[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18852]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING LILLIE G. HENSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2014

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
remarkable hero, Lillie G. Henson.
  Lillie G. Dean Henson was born to the late Aaron and Lillian Dean on 
August 10, 1949 in Sardis, MS Panola County. She is the ninth of eleven 
children, five boys and six girls. There were many challenges that she 
faced that seemed to have placed her in the line of the first born. She 
was blessed to be born in a Christian home where reading and studying 
the Bible were not an option, therefore, her faith in the Lord was well 
rooted and grounded.
  Faced with many challenges of sickness in my family, Lillie learned 
the application of her faith was the only true anchor. Growing up was 
very challenging at times. Early in her growing up years her mother was 
stricken with a severe heart condition which required lots of rest and 
carefully prepared meals.
  At the age of fourteen, much of the responsibility of taking care of 
the family fell upon Lillie. Cooking breakfast for the family and 
preparing a special diet for her ailing mom before going off to school 
was quite an experience.
  As a little girl growing up, Lillie's dad would ask her to read the 
Bible to him, and as a child she remembers reading: ``Honor your father 
and your mother that your days may be long upon the earth.'' This 
scripture and many others rested in her spirit as she grew into 
adulthood. Lillie's passion for the word of God grew greater and 
greater.
  By the time Lillie was a junior in high school, she began to make 
plans for college . . . only to be asked by her ailing mother to stay 
home to make sure her younger sister, who was then a junior, finish 
high school. Her plans were shattered but she learned to be obedient to 
her parents through the studying of the scriptures.
  In 1969, Lillie's mother went to be with the Lord, her sister 
completed her junior year of high school with perfect attendance and 
completed high school as planned.
  In 1970, Lillie moved to Chicago with her older siblings. Lillie was 
employed at Brachs Candy Company for twenty years. She was among the 
first few African Americans to hold a manager's position in the Quality 
Control Department.
  In 1990, Lillie's dad at the age of eighty two became ill. Her 
husband, Otha Henson, Sr., who was also employed at Brachs Candy 
Company and is from Kilmichael, MS., decided to move back south to care 
for Lillie's dad and baby sister, Rebecca, who was born with Spinal 
Bifida. Lillie's dad passed away in 1991 and Rebecca lived ten years 
after his death.
  Since 1996 to present, Lillie has been employed as Program Manager at 
Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a Youth Development Program located in 
Lambert, MS.
  Lillie continued her education at Northwest Community College, 
Senatobia, MS., Rust College, Holly Springs, MS., and in 2012, she 
earned a BA in Ministry and in 2013 she received a Masters in Christian 
Counseling from Jacksonville Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, FL.
  Lillie is happily married, the proud mother of four children, eleven 
grandchildren and two great grand boys.
  You can find her teaching Sunday school on Sunday mornings at 
Pleasant Green M.B. Church, Sardis, MS, also a praise and worship 
leader, counseling, and encouraging and nurturing those in need.
  Eph. 6:2, ``Honor thy father and mother; which is the first 
commandment with promise.''
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. 
Lillie G. Henson for she is definitely the epitome of an unsung hero.

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