IN RECOGNITION OF MRS. EUNICE L. MIXON
April 1, 2020
Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
work and service of a distinguished educator, political activist, and
dear friend to my wife, Vivian and me, Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon. She was
honored as the 2018 Distinguished Older Georgian, a title given by the
Georgia Council on Aging to honor a Georgian, of at least 80 years of
age, who is a role model for positive aging and has made significant
contribution to society through occupational or volunteer efforts. An
award reception was held for Eunice at the Georgia State Capitol at 2
p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.
work and service of a distinguished educator, political activist, and
dear friend to my wife, Vivian and me, Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon. She was
honored as the 2018 Distinguished Older Georgian, a title given by the
Georgia Council on Aging to honor a Georgian, of at least 80 years of
age, who is a role model for positive aging and has made significant
contribution to society through occupational or volunteer efforts. An
award reception was held for Eunice at the Georgia State Capitol at 2
p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Eunice L. Mixon was born in Tifton, Georgia on April 11, 1931 to the
union of the late Robert and Carrie Lastinger. A product of the Tift
County School System, she went on to attend classes at Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College and earn both Master's and Specialist Degrees in
Science Education from the University of Georgia.
union of the late Robert and Carrie Lastinger. A product of the Tift
County School System, she went on to attend classes at Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College and earn both Master's and Specialist Degrees in
Science Education from the University of Georgia.
Winston Churchill said, ``We make a living by what we get, but we
make a life by what we give.'' Through every stage of her life, Eunice
has always given of herself to others. She served as an educator for 30
years within the Tift County School System and at Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College before redirecting her passion to politics. Her
first official post in politics came in 1974 when she became the Tift
County campaign chair for former Governor George Busbee. She also
served as a delegate to the 1988 and 1992 National Democratic
Conventions, and as a member of the Georgia Democratic Executive
Committee. Over the years, she has helped campaign and fundraise for
several political figures including former Georgia Lieutenant.
Governors Zell Miller, and Pierre Howard, former Georgia Governors Roy
Barnes, Joe Frank Harris, and Sonny Perdue, former Georgia Commissioner
of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, former Georgia Secretary of State Max
Cleland, U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher, former U.S. Senator Sam
Nunn, former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton as well as
yours truly.
make a life by what we give.'' Through every stage of her life, Eunice
has always given of herself to others. She served as an educator for 30
years within the Tift County School System and at Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College before redirecting her passion to politics. Her
first official post in politics came in 1974 when she became the Tift
County campaign chair for former Governor George Busbee. She also
served as a delegate to the 1988 and 1992 National Democratic
Conventions, and as a member of the Georgia Democratic Executive
Committee. Over the years, she has helped campaign and fundraise for
several political figures including former Georgia Lieutenant.
Governors Zell Miller, and Pierre Howard, former Georgia Governors Roy
Barnes, Joe Frank Harris, and Sonny Perdue, former Georgia Commissioner
of Agriculture Tommy Irvin, former Georgia Secretary of State Max
Cleland, U.S. Representative Charles Hatcher, former U.S. Senator Sam
Nunn, former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton as well as
yours truly.
Eunice's distinguished civil service has been mirrored by her
extensive involvement in her community. In conjunction with her
professional accomplishments in politics, she served on several boards,
including the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Vocational Education
Task Force, Advisory Council on Consolidation of Education Programs,
Georgia Civil War Commission, Joint Board Liaison Committee, and the
Georgia State Bar Disciplinary Board. She has served as the doorkeeper
to the Georgia State Senate, and has served on the State Bar of
Georgia's Investigative Panel, the Tifton/Tift County Library Board,
the Coastal Plain Regional Library Board, the Georgia Student Finance
Commission Board, the Heritage Trust Commission Board, the Agrirama
Foundation and the State Election Board.
extensive involvement in her community. In conjunction with her
professional accomplishments in politics, she served on several boards,
including the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Vocational Education
Task Force, Advisory Council on Consolidation of Education Programs,
Georgia Civil War Commission, Joint Board Liaison Committee, and the
Georgia State Bar Disciplinary Board. She has served as the doorkeeper
to the Georgia State Senate, and has served on the State Bar of
Georgia's Investigative Panel, the Tifton/Tift County Library Board,
the Coastal Plain Regional Library Board, the Georgia Student Finance
Commission Board, the Heritage Trust Commission Board, the Agrirama
Foundation and the State Election Board.
Eunice received several awards for her extensive work in politics.
These include induction into the Tift County Chamber of Commerce's Wall
of Fame in 2014; the Liberty Bell Award by the Tifton Judicial Circuit
Bar Association in 2016; a spot on the 40 Most Influential South
Georgians; and in 2010, the State Bar of Georgia honored Eunice with an
award in her name.
These include induction into the Tift County Chamber of Commerce's Wall
of Fame in 2014; the Liberty Bell Award by the Tifton Judicial Circuit
Bar Association in 2016; a spot on the 40 Most Influential South
Georgians; and in 2010, the State Bar of Georgia honored Eunice with an
award in her name.
Eunice has accomplished many things in her life but none of these
would have been possible without the enduring support of her late
husband, Albert and their sons, Johnny and Jimmy.
would have been possible without the enduring support of her late
husband, Albert and their sons, Johnny and Jimmy.
On a personal note, I have been blessed to know Eunice for many years
and I can say without reservation that she is one of the most
passionate and warmhearted individuals I have ever met. I am proud to
consider Eunice and the Mixon family friends of longstanding.
and I can say without reservation that she is one of the most
passionate and warmhearted individuals I have ever met. I am proud to
consider Eunice and the Mixon family friends of longstanding.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and the more than 730,000
residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in extending our
sincerest congratulations to Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon for receiving the
title of 2018 Distinguished Older Georgian and for her many years of
service to her community, state, and nation.
residents of Georgia's Second Congressional District, in extending our
sincerest congratulations to Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon for receiving the
title of 2018 Distinguished Older Georgian and for her many years of
service to her community, state, and nation.