Jerlean Barron for her work, in thanking her for her service and in 
wishing her much happiness in her retirement.

                          ____________________