[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18855]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING PASTOR E.L. KING

                                 ______
                                 

                        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 
Pastor E.L. King, who is a former educator in the Greenwood Public 
School District, extraordinary and public servant.
  Mrs. Ethel King was born in Leflore County on June 8, 1959 to Robert 
and Ethel L. Lawrence. At the age of thirteen, her mother died and she 
was nurtured by her grandfather, Mr. Willie James Lawrence, along with 
her seven siblings.
  Mrs. King attended Greenwood Public School. She dropped out of school 
in the twelfth grade in 1976 because she had her first child. She was 
very independent and determined to make an easier life for her child. 
She immediately went to work at Rocky Manufactory at the age of 
eighteen. She remained there 3\1/2\ years. She left Rocky Manufactory 
to work for Irvin Industry Automobile & Parts for 3\1/2\ years. After 
seven years of working in a factory environment, she felt life had more 
to offer her. She went on to take her GED and attended Mississippi 
Valley State University in 1986. Before completing college in November, 
1989, her daughter fell ill and later died with leukemia in December, 
1990. While at the University Hospital, she volunteered as a 
coordinator to help parents cope with their children's illness. She 
later volunteered with a candidate for a supervisor position in the 2nd 
District in Greenwood.
  Mrs. King was called into the Ministry in 1992. She completed her 
Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in 1993. After 
completing her degree, her health failed. She continued to fight on in 
1996. She went to work as a volunteer permanent substitute teacher at 
Dickerson Elementary School under the leadership of Mrs. Vivian 
Redmond. Later she was hired as a full-time substitute teacher. Mrs 
King was very dedicated to educating children.
  In 1998 she was hired at Bankston Elementary School as an assistant 
teacher until her health failed again. She retired in 2006. After 
retiring from the school system, Mrs. King worked as a Notary Public of 
the State of Mississippi under Governor Haley Barbour. She also 
volunteered with the Fannie Lou Hamer Foundation in Leflore County. 
Later, she became Pastor of Monument of Grace Church II in Lexington, 
MS for three years under the leadership of Bishop L.J. Johnson.
  Pastor Ethel L. King has made an impact on the lives of many children 
and adults alike, encouraging them through the scripture, ``. . . but 
seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all things 
shall be added unto you.''
  Pastor Ethel L. King is married to Edward E. King and they are the 
proud parents of two beautiful daughters and eight precious 
grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pastor 
Ethel L. King, a former educator, a pastor who is yet inspiring others 
and often giving of herself to make many lives better.

                          ____________________