[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 11765-11766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE LIFE OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM L. 
                               WAINWRIGHT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to North 
Carolina's State Representative William L. Wainwright, whose earthly 
journey has ended.
  Representative Wainwright died on Tuesday of this week, July 17, 
2012, at the age of 64, after a brief illness. Representative 
Wainwright was a dear personal friend and leader in the First 
Congressional District.
  Representative Wainwright was deputy democratic leader of the North 
Carolina House of Representatives, and was formerly the speaker pro 
tempore of the House. In each position, Representative Wainwright was 
the first African American to hold the position.
  In addition to serving the citizens of Craven and Lenoir Counties as 
their representative for the past 21 years, Representative Wainwright 
was a tenured pastor and presiding elder of the New Bern District of 
the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. His ministry touched 
thousands of people in his home communities of New Bern, Havelock, and 
Harlowe. For more than 40 years, Representative Wainwright taught God's 
word in pulpits all across America. He counseled those in need. He 
visited the sick and was a friend to all.
  In the general assembly, Representative Wainwright was a leader among 
leaders. He was chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. He served as 
vice chairman of the Finance Committee. He was also a member of the 
Commerce and Job Development Subcommittee on Business and Labor, the 
Committees on Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Military 
and Veterans Affairs, even the Committee on Insurance.
  North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue said this of Representative 
Wainwright:

       Whether he was in the pulpit or the legislature, William 
     Wainwright's priorities were without question and his 
     devotion without peer.

                              {time}  1030

       He served the Lord and the people of North Carolina with 
     courage, with humility, and with love. He and I arrived at 
     the general assembly about the same time, from neighboring 
     districts. He was wiser in the ways of both politics and the 
     human spirit. Ever since, and up to his last days, I relied 
     on his invaluable counsel, and I will always treasure his 
     friendship. Heaven is a richer place today.

  Those were the words of North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue.
  County Commissioner Johnnie Sampson in Craven County, North Carolina 
said:

       He worked around the clock for the history education 
     center, and he was able to get things done. He wanted to help 
     people who could not help themselves.

  In closing, Mr. Speaker, it must be said today that North Carolina is 
better because of the life and work of William Wainwright. William had 
endless energy and deep passion for the people

[[Page 11766]]

he served. We will miss this giant of a man. May God bless his memory 
and provide comfort to his beloved family and his community.

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