The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING MRS. VELMA BENSON WILSON
______
HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON
of mississippi
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Velma Benson Wilson.
Velma was born and raised in Marks, Mississippi. She is the fifth of seventeen children and spent her early childhood on a small rural farm, where her parents taught her the value of hard work, family, and the importance of getting a good education.
Wilson graduated from Quitman County High School as the class valedictorian, and was awarded a full academic scholarship to St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Education in 1973.
Wilson is currently employed by the Quitman County Board of Supervisors as the first Quitman County Economic & Tourism Director. She has been in this position for one-year and has made significant achievements by establishing a 501(3) (c) for the county to help generate additional funding resources outside the realms of state and national grant funds. A new Quitman County Economic & Tourism website has been developed to market to potential businesses and industry, to seek economic opportunities. Wilson has successful opened the Quitman County Interpretive Welcome Center, which serves as a multi-purpose building- offering lounge space and restrooms for waiters and riders for the Amtrak trains that stop twice daily in Marks, a tourism gift shop and office and public meeting spaces.
Wilson was instrumental in working with the Mississippi State Legislative, the Board of Supervisors, and the City of Marks Board of Aldermen to obtain state bond funding of $200,000, to assist with the renovation of the county full-service grocery store, which officially closed in 2017, making Quitman County a food desert. Additionally, a grant was submitted and funded for $200,000, with a USDA American Healthy Financial Food Initiative, which allowed the purchase of new refrigeration equipment for the grocery store. In April 2021, this store was successful re-opening bringing back 30 loss jobs to the community.
In 2016, Wilson was employed as the first African American, and the first female County Administrator for the Quitman County Board of Supervisors. She served in this position for 5 years prior to transiting to the Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Within her five year tenure, as County Administrator, she helped secured over
$4 million in local, regional, state and federal funds for projects that benefitted Quitman County.
One of Wilson's most momentous achievements, as County Administrator was coordinating negotiations with federal, state, and local elected officials, as well as regional stakeholders in an agreement with Canadian National Railroad and Amtrak to allow the construction of an Amtrak station in Marks, MS. The Amtrak station opened May 4, 2018.
Wilson's previous career, prior to returning to her hometown, included a co-business owner (15 years) multi-auto franchises (Buick, GMC, Dodge, Chrysler and Hyundai) in Jackson, TN. And she spent (12 years) as a social worker and educator.
She is also an author. Her book, What's in the Water, was the winner of 2013 Daughter of American Revolution Print Media Award. This book also gave her the distinction of being named as one of the twenty most influential women in West Tennessee for civic, business and community contributions. As a writer, Wilson was an Oprah's Magazine Contributor for the October and November 2013 issues; she was honored in 2004 with the Alumni Community Service Award; and, her alma mater recognized and honored her through the American Legion, by putting a copy of her book, What's in the Water, on display in the St. Norbert College's library.
In 2019, Wilson was appointed to serve as an officer on the Delta Council as a presidential appointment. She has also served as a board member for numerous organizations: Jackson, Tennessee Area Chamber of Commerce; March of Dimes; The Boys and Girls Club; Jackson Arts Council; The Jackson Symphony; United Way; Jackson, Tennessee Chapter of the Links, Inc. (Past President and Vice President); and NAIA (Vice Chair).
With over 30 years of experience in education, social services, corporate business, public relations, marketing, she has received civic and leadership awards and recognition for work in areas of: Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Black Adoption Awareness, Services to Youth, NAACP, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She is married to Sidney Wilson, Jr. They have two children: Janice (graduate of Columbia Law School), and Sidney, III (graduate of Vermont Law School). She has a grandson, Elias, and granddaughter, Tiarra.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Velma Benson Wilson for her dedication in serving her community.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 179
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