In Memory of Barbara Tharpe Raines
Floor Speech
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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a loving wife, dedicated mother, doting grandmother and a woman after God's own heart, First Lady Emeritus Barbara Tharpe Raines. Sadly, First Lady Raines passed from labor to reward after a long and fruitful journey of service to humankind. A service celebrating her remarkable life will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022 in Macon, Georgia at 12:00 p.m. at the Macon Centreplex. She leaves a legacy of service that is worthy of emulation.
Barbara Tharpe Raines was born on January 30, 1951, in Macon, Georgia to the late James Bryant and Alma Jones Tharpe. She was the oldest of six children.
First Lady Raines was a lifelong learner and was a proud product of the Bibb County School System, graduating from Ballard Hudson High School in 1968. The next stop on her educational journey was Fort Valley State College (now University), graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Education. She also received a Master's Degree in Counseling from Georgia College and State University with more study at Georgia Southern University .
Equipped with great educational tools, she embarked on a thirty-year education career, serving in multiple roles, including First Grade Teacher, Second Grade Teacher and Guidance Counselor. She retired from the Bibb County School system with her final duty station at Burghurd Elementary School. Never one to rest on her laurels or one to stop trying to help those in need, she came out of retirement to do independent counseling for the school system, setting up independent counseling programs and serving as she did so often in her life as a mentor for new counselors. First Lady Raines was also an instructor with Hicks and Hicks Associates of Atlanta, Georgia, where she taught child development courses.
Central to her life and character was her commitment to God that she formed at an early age. An unbreakable bond was cemented with her beloved husband and life partner, the Reverend Curtis Raines as they were both founding members of the Mount Vernon Baptist Church. She and Rev. Raines were members of the church's Youth Department and played an integral role in the Church's spiritual and social development. First Lady Raines and Reverend Raines formed a true partnership as she became a deaconess and he became a deacon under the leadership of their pastor at Mount Vernon, the Reverend Dr. Henry Ficklin.
Applying the lessons that he learned at Mount Vernon, Reverend Raines began his own ministerial journey along with First Lady Raines who supported him at every turn, as a sterling example of what a First Lady should be. She served as the First Lady of New Pilgrim Baptist Church for 34 years and Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church Bolingbroke for 31 years. First Lady Raines was involved with many ministries that had as their goal the development of the whole person.
When Reverend Raines became President of the General Missionary Convention of Georgia, First Lady Raines was once again a full partner with her husband serving in numerous capacities with the Convention.
George Washington Carver once said, ``How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and strong, because someday in your life you will have been all of these.''
First Lady Emeritus Barbara Raines used her life's work to help people from all walks of life. She was a member of many social and civic organizations to include the Macon Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bibb Retired Education Association and Retired Counselors, Mentor at the Macon Youth Development Center, Rainbow Grief Counselor, Co-Team Captain of American Cancer Society, Former Member of the American Lung Association, and Cancer Relay for Life.
Because of her remarkable service to others, she has been recognized by local, state and national organizations.
Besides being one of God's Children, her greatest role in life was being a dedicated wife, loving mother and grandmother. As outlined already, she supported and served as the greatest cheerleader to her husband of almost 44 Years, Rev. Curtis Raines in various endeavors. Moreover, she always supported her children and grandchildren,
Madam Speaker, I am proud to have known a woman with the grace, class and dignity of First Lady Emeritus Barbara Tharpe Raines. I ask my colleagues to join my wife Vivian and me, along with the 730,000 people of the Second Congressional District in extending our deepest condolences to her family, friends and all who mourn her loss. May they be comforted by their faith, the grace of God and the Holy Spirit in the days, weeks and months ahead.
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