Recognizing Annie ``ann'' H. Flowers

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a devoted wife, dedicated mother, outstanding educator, and friend to humankind, Mrs. Annie ``Ann'' H. Flowers. An event celebrating her 80th birthday was held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the New Grady Baptist Association meeting in Cairo, Georgia.

Mrs. Flowers is a native of Decatur County, Georgia. She has used her life's work to uplift humanity through selfless service. She dedicated thirty-two years of her life to molding and shaping our most precious resources, our young people. Her career in education is indeed a storied one. During her career in education with the Grady County School system, she served in numerous capacities to include Classroom Teacher, Math Coordinator, Title V. Director, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Never one to rest on her laurels after retirement, she came back to serve as an Interim Principal for one year.

It has been said that ``Service is the rent that we pay for the space that we occupy here on this earth.'' Mrs. Flowers has paid her rent and she has paid it well. Her commitment to service is evident in all of the different professional causes that she has given her time and treasures. Those include: The Grady County Retired Educators, Georgia Association of Education Leaders, Georgia and National Associations of Education, National Middle School Association, National Executive Female Organization, Southwest Regional Director of Middle School Principals, Governor's School Leadership Institute, Georgia Council of School performance and Georgia Department of School Improvement Specialists.

The great Agricultural Chemist George Washington Carver once said that ``How far one goes in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the strong and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.'' Mrs. Flowers has used her life's work both professionally and socially to minister to people from all walks of life. She is the Founder of the Boys to Men Mentoring Programs, a member of the Board of Directors for Grady County United Way, Friends of Roddenberry Memorial Library, The Thomas Grady Service Center Board, Southwest Georgia Board of Easter Seals of Grady County, and Georgia Pines Community Service Board. She has also served on the Advisory Board for the Head Start of Grady County. Mrs. Flowers is also a life member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 36.

Mrs. Flowers has also received numerous awards and honors during her life, most notably the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award and has the distinction of being the First African American Principal in Grady County, Georgia after integration.

Mrs. Flowers is a woman after God's own heart. She is a member of the Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Cairo, Georgia, where she is a Deaconess, a member of the Minister's wives Ministry and Pastor's Aide Ministry. She truly embodies the words of Acts 9:36: ``She was abounding in good deeds and acts of charity.''

Mrs. Flowers has accomplished many things in her life, but none of these would have been possible without her faith, the love and support of her husband, The Reverend Henry C. Flowers, Jr. and their three children.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join my wife, Vivian and me along with the more than 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in extending our sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Mrs. Annie ``Ann'' H. Flowers on the occasion of her 80th Birthday and her phenomenal service to God and Humankind. May God continue to bless her and her family.

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