IN HONOR OF COMMISSIONER LUKE POPE STRONG, JR.
April 2, 2020
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and
solemn remembrance that I pay tribute to an outstanding civic leader
and public servant of Georgia, a pillar in the Colquitt County
community, and a friend of longstanding, Commissioner Luke P. Strong,
Jr. Commissioner Strong passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017. A
funeral service was held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at
Lakeside Assembly of God in Moultrie, Georgia.
solemn remembrance that I pay tribute to an outstanding civic leader
and public servant of Georgia, a pillar in the Colquitt County
community, and a friend of longstanding, Commissioner Luke P. Strong,
Jr. Commissioner Strong passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017. A
funeral service was held on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at
Lakeside Assembly of God in Moultrie, Georgia.
Commissioner Strong was born on April 4, 1947, to the union of Luke
Strong, Sr. and Mamie Brown-Strong. He was a product of the Colquitt
County School System and graduated from the historic William Bryant
High School in 1964. After graduation, he received a greater calling
upon his life when he enlisted in the United States Army. He served
proudly and honorably for five years. But, this was not the only
calling that he would receive in his lifetime. He attended Gupton-Janes
School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia. He also was a graduate
of the ABAC Police Academy and served as a police officer for one year
at the McRae Police Department and four years as a deputy with the
Montgomery County Sheriffs Department. He then served, alongside his
father, as the Vice-President of Strong Enterprises.
Strong, Sr. and Mamie Brown-Strong. He was a product of the Colquitt
County School System and graduated from the historic William Bryant
High School in 1964. After graduation, he received a greater calling
upon his life when he enlisted in the United States Army. He served
proudly and honorably for five years. But, this was not the only
calling that he would receive in his lifetime. He attended Gupton-Janes
School of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, Georgia. He also was a graduate
of the ABAC Police Academy and served as a police officer for one year
at the McRae Police Department and four years as a deputy with the
Montgomery County Sheriffs Department. He then served, alongside his
father, as the Vice-President of Strong Enterprises.
In 1986, he was elected as the first and only African American
Colquitt County Commissioner, which launched a historic career in
public service that would lead him to become the longest seated elected
official in Colquitt County. In 1995, he founded Luke Strong and Son
Mortuary, L.T.D, which has grown to be one of the leading funeral
establishments in South Georgia.
Colquitt County Commissioner, which launched a historic career in
public service that would lead him to become the longest seated elected
official in Colquitt County. In 1995, he founded Luke Strong and Son
Mortuary, L.T.D, which has grown to be one of the leading funeral
establishments in South Georgia.
Shirley Chisholm once said that, ``Service is the rent that we pay
for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Commissioner Strong
paid his rent and he paid it well. He gave his time and talents to many
social and civic organizations to include: the Moultrie Colquitt Branch
of the NAACP, The Georgia Association of County Commissioners, Georgia
Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO), The National
Association of County Commissioners, The Moultrie Men's Club, American
Legion Post 533, and Moultrie Technical College Board of Directors. In
2016, he was the recipient of the Ram Round-Up and Community Service
Award. Commissioner Strong was also a God fearing man. He was a member
of the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church where he was a member of the Board of
Stewards, Board of Trustees and the Sons of Allen.
for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Commissioner Strong
paid his rent and he paid it well. He gave his time and talents to many
social and civic organizations to include: the Moultrie Colquitt Branch
of the NAACP, The Georgia Association of County Commissioners, Georgia
Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO), The National
Association of County Commissioners, The Moultrie Men's Club, American
Legion Post 533, and Moultrie Technical College Board of Directors. In
2016, he was the recipient of the Ram Round-Up and Community Service
Award. Commissioner Strong was also a God fearing man. He was a member
of the Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church where he was a member of the Board of
Stewards, Board of Trustees and the Sons of Allen.
The great agricultural chemist George Washington Carver once said
that, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with young,
compassionate with aged, sympathetic with striving and tolerant of the
weak and the strong. Because someday in your life you will have been
all of these people.'' Commissioner Strong never forgot this lesson and
was a man who would give you the shirt off of his back. He never
advertised what he did for others, but was the true epitome of
``Servant Leadership.''
that, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with young,
compassionate with aged, sympathetic with striving and tolerant of the
weak and the strong. Because someday in your life you will have been
all of these people.'' Commissioner Strong never forgot this lesson and
was a man who would give you the shirt off of his back. He never
advertised what he did for others, but was the true epitome of
``Servant Leadership.''
On a personal note, Commissioner Strong and his family have been dear
friends to my wife Vivian and me for many years and I will miss the
wise counsel that he imparted to me over the years.
Commissioner Strong has accomplished much in his life but none of
this would have been possible without the love and support of his
family. His legacy lives on through his wife, Betty, his six children,
four grandchildren and all of those that he touched in a very special
way.
friends to my wife Vivian and me for many years and I will miss the
wise counsel that he imparted to me over the years.
Commissioner Strong has accomplished much in his life but none of
this would have been possible without the love and support of his
family. His legacy lives on through his wife, Betty, his six children,
four grandchildren and all of those that he touched in a very special
way.
Mr. Speaker, my wife Vivian and I, along with a multitude of other
people all across Georgia, salute Commissioner Luke Pope Strong, Jr.
for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to
improving the quality of the Colquitt County community. I ask my
colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our
deepest condolences to Commissioner Strong's family during this
difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an
abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.
people all across Georgia, salute Commissioner Luke Pope Strong, Jr.
for his outstanding public service and his everlasting commitment to
improving the quality of the Colquitt County community. I ask my
colleagues in the House of Representatives to join us in extending our
deepest condolences to Commissioner Strong's family during this
difficult time. We pray that they will be consoled and comforted by an
abiding faith and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.